The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music

In this episode of The Piano Pod, we are joined by concert pianist Anna Shelest.Her work spans major orchestral collaborations, recording projects, and repertoire advocacy — but this conversation centers on her latest album A Romantic from Kharkiv; Music of Sergei Bortkiewicz and the deeper artistic and cultural meaning behind it.Together, we explore how music becomes a form of testimony — shaped by memory, identity, and history — and how Shelest’s connection to Kharkiv, Ukraine informs her interpretation of Bortkiewicz’s music. We also discuss her Donna Voce project, her collaboration with conductor Neeme Järvi on Anton Rubinstein’s piano concertos, and her work as part of the Shelest Piano Duo with her husband, Dmitri Shelest.This episode is sponsored by the Alexander & Buono Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting classical musicians through performance opportunities, recordings, and artistic development.This episode offers a powerful reflection on rediscovery, cultural heritage, and the role of classical music in today’s world.📖 Read the blog (Meet Our Guest): Anna Shelest — Concert Pianist🎧 Listen to Anna Shelest on Spotify🎬 Explore more video clips on YouTube💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content on Substack🎵 Listen to the Season 6 Piano PlaylistNOMINATE GUESTS FOR SEASON 7: https://forms.gle/z3Q78dtTBbe5hdYr9📫 Join our Newsletter🌐 Visit our Website📱 Follow The Piano Pod on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok🔗 Access all links via Linktree🎧 Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms. Subscribe for more conversations on creativity, artistry, and the future of classical music.

🎬 TRAILER — Music as WitnessWhat does it mean for music to carry memory?In this upcoming episode of The Piano Pod, concert pianist Anna Shelest traces her roots from Kharkiv, Ukraine—through forgotten voices and the music of women composers she continues to bring into focus.This is not about novelty. It is about identity, history, and a lifelong artistic search for voice.Throughout the episode, you will hear music you may not know— but through her playing, it becomes immediate, human, and deeply felt.Music as Witness — On Ukraine, forgotten repertoire, and the power of music🎥 Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/3hhPfbBdrSE?si=3oOBMmsjGGdpLwHt🎧 Listen on audio platforms: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-piano-pod/📅 Premieres Tuesday, May 5 at 8 PM ET

In this episode of The Piano Pod, we welcome Joy Luck Trio — a newly formed ensemble bringing together pianist Donna Weng Friedman, pipa virtuoso Gao Hong, and erhu virtuoso Karen Han-Ottosson.Together, these three Chinese-American artists unite piano, pipa, and erhu in a rare chamber collaboration rooted in heritage and shaped by contemporary expression.In this conversation, we explore how the trio first came together, the histories and sound worlds of the pipa and erhu, what makes these instruments distinct from Western strings, and the remarkable artistic journeys that led each member to this moment.We also discuss Gao Hong’s expansive career as a pipa virtuoso and composer, Karen Han’s work on major Hollywood soundtracks, Donna’s recent creative accomplishments, and the trio’s artistic vision, repertoire, and the origin of the name Joy Luck Trio.This episode is about identity, reinvention, artistry, and the excitement of building something new after decades of achievement.📖 Read the Meet Our Guest Blog🌐 Joy Luck Trio Facebook🌐 Gao Hong (Pipa Virtuoso, Composer)🌐 Karen Han-Ottosson (Erhu Virtuoso)🌐 Donna Weng Friedman (Pianist, Filmmaker)📱 Follow The Piano Pod💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content https://thepianopod.substack.com🎵 Sounds of Inspiration (all the music mentioned in Season 6: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeBrJAY2RQ_uqBAHXTkMwM4nISe9vxvDa📫 Join Our Newsletter https://thepianopod.substack.com/subscribe🌐 Website https://thepianopod.com🔗 All Links https://linktr.ee/thepianopod🎧 Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms. Subscribe for more conversations on creativity, artistry, and the future of classical music.

