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A talented teenage duo from Grapevine, Texas, performs as part of the popular PBS series From the Top at Carnegie Hall. Robert and Alexandra Switala have played violin since they were children. Now, at ages 16 and 14, the brother and sister violin duo make their appearance at Carnegie Hall. Enjoy their performance of Passacaglia (after Handel), arranged for violin and viola,by Johan Halvorsenon From the Top at Carnegie Hall, at 12:00 noon, Sunday, July 27th on KERA-TV.
Robert and Alexandra Switala are students of Jan Mark Sloman, noted violin teacher and principal associate concertmaster with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. They are attending the prestigious Itzhak Perlman Music Program on Shelter Island, New York, this summer, where they will return for summer studies until they are eighteen. A recent winner of the 2007 Sphinx Competition, Robert has soloed with several regional orchestras, including the Florida, New World, Hartford, Colorado and Nashville Symphonies. Alexandra recently won the 2008 Fort Worth Symphony Young Artist Competition and will solo with the orchestra in their upcoming season.
The young Switalas were inspired to play music after attending a Suzuki student music concert when they were just 4 and 5 years old. They began their music education with studies in Suzuki music methodology under respected instructor Gwen Runyon. At ages 7 and 8 the pair was invited to visit Japan as part of a student exchange program and were among 4,000 young people to perform at Budokan.
Lupe and Steven Switala home-schooled their children placing equal importance on academics and arts education. “Attending arts events has always been a family affair,” says Lupe Switala, the children’s mother. “From an early age we researched the stories of the opera and the composers before attending events by the Fort Worth Opera and the Dallas Symphony.” Those experiences have served their children well.
ABOUT FROM THE TOP AT CARNEGIE HALLFrom the Top at Carnegie Hall showcases the musical accomplishments of young musicians, age 8 to 18. The series features top-notch performances, engaging interviews and compelling stories of America’s best young classical musicians. It is hosted by renowned pianist Christopher O’Riley. From the Top at Carnegie Hall is a co-production of From the Top, WGBH and Don Mischner Productions in partnership with Carnegie Hall. For additional information, please visit www.fromthetop.org.
ABOUT KERAKERA is a not-for-profit public broadcasting organization that is independently owned and operated in North Texas. The station’s services include original television and radio productions, national public television and radio programs, online information and resources at www.kera.org and an educational resource center that develops outreach programs for children, families and educators.
KERA productions have earned the highest accolades bestowed by the broadcasting industry, including Peabody, duPont, Emmy, Clarion (Association of Women in Communications), Gold Camera Award (the U.S. International Film and Video Festival), Texas Gavel (State Bar of Texas), Anson Jones for In-Depth Television (Texas Medical Association), International Health and Medical Award for Community Health, Chicago International Film Festival's Silver Plaque, Lone Star Emmy, INTERCOM Competition’s Gold Plaque, American Association of Museums’ Gold Muse Award, National Telecommunications and Education Association, and many more.
