Jesse performs on Show 461.

Jesse Krentz (cello), 16, is a Seattle native and is currently in the tenth grade. He began his cello studies at the age of six with his father and teacher, Kevin Krentz. Jesse has been surrounded by cello all of his life as his father, step-mother, grandfather, and sister all play.

Jesse made his concerto debut in Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Youth Symphony at age 12 and has since performed with the Bellevue Symphony, the Eastside Symphony, and the Northwest Philharmonia.

Jesse has won prizes at the MTNA National Junior Strings Competition, Seattle Youth Symphony Concerto Competition, the Slava International Cello Competition, the Radda Rise International String Competition, the King’s Peak International Competition, the Bellagrande International Music Competition, the Vivo International Competition, The New York Classical Music Competition Grand Prize, The Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside, including the Special Judges Award, and the Simon-Fiset Strings Competition. In 2021, Jesse performed a solo concert in the park as part of the Seattle Chamber Music Society’s Music in the Parks program.

Jesse loves to make music with others at the Seattle Chamber Music Society’s Academy, where his coaches have been Efe Balticigil, Elisa Barston, Rachel Lee Priday, Paige Roberts-Molloy, and Inon Barnatan.

In 2023, Jesse performed in his first professional concert with the Second City Chamber Music Series in Tacoma in solo and chamber music roles. He has also been a member of the Seattle Youth Symphony since age nine.

In his free time, Jesse enjoys exploring the waters of Washington State, fishing with his family from the San Juan Islands to the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River, pickleball, basketball, and both real and fantasy football. Jesse also enjoys listening to music, cooking, sharing his music and practicing on his Instagram: @Jesseplayscello

From the Top alum Nathan Chan joins From the Top in 2025 as a Guest Artist on Show 461 recorded at Classical King in Seattle.

Nathan originally appeared on Show 207, recorded in 2009, at age 16 and again on From the Top’s latest Where Are They Now? program in 2022. He appeared on a From the Top Virtual Concert in 2020.

Nathan received his Bachelor’s Degree at Columbia University; and studied with David Finckel and Richard Aaron at The Juilliard School. He is currently the Assistant Principal Cello of the Seattle Symphony.

Nathan is a strong proponent of using technology and social media to attract others into the classical world and is committed to his fast growing Internet presence; to date, he has over 35 million views on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

An active and engaged alum, Nathan has performed for From the Top soirees and corporate events, and co-hosted the 2014 From the Top Gala, helping to raise more than $400,000 to support From the Top’s programs.

Visit his website for more information.

Peter was named Host of From the Top in January 2020.

Peter Dugan’s position is sponsored by Susan and Gerald Slavet.

Peter first appeared on From the Top Show 158, recorded in April 2007, at age 18.

Peter Dugan prizes versatility as the hallmark of today’s musician and advocates for a classical music culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all. That approach has manifested in a multifaceted and dynamic career as a pianist, composer, collaborator, and radio host.

A musician equally at home in classical, jazz, and pop idioms, he has appeared as soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician across North America and around the world. His performance of the Ives Fourth Symphony with the San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas was described by the Los Angeles Times as “stunning” and by the San Francisco Chronicle as “fearlessly athletic” and was recorded for release; he repeated the Ives project in a series of four concerts for the Houston Symphony with Andrés Orozco-Estrada. He had previously collaborated with MTT at the New World Symphony and has made other orchestra appearances with the Kansas City Symphony, New Albany Symphony, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Johnstown Symphony, and Annapolis Chamber Orchestra.

Peter is heard on radios nationwide weekly as host of NPR’s From the Top. His approach stems from his commitment to sharing classical music through his warm-hearted openness to young voices; and in addition to hosting the show, he leads inspiring collaborations, conversations, and performances with the young artists. Classical Sonoma observed: “Mr. Dugan’s seemingly inexhaustible energy, combined with a dedicated teacher’s heart and musical artistry, is inspiring to observe… That geniality and dynamism translates directly into his music making. One gets the feeling that he is reaching out for that magic, elusive connection. And he succeeds.”

He’s an active and passionate collaborator who has toured extensively with violinists Joshua Bell and Charles Yang, and vocalists John Brancy and Kara Dugan (his wife)—partnerships which have resulted in recording projects, documentaries, music videos, and a first-prize win at the Montreal Competition. He also regularly performs with other friends and artists who share a passion for expanding the world of classical music, from Jesse Colin Young to Renee Fleming to Paquito D’Rivera to Itzhak Perlman.

As a composer, Peter has performed his own works everywhere from Carnegie Hall to Joe’s Pub, and his arrangements have been released by Disney+. He is co-writing with his brother Leonardo Dugan a new piano concerto, set to debut in spring 2026, and also collaborates with his colleagues to create electrifying arrangements of pop music. Supportive of new music, he has worked with the American Contemporary Music Ensemble and presented several world premieres. Peter is also comfortable jamming and improvising on piano and melodica with the likes of bassist Victor Wooten, violinists Tessa Lark and Charles Yang, and actress Glenn Close.

In 2020, he joined acclaimed violinist Joshua Bell for At Home With Music, a national PBS broadcast and live album release on Sony Classical. Since then, he has continued his collaboration with Joshua, touring internationally with recitals at London’s Wigmore Hall, Taipei’s National Theater and Concert Hall, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. In Fall 2024, the duo performs across the United States, South America, and Australia.

The Wall Street Journal described Peter’s collaboration with violinist and vocalist Charles Yang as a “classical-meets-rockstar duo.” Their creativity has resulted in a musical comedy show with violist and Tonight Show veteran Isabel Hagen.

Peter’s latest album with baritone John Brancy—The Journey Home: Live from the Kennedy Center—was released on Avie Records in 2021, along with an accompanying documentary film from WNET’s AllArts. They have given recitals together at Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center, and together won first prize at the 2018 Montreal International Music Competition. Peter’s latest project with violinist Sean Lee was PaganiniXSchumann, a digital EP release that accompanied a live performance at Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center of all 24 Paganini Caprices with piano parts written by Robert Schumann.

In Peter’s performances with his wife, mezzo-soprano Kara Dugan, repertoire ranges from art song to American Songbook, to original songs and world premieres. The Dugans have appeared at Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, WQXR’s Greene Space, and on PBS Great Performances’ Now Hear This.

As a founding creator of Operation Superpower, a superhero opera for children, Peter has traveled to dozens of schools in the greater New York area, performing for students and encouraging them to use their talents—their superpowers—for good. He is head of the Artist in Residence program at pianoSonoma and a founding faculty member of the Resonance and Soundboard Institutes at Honeywell Arts Academy.

Peter Dugan holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Juilliard School, where he studied under Matti Raekallio. He resides in New York City and is a Yamaha Artist.