What happens when piano, pipa, and erhu come together in one ensemble?Tonight on The Piano Pod, meet Joy Luck Trio — Donna Weng Friedman, Gao Hong, and Karen Han-Ottosson — three acclaimed artists creating a bold new chamber voice rooted in heritage, virtuosity, and contemporary expression.In this powerful conversation, we explore the origins of the trio, the fascinating histories of the pipa and erhu, remarkable careers spanning concert halls and film soundtracks, and the excitement of building something entirely new together.🎬 Full episode premieres tonight at 8 PM ET https://youtu.be/3ckAaOLwkjs?si=zxd26EgPelhvrvGe🎧 Audio released simultaneously:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-piano-pod-a-global-hub-for-innovation/id1542535778Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6tVYe2x1yILfaJm1yjyt2P?si=6e315e2c003b49a6Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fcedc315-c5b7-42d9-b1c9-7eb97b5b290d/the-piano-pod---a-global-hub-for-innovation-education-and-connection-in-classical-piano-musicSee you tonight.#ThePianoPod #JoyLuckTrio #Pipa #Erhu #Piano #MusicPodcast #ClassicalMusic #ChineseAmericanArtists

In this episode of The Piano Pod, we are joined by composer, conductor, & Music Director at Univeristy of Cologne, Michael OstrzygaHis work spans composition, conducting, editorial scholarship, and large-scale projects — but this conversation centers on his piano writing, especially his recent solo album Perseus.Together, we explore how music begins — whether from structure, memory, or sound itself — and how these ideas shape a body of work that moves between tradition and exploration. We also discuss his pedagogical work Der singende Wind, his early musical formation, and his recent arrangement of Beethoven’s Mass in C for four-hand piano and harmonium, commissioned by the Harvard Choruses.This episode offers a deeper look into the relationship between structure and intuition, and how personal experience finds its way into music.📖 Read our blog🌐 Michael Ostrzyga — Official Website🎧 Listen to his music (Spotify):💿 Album — Perseus📘 Der singende Wind - the Singing Wind (Breitkopf & Härtel):🎼 Beethoven Mass in C arrangement - article🎥 Harvard performance of Beethoven's Mass in C[THE PIANO POD]💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content🎵 Season 6 Piano Playlist (piano music mentioned in Season 6)📫 Join Our Newsletter🌐 Website📱 Follow The Piano PodInstagram: https://instagram.com/thepianopodFacebook: https://facebook.com/thepianopodTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@thepianopod🔗 All Links: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod

Here is the trailer for Season 6, Episode 15 of The Piano Pod. Guest: Michael Ostrzyga — Composer & Conductor In this episode, we explore his piano writing, centered around his album Perseus — a body of work shaped by structure, memory, and lived experience. In our conversation, we talked about: where music begins — sound, structure, or something more intuitive how memory finds its way into composition expanding the language of the piano writing for different kinds of performers how personal experience shapes artistic work 🎥 YouTube Premiere tonight at 8:00 PM ET (April 7): https://youtu.be/M_932Hlo-Xg?si=UB8J69nP3tM03Fyi 🎧 Audio (available on all platforms): https://linktr.ee/ThePianoPodAudio 📕Read our blog about Michael Ostrzyga: https://thepianopod.substack.com/p/meet-our-guest-michael-ostrzyga-composer Join us tonight.

In this episode of The Piano Pod, concert pianist Han Chen joins TPP for a deep conversation about virtuosity, vision, and what it means to build something meaningful in today’s classical music landscape.Han Chen is a GRAMMY Award–nominated pianist known for his fearless approach to some of the most demanding repertoire in the piano canon — from György Ligeti’s Complete Piano Études to Beethoven’s Hammerklavier. His recent recording of Florence Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement with conductor John Jeter and the Malmö Opera Orchestra has brought renewed attention to one of the most compelling American concertos of the 20th century.Beyond performance, Han is also a curator and creator. His large-scale project Infinite Staircase pairs all 18 Ligeti Études with 18 newly commissioned works by living composers, expanding the repertoire while rethinking what a piano program can be.This episode offers a rare look into the mind of a pianist who is not only performing at the highest level, but actively shaping the future of classical music.In This Episode, We Talk AboutFlorence Price and the legacy of her Piano ConcertoLigeti’s Complete Piano Études and technical/interpretive challengesInfinite Staircase — a 36-work project pairing Ligeti with new commissionsCreative programming as artistic identityCommissioning new music and working with living composersJuilliard training and mentorship under Yoheved KaplinskyExpanding the role of the pianist in today’s classical music worldLearn More About Han ChenWebsiteInstagramMeet Our Guest: Han Chen The Piano PodBecome a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive ContentSubscribe to the Season 6 Piano Playlist — a collection of every piano work mentioned throughout the episodes Join Our NewsletterWebsiteInstagramFacebook🔗 All Links

