For most musicians the worlds of classical and modern music move in different orbits, if not galaxies. But when he sits down Thursday at the piano in the Rialto Theater, Christopher O'Riley should, once again, bring these spheres together. American pianist O'Riley has been sneaking Radiohead into the classical music world for years. As host of NPR's child-musician showcase From the Top, he gets to pick the music that gets played during station breaks. Rather than Mendelssohn preludes, O'Riley would draw up piano transcriptions of pop songs, which he'd then play without preannouncing. O'Riley will tape From the Top in front of a live Tacoma audience Thursday. If they haven't listen to anything written since 1900, he most likely will mess with their heads.

CHRISTOPHER O'RILEY'S FROM THE TOP, 7:30 p.m., Railto Theater, 301 S. Ninth St., Tacoma, $19-$49, 253.591.5894