Orli has joined From the Top as Guest Host on Show 420, Show 422,  Show 404, Show 405, Show 390, Show 389, Show 379, Show 380, and Show 361.

A consummate musician recognized for her grace, subtlety, and brilliance, the pianist Orli Shaham is hailed by critics on four continents. The New York Times called her a “brilliant pianist,” The Chicago Tribune referred to her as “a first-rate Mozartean,” and London’s Guardian said Ms. Shaham’s playing at the Proms was “perfection.”

Orli Shaham has performed with many of the major orchestras around the world, and has appeared in recital internationally, from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House. She is Artistic Director of Pacific Symphony’s chamber series Café Ludwig in California since 2007 and was Artist in Residence at Vancouver Symphony (USA) in 2022-2024.

Highlights of Ms. Shaham’s 2024-2025 concert season include performances of concertos written for her by David Robertson with Utah Symphony and by Steven Mackey at Tanglewood, and the Beethoven Triple Concerto with her brother, violinist Gil Shaham. Chamber recitals across the country include Dumbarton Oaks, Music at Menlo, La Jolla, and more.

In 2024, Orli Shaham released the final volumes of the complete piano sonatas by Mozart to high critical acclaim. Her discography includes over a dozen titles on Deutsche Gramophone, Sony, Canary Classics and other labels. Orli Shaham is on the piano and chamber music faculty at The Juilliard School and is a Co-Host and Creative for the national radio program From the Top. She is also Artistic Director of the interactive children’s concert series, Orli Shaham’s Bach Yard, which she founded in 2010, and is chair of the Board of Trustees of Kaufman Music Center.

Orli Shaham is a Steinway Artist

Follow Orli: Facebook @OrliShahamPiano | Twitter @orlishaham | Instagram @orlishaham

Michelle performed on Show 389 from Merkin Hall on September 25, 2020.

Michelle Stern (violin) 16, is from Douglason, New York, and is a senior at Townsend Harris High School. She studies violin with Ann Setzer at the Pre-College Division of The Juilliard School. In addition to being concertmistress of the Juilliard Pre-college Orchestra and winning numerous competitions, the musical moments she holds the most dear have occurred when performing for children, patients, or the elderly, and experiencing their inspiration and joy. Outside of music, Michelle is the editor of her school’s literary magazine and is interested in all sorts of creative writing, including playwriting, prose, and poetry.

Sean performed on Show 389 from Merkin Hall on September 25, 2020. Sean also performed on Show 328 in Boston, MA, on October 16, 2016.

Show 389 Bio:

Sean Yu, 16, cello, is from Rye, New York , and is a junior at Rye High School. He studies with Minhye Clara Kim at Juilliard Pre-College Program. Sean won fourth prize at the 10^th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in Astana, Kazakhstan and performed as a soloist with the Eurasian Symphony Orchestra of KazNUA at the Kazakhstan Central Concert Hall at the age of 12. Sean was a Semi-Finalist at the 2020 Stulberg International String Competition. He was also a winner of the 2019 National YoungArts Competition and at the 2020 Music Teacher National Association National Strings Competition. Sean has been featured as soloist with the New York International Chamber Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, the Sinfonietta Nova Orchestra, the New York Chamber Players Orchestra, Camerata Orchestra, and St. Thomas Orchestra as result of winning numerous competitions. He is also scheduled to perform with the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra and the American Chamber Orchestra this spring. At the age of 12, Sean was accepted into the Perlman Music Program, where he has since been spending seven weeks every summer intensively studying chamber music, solo performance, and orchestral music under the tutelage of  Itzhak Perlman, Merry Peckham, Areta Zhulla, Astrid Schween, and Zvi Plesser.

Show 328 Bio:

Sean Yu, 12, cello, is from Rye, New York, and is a sixth grader at Rye Middle School. He studies with Minhye Clara Kim at the Juilliard Pre-College Program. A top-prize winner at the Camerata Artists International Competition, Manhattan International Music Competition and the 17^th New York Music Competition, Sean has performed in venues such as Merkin Hall and Weill Recital Hall. During the summer, Sean has attended the Meadowmount School of Music and Great Mountain Music Festival. During his free time, Sean loves to draw and spend time outdoors.