Here is the trailer for our upcoming episode with GRAMMY-nominated pianist Han Chen.From mastering Ligeti to building Infinite Staircase, this conversation goes beyond performance — into vision, risk, and creating something that lasts. 🎥 Premieres tonight at 8 PM ET: https://youtu.be/2JqDeHYSk58?si=QgFPTfWf0ch_7WBl 🎧 Audio: https://linktr.ee/thepianopodaudio Read Our Blog: https://open.substack.com/pub/thepianopod/p/meet-our-guest-han-chen-concert-pianist?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

Accents of Love: Vivian Fang Liu on Artistry, Belonging, and Music for the Next GenerationThe Piano Pod — Season 6, Episode 13In this episode of The Piano Pod, pianist, singer-songwriter, composer, educator, and music researcher Vivian Fang Liu joins host Yukimi Song for a powerful conversation about identity, creativity, and the role of music in shaping the next generation.Vivian Fang Liu is a classically trained pianist whose work spans classical performance, cross-genre songwriting, children’s music, and music education research. Her award-winning children’s album Accents of Love (2023) invites young listeners to celebrate their voices, languages, and identities through imaginative storytelling and vibrant musical production.Throughout the conversation, Vivian shares the inspiration behind her children’s music, her journey immigrating to the United States at age fifteen, and how themes of belonging, cultural identity, and resilience shape both her artistry and her educational work.This episode explores how music can empower children to embrace who they are while also building bridges across cultures and communities.Listen to Vivian Fang LiuChinese Pop OriginalChildren's MusicBelongI Is LoveTalk to the Fishes with Your Inner VoiceSilenceAll Accents Are ArtLearn More About Vivian Fang LiuWebsite Instagram SpotifyMeet Our Guest: Vivian Fang Liu https://substack.com/home/post/p-190096545The Piano Pod💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content 📫 Join Our Newsletter🌐 Website

Here is the trailer for our upcoming episode of The Piano Pod.Concert pianist, singer-songwriter, and composer Vivian Fang Liu joins us for a powerful conversation about music, identity, and belonging.From her award-winning children’s albums to cross-genre artistry shaped by classical piano, Vivian shares how her work brings together performance, storytelling, and education to empower the next generation.🎥 Full episode premieres tonight, March 17, at 8 PM ET on YouTube.https://youtu.be/bH4YCXAZX5M🎧 The audio episode will be released simultaneously on all podcast platforms.We hope you’ll join us for this inspiring conversation.#ThePianoPod #VivianFangLiu #AccentsOfLove #PodcastPremiere #MusicAndIdentity

Composer Sean Hickey joins The Piano Pod to discuss Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind — his monumental piano cycle inspired by Yuval Noah Harari’s bestselling book. From imagined orders and human cooperation to empire, biology, AI, and the future of artistic sustainability, this episode explores what it means to create — and remain human — in a rapidly changing world. Performed by pianist Vladimir Rumyantsev, Sapiens translates big philosophical questions into sound, structure, and silence. This conversation moves from macro-history to the deeply personal — from Detroit and electric guitar to leading major recording labels — and ultimately asks: What allows music to endure? 📺 Watch the 2/1/24 premiere of A Brief History of Humankind at Klavierhaus, NYC (Vladimir Rumyantsev) HERE🎧 Listen to Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind for Solo Piano 📺 Watch the Trailer for Recorder Concerto “A Pacifying Weapon” (Recorder: Michala Petri | Royal Danish Academy of Music Concert Band | Jean Thorel)📚 Read “Release Rationale, Why and Why Now” From Harari’s sweeping vision of human history to the realities of AI in today’s music industry, this episode centers on one enduring question: How do we remain authentic — and human — in the age of acceleration? If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share to support independent classical media. [SEAN HICKEY - Composer and Record Label Executive] 🌐 Website: https://seanhickey.com 📝 Read our blog about Sean[THE PIANO POD] 💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content https://thepianopod.substack.com 📫 Join Our Newsletter https://thepianopod.substack.com/subscribe/ 🌐 Website https://thepianopod.com 📱 Follow The Piano Pod https://linktr.ee/thepianopod Subscribe for more conversations on creativity, mentorship, and the future of classical music.

