Classical Music in the Wild: 10 Years Connecting People and Nature Through Music and Travel with Hunter Noack

An episode of the Zero To Travel Podcast podcast, hosted by Jason Moore, titled "Classical Music in the Wild: 10 Years Connecting People and Nature Through Music and Travel with Hunter Noack" was published on May 20, 2025 and runs 85 minutes.

May 20, 2025 ·85m · Zero To Travel Podcast

Summary

What happens when you take a grand piano into the wild and let nature lead the performance?  Hunter Noack is a classically trained pianist and the founder of IN A LANDSCAPE, a one-of-a-kind outdoor concert series that brings a 9-foot Steinway grand piano into the great outdoors. Instead of setting up traditional speakers at every show, audience members are given wireless headphones, allowing them to wander freely through the landscape while listening.  Since its launch, the project has reached over 75,000 people through more than 300 concerts in some of the country’s most awe-inspiring settings. By combining music, nature, and community, Hunter is redefining what a classical concert can be - and who it’s for.  Hunter shares the origin story of IN A LANDSCAPE, how it’s evolved over a decade, and how art can shape the way we connect with nature, place, and each other.  If you’ve ever dreamed of merging your creative passions with travel or building something that feels meaningful, this episode will hit home. You’ll learn about the challenges (and magic) of taking a concert piano off the grid and how he balances artistic integrity with logistics, grants, and the realities of funding a big idea. You'll also hear how nature shapes his music, his relationships with local communities, and his broader view of what it means to be human today.  There’s insight here for anyone creating something unconventional, trying to reconnect with nature, or simply curious about how a piano ends up in the middle of the desert.  If you were to reimagine something in your life, whether that’s travel, work, or relationships, what would it be? What would that look like? I'd love to hear more about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Premium Passport:  Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now!  Tune In To Learn:  Why he left the traditional concert hall behind to perform in deserts, forests, and county parks  How a single grant launched an idea and insight on using grants to fund creative, unconventional work  How nature influences the way he plays, from wind gusts to bug cameos  What it takes to haul a 1,200-pound Steinway up a mountain (and why it’s worth it)  The story behind one surreal concert on tribal land that left everyone speechless  What performing across the American West has revealed about the country’s beauty, complexity, and common ground  Why artistic projects need real critique (not just applause) to evolve  Hunter’s favorite overlooked spots in the American West you should visit  And so much more  Resources:  Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Learn more about IN A LANDSCAPE  Watch Hunter’s TEDx  Follow Hunter on Instagram  Want More?  Following Inspiration Towards A Life Of Travel with Mark and Steffi (The World’s Only Chapman Stick Duo)  Passion Mashin´: Combining Travel With Your Other Interests, Embracing Limitations, Lessons From 13 Years of Travel With Adrian “Ady” Parzentny  How to Travel Using Artist Residencies (Even if You’re Not an “Artist”) + a Creative Approach to Life With Mi’Jan Celie Tho-Biaz  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Visit Baltimore - Start planning your visit to Charm City today!  Harvest Hosts - Use code TRAVEL20 for 20% off your Harvest Hosts membership.  No Fixed Address - Listen to No Fixed Address, a travel podcast that’s your backstage pass to the world's hidden gems.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Description