🎥 Here is the trailer for our new eps featuring Sean Hickey, Composer/Record Label Executive Composer Sean Hickey joins The Piano Pod to discuss Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind for the Piano — his monumental piano cycle inspired by Yuval Noah Harari’s bestselling book.From imagined orders and human cooperation to empire, biology, AI, and the future of artistic sustainability, this conversation explores what it means to create — and remain human — in a rapidly accelerating world.Performed by pianist Vladimir Rumyantsev, Sapiens translates sweeping philosophical questions into sound, structure, and silence.This episode moves from macro-history to the deeply personal — from Detroit and electric guitar to leading major international record labels — and ultimately asks:What allows music to endure?📆 Join the premiere tomorrow, Tuesday, February 24, at 8:00 PM ET. 📺 Set a reminder and join us live via YouTube: https://youtu.be/sx0nR48wNYg🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platforms: https://linktr.ee/ThePianoPodAudio📖 Read our blog review on Substack: https://thepianopod.substack.com/p/meet-our-guest-sean-hickey-composer

This surprise bonus episode was created in collaboration with Mannes School of Music at The New School.In this conversation, I sit down with Pavlina Dokovska — internationally active concert pianist, Chair of the Piano Department at Mannes School of Music, and Artistic Director of the Mannes International Piano Festival — to explore what it truly means to build artists in today’s musical and cultural moment.We discuss serious piano study, long-term mentorship, artistic identity, and the role institutions play in shaping the next generation of musicians.Toward the end of the episode, you will also hear from Jiwon Yang, current Mannes graduate student and First Prize winner of the George and Elizabeth Gregory Concerto Competition, sharing her experience studying in downtown Manhattan and participating in the festival.🎹 Mannes International Piano Festival📝 Festival Application🏫 Mannes School of Music at The New School📝 Meet Our Guest — Pavlina Dokovska: ABOUT THE PIANO POD💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content📫 Join Our Newsletter🌐 TPP Website📱 Follow The Piano Pod🎧 Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms.Subscribe for more conversations on creativity, mentorship, and the future of classical music.

🚨 Bonus Episode Drops TonightHere’s the trailer.Building Artists Through Music & Mentorship with Pavlina DokovskaWhat does it really take to build an artist?In this special collaboration, The Piano Pod sits down with Pavlina Dokovska — internationally active concert pianist, Chair of the Piano Department at Mannes School of Music, and Artistic Director of the Mannes International Piano Festival — for a candid conversation on serious piano study, mentorship, and artistic formation.We discuss:• Why long-term training still matters • Balancing rigor and humanity in teaching • How community shapes resilient musicians • The vision behind the Mannes International Piano FestivalYou’ll also hear from Jiwon Yang, a Mannes graduate student and First Prize winner of the George and Elizabeth Gregory Concerto Competition, on what it feels like to train in an environment defined by intensity and support.🎧 Premiering tonight at 8:00 PM ET 📺 YouTube: https://youtu.be/pMt6Jb-zOD4 🎙 Audio platforms: https://linktr.ee/ThePianoPodAudioA conversation about leadership, responsibility, and how artists are formed.

In this episode of The Piano Pod, host Yukimi Song sits down with pianist, composer, visual artist, and poet Asiya Korepanova for a wide-ranging conversation on extreme repertoire, transcription as a creative act, long-form artistic commitment, and what it means to think at scale as a musician today.Born into a deeply musical family in Izhevsk, Russia, and now based in the United States, Asiya’s career is defined by projects many would consider “impossible”: performing the complete solo piano works of Rachmaninoff during the composer’s 150th-anniversary year, Liszt’s 24 Études, and Bach’s complete Well-Tempered Clavier. In this conversation, Asiya reflects on what draws her to repertoire that unfolds over years rather than hours, and how long-form thinking shapes her artistic identity.A central focus of the episode is Asiya’s work as a transcriber. She speaks candidly about transcription as a form of composition—an act she once described as “taming a wild animal”—and how her deep understanding of orchestral, vocal, and chamber music informs the way she reimagines works for solo piano. We hear excerpts from her transcriptions of Mussorgsky’s Songs and Dances of Death and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, alongside reflections on craft, risk, and responsibility.The conversation also explores Asiya’s work beyond performance: her compositions, her multidisciplinary projects that integrate visual art and poetry, her commitment to education and access through her nonprofit Music for Minds, and her curatorial leadership at Festival Baltimore and Festival Flatiron NYC.This episode offers a rare, unfiltered look into the inner life of an artist whose work is driven not by spectacle, but by depth, rigor, and fearless vision.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCESAsiya Korepanova — Official Website Asiya's Merch on EtsySounds of Inspiration — Piano Works from Season 6 (Music mentioned in this episode) Read the accompanying blog on Substack🎧 THE PIANO POD💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock exclusive content 📫 Join our newsletter🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.comFollow Us on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod

🎬 Official Trailer — Fearless Visionwith Asiya KorepanovaFor our upcoming episode of The Piano Pod, host Yukimi Song sits down with Asiya Korepanova — pianist, composer, visual artist, and poet — for a deep conversation on long-form artistic commitment, transcription as a creative act, and what it means to build a life in music shaped by depth, curiosity, and fearless vision.Asiya is known for her daring piano transcriptions and for taking on extreme repertoire, including the complete solo piano works of Rachmaninoff and Liszt’s 24 Études. In this episode, she reflects on why she is drawn to projects that unfold over years rather than hours, and how imagination, rigor, and responsibility intersect in her artistic life.📅 Episode Premiere: Tuesday, February 10 ⏰ 8:00 PM ET🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thepianopod🎧 Audio episode drops simultaneously: https://linktr.ee/ThePianoPodAudio📝 Meet Our Guest — Asiya Korepanova (Blog)🌐 Asiya Korepanova — Official WebsiteJoin us for a conversation that goes beyond performance — into process, scale, and artistic vision.

In this episode of The Piano Pod, host Yukimi Song sits down with pianist, recording artist, and multidisciplinary creator Aïda Lahlou for an in-depth conversation on Ravel’s Miroirs, sound as physical reality, and what it means to build an artistic life through curiosity, risk, and purpose. At the center of the conversation is Aïda’s debut album, Mirrors and Echoes—a recording that places Ravel’s Miroirs as its reflective core, surrounded by carefully curated piano miniatures from across cultures and centuries. Rather than treating the album as a collection of pieces, Aïda speaks about programming as experience: sequencing, resonance, and how sound can function as landscape rather than emotional narrative. We also explore her broader artistic practice—from environmental engagement and rethinking institutional success, to her one-woman show blending stand-up comedy with solo piano performance, and her advocacy for the return of the modern impresario / creative producer in today’s classical music ecosystem. 🎧 Listen to Aïda's album, Mirrors and Echoes, on Spotify📝 Meet Our Guest — Aïda Lahlou: Read the accompanying blog exploring Mirrors and Echoes and Aïda’s artistic vision🎧 THE PIANO POD 💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock exclusive content HERE.📫 Join our newsletter HERE🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod

🎬 OFFICIAL TRAILER Season 6, Episode 10 Mirrors and Echoes — Ravel, Resonance, and Reframing Tradition What happens when Ravel’s Miroirs becomes the center of a much larger listening journey? In this episode of The Piano Pod, I sit down with Aïda Lahlou — UK-based, award-winning pianist and multidisciplinary artist — for an in-depth conversation on her debut album Mirrors and Echoes and the ideas shaping her work today. At the heart of our discussion is Ravel: how Miroirs functions not as a self-contained cycle, but as a reflective axis — opening pathways to sound worlds across cultures, traditions, and time. We talk about programming as experience, sound as landscape, and why curiosity and risk are essential tools for artists working outside inherited models of success. This is a conversation about listening deeply, building artistic agency, and reframing tradition without abandoning it. ▶️ Join the premiere on Tuesday, January 27 at 8:00 pm ET 🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bFeSehfSUck?si=oCYgW6ciVkkf1N-u 🎧 Audio episode drops simultaneously https://rss.com/podcasts/the-piano-pod/

In this episode of The Piano Pod, host Yukimi Song sits down with concert pianist and recording artist Ammiel Bushakevitz for a wide-ranging conversation on Franz Schubert, the German Lied tradition, and what makes 19th-century music speak powerfully to 21st-century audiences.Ammiel shares insights from his major long-term projects, including Schubert 200 — a multi-album Lied collaboration building toward Schubert’s bicentennial in 2028 — and his ongoing recording of Schubert’s complete solo piano works. We explore intimacy versus scale, collaboration between singer and pianist, audience-building for a new generation, and why Schubert’s music remains profoundly human and relevant today.🎧 Note: This video episode concludes around the 51-minute mark. The audio version continues further, with additional reflections on collaboration, teaching, empathy, and artistic legacy. Find the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts.🎹 Meet Our Guest — Ammiel Bushakevitz📝 Read the blog post exploring Ammiel’s artistry and his approach to SchubertAbout Ammiel: Concert pianist, recording artist, and one of today’s leading interpreters of Schubert and the German Lied tradition. Ammiel performs internationally across six continents and is also the Artistic Director of Les Voix d’Orphée, an organization dedicated to song, education, and cultural exchange.🔗 Learn more about Ammiel Bushakevitz🎧 Listen to all the pieces mentioned during the episode here🎧 THE PIANO POD💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock exclusive content HERE.📫 Join our newsletter!🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com 📱 Follow: IG @thepianopod | FB @thepianopod | TikTok @thepianopod 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod

🎬 OFFICIAL TRAILERSeason 6, Episode 9 Schubert Now — Concert Pianist, Ammiel Bushakevitz on Storytelling, Connection, and the Road to the 2028 BicentennialWhy does Schubert still matter today?In our first episode of 2026, I sit down with concert pianist and recording artist Ammiel Bushakevitz for a wide-ranging conversation on Schubert, the German Lied tradition, and why intimacy — not scale — may shape the future of classical music.From his bold Schubert 200 project and the journey toward recording Schubert’s complete piano works by 2028, to the return of Schubertiaden and the power of music in small, human spaces, this episode explores what it means to listen deeply in the 21st century.This is a conversation about storytelling, connection, and why 19th-century music continues to speak with urgency today.▶️ Join the premiere here on Tuesday, January 13:https://youtu.be/uWoq0paUvCc?si=ePQCYgqFTY361VOK🎧 Audio episode drops simultaneously: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-piano-pod/

To close out 2025, The Piano Pod brings you a special year-end bonus episode featuring composer and storyteller Stefania De Kenessey. Earlier this season, we explored her MICROVIDS project; today, Stefania takes us behind the scenes of another major undertaking: her opera The Bonfire of the Vanities, based on Tom Wolfe’s iconic novel.In this conversation, Stefania reflects on the creative risks, structural challenges, and artistic values behind adapting a 700-page book for the operatic stage. She shares insights on distillation, libretti, character reimagining, and the emotional stakes of composing—offering a rare look at how large-scale musical works take shape.You’ll hear Stefania discuss:Transforming a sprawling novel into a cohesive operaThe unique demands of crafting a focused, effective librettoReimagining characters and narrative power dynamicsWhat music can unveil that prose alone cannotChoosing a darker, more pointed endingThe exhilarating—and sometimes brutal—reality of composingICYMI: Revisit our full episode on MICROVIDS in Season 6, Episode 3This episode is a thoughtful reminder that music is not only a craft, but a conviction. Stefania’s perspective highlights how storytelling, ethics, and imagination intersect in contemporary composition.Thank you for being part of The Piano Pod community this year. We return on January 13, 2026, with a brand-new episode to kick off the new year.

✨ Happy Holidays, friends!This extra segment comes from Season 6, Episode 2 with the award-winning Mada & Hugh Piano Duo. Our conversation ran longer than expected, and while this part didn’t make it into the final episode, I couldn’t keep it from you — it’s just too good.In this excerpt, Mada & Hugh open up about creativity in its purest form:How hobbies and play can recharge usWhy music connects us beyond perfectionWhat it means to reclaim our humanity in an age of technology and AIThe joy of making music without judgment or pressureTheir reflections feel like the perfect reminder for this season: creativity is not about perfection, but about presence, freedom, and connection.🎧 Enjoy this bonus episode with Mada and Hugh! Explore More from Mada & Hugh📖 Read my blog about their YouTube vlogs: Meet Our Guest: Mada & Hugh Website: madahugh.com YouTube: @madahughpianoduo🎬 Listen to the original episode released in September 2025: Four Hands, Boundless Creativity — Mada & Hugh Piano Duo here.💖 Support The Piano PodSubscribe to our Sounds of Inspiration – Piano Works from Season 6 playlist: Click hereSubscribe to our newsletter: https://thepianopod.substack.com/subscribeWebsite: thepianopod.comSocial Media: linktr.ee/thepianopod Listen on all podcast platforms: linktr.ee/ThePianoPodAudio

What does a piano recital have to do with war, faith, and forgiveness?In this episode of The Piano Pod, pianist and educator Anli Lin Tong shares the story behind Bells of Nagasaki: Music for Contemplation—a profoundly moving concert created for the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.What began as a single song her father used to sing—The Bells of Nagasaki—became a powerful act of remembrance, shaped by the legacy of Dr. Takashi Nagai, a survivor who transformed unimaginable loss into a life devoted to peace.This conversation moves beyond repertoire and performance into questions rarely asked in classical music:• What responsibility does an artist carry when history is still unresolved? • How does sound hold memory when words fail?From the history of Urakami Cathedral’s bells, silenced for decades, to Anli’s own journey—moving to the U.S. alone as a child, studying with legendary teachers, and carrying artistic lineage forward—this episode reveals how music can become a moral witness.It’s a conversation about remembrance, responsibility, and the quiet power of sound to hold history—and humanity—together.Learn More About Anli Lin Tong📝 Read my blog exploring Anli’s artistry and work📰 Press Coverage: Bells of Nagasaki: Music for Contemplation 🎓 Juilliard Feature The Juilliard School highlights Anli’s writing on her teacher Mieczysław Munz: 🎹 THE PIANO POD🎵 Subscribe to the Season 6 Piano Playlist — a collection of every piano work mentioned throughout the episodes: 💖 Become a VIP Member or unlock exclusive content: 📫 Join our newsletter:🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com 📱 IG: @thepianopod | FB: @thepianopod | TikTok: @thepianopod 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod

The trailer for our upcoming episode is now live—and it offers a glimpse into one of the most reflective and quietly powerful conversations of this season.In Season 6, Episode 8 of The Piano Pod, I sit down with pianist and educator Anli Lin Tong for a deeply moving conversation about music as memory, faith, lineage, and moral witness.At the heart of this episode is Anli’s recent project, Bells of Nagasaki: Music for Contemplation—a concert created to honor the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. What began as a song her father used to sing, The Bells of Nagasaki, became the seed for a project shaped by history, spiritual reckoning, and the life of Dr. Takashi Nagai, a survivor who devoted his life to forgiveness and peace.Our conversation moves beyond repertoire and performance into questions that are rarely asked in classical music: What role can music play in healing and forgiveness? What responsibility does an artist carry when history is still unresolved?We also trace Anli’s artistic lineage—from early piano lessons guided by her father, to moving to the U.S. alone as a minor, to studying with legendary teachers and carrying their legacy forward through her work as a performer and educator.This episode is a reflection on remembrance, responsibility, and the artist’s calling—and on the quiet power of music to hold history, faith, and humanity together.✨ The full episode premieres Tuesday, December 16, at 8:00 PM ET on YouTube, with the audio episode released simultaneously on all major podcast platforms.📝 Learn more about Anli and her work HERE— Yukimi

In this episode, I sit down with pianist and educator Mirna Lekić for a conversation that spans continents, sound worlds, and the deeper layers of what music can mean in a human life.Born and raised in Sarajevo during the Bosnian War and now based in New York City, Mirna brings a rare perspective to the piano — one shaped by resilience, migration, devotion, and an unshakable belief in music as a stabilizing, healing force.We explore her acclaimed 2023 album MIRAGE, a breathtaking collection of sonic illusions and cultural crossings that reimagines the piano as a global storyteller — moving from Azerbaijan to Spain, Armenia to Java, and beyond.This episode dives into:how early musical experiences during war shaped Mirna’s artistic identitythe healing and stabilizing role music played during her family’s resettlementthe depth of Bosnian and Balkan musical influenceshow cultural diversity becomes musical philosophy, not performanceMIRAGE and its groundbreaking approach to sound, resonance, and identitycollaborative work with living composers, shadow puppeteers, and multidisciplinary artistshow educators can guide young musicians toward authenticity in a rapidly changing worldIt’s a conversation about healing, devotion, heritage, and the power of sound to help us make sense of where we come from — and where we’re going.🌟 SOUND BITES“Music was a healing presence.” “Music study demands devotion.” “Music can be a lifeline.”🎧 FEATURED LINKS FROM MIRNA'S WORKFrom the album Masks: Debussy, The Toybox (opening) Villa-Lobos: Negrinha, No. 5 from Baby’s Family From MIRAGE: Ali-Zadeh — Music for Piano Lachenmann — Guero Cowell — Aeolian Harp From Eastern Currents: Ramin Heydarbeygi — Aramesh Mirna’s Shadow Puppetry Collaborations: https://youtu.be/V5Tj2ZHDGS8?si=Aa05gwPs0R0evO8r https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duMJtVPVOIs&t=262sRead my review on Mirna's Album, MIRAGE on Substack

Here is the TRAILER — Between Worlds: From Sarajevo to New York: A Conversation on Cultural Crossings, Sonic Identity, and the Art of Connection feat. Mirna LekićThis week on The Piano Pod, I sit down with pianist and champion of new music Mirna Lekić for a conversation that moves between cultures, sound worlds, and the deeper layers of artistic identity. From Sarajevo to New York, we explore cultural crossings, sonic imagination, and the power of music to connect and ground us.✨ The full episode drops this Tuesday, December 9 at 8pm ET — and I’d love for you to join us.📺 Set Reminder for the YouTube Premiere🎧 Audio episode will be available everywhere simultaneously📝 Learn more about Mirna and her album MIRAGE on Substack See you on Tuesday for a powerful conversation on cultural crossings, sonic identity, and the art of connection.

Happy Thanksgiving! In this bonus episode, I’m sharing something deeply personal — a part of my identity I’ve rarely spoken about publicly. I am a third-generation Zainichi Korean, born and raised in Japan, and I’m finally stepping into that history through a new creative initiative called The Zainichi Music Project, now sponsored by the New York Foundation for the Arts.This episode marks the beginning of that journey — a project that will grow into a living archive of research, new music commissions, recordings, interviews, and documentary work.In this episode, I talk about:What the word Zainichi actually means,How Japanese colonial rule — not immigration — brought our community into Japan,How postwar restructuring and the San Francisco Peace Treaty left Zainichi Koreans stateless,What it meant to be born and raised in a country that never fully recognized us as citizens,And why this project is my way of honoring our history, resilience, and creative legacy.For those who want to go deeper, please read my Substack essay, “Behind the Mic: Reclaiming Voice Through Sound,” where I share more about my experience growing up Zainichi.Thank you for listening — and for being part of The Piano Pod community. If you’d like to follow this new project, you can subscribe to Substack and follow @zainichimusicproject on Instagram and TikTok.More soon, and thank you for supporting this next chapter.

In this episode of The Piano Pod, I sit down with Elena Riu — pianist, groundbreaking recording artist, educator, and yoga/mindfulness teacher — whose work has reshaped how we think about artistry, embodiment, and the future of piano performance. Elena has long been a force of quiet revolution. Long before conversations about inclusivity and expanded repertoire entered the mainstream, she was commissioning bold new works, centering Latin-American and women composers, and exploring how breath, movement, and somatic awareness can transform the way we play and teach music. This conversation travels across the full spectrum of her artistry — from embodied performance to cultural identity, from the menstrual cycle as a source of creativity to breaking nineteenth-century norms about who pianists should be and what they should play. If you’ve ever wondered how breath shapes sound, how identity shapes expression, or how artists can create courageously beyond convention, this is a conversation you won’t forget. [Explore Elena’s Work] Salsa Nueva — Score (16-piece anthology): 📘 Purchase on Stretta📘 Purchase on Presto Music Salsa Nueva — Album (with Latin percussionist Wilmer Sifontes): 🎧 SOMM RecordingsOut of the Blues / R&B Collection — Score: 📘 Purchase on Presto Music Piano Icons for the 21st Century (Linn Records):🎧 Amazon 🌐 Elena’s Website✨ If you enjoyed this episode… Please like, comment, and subscribe — it truly helps our community grow. Follow The Piano Pod on social media for more conversations at the intersection of creativity, connection, and the evolving world of classical music. 📝 My blog on Elena & her album Salsa Nueva: 🎵 Listen to our Sounds of Inspiration – Piano Works from Season 6 Playlist Thank you for listening — and for supporting a space where artists can be fully themselves. #ThePianoPod #Season6 #ElenaRiu #EmbodiedMusician #EmbodiedPianist #ClassicalMusic #Piano #SalsaNueva #MindfulnessForMusicians #Somatics #YogaForMusicians #NewMusic #LatinAmericanComposers #CreativeCourage #PianistLife

Get ready for our next episode of The Piano Pod: The Embodied Pianist with Elena Riu — pianist, groundbreaking recording artist, educator, and yoga/mindfulness teacher.In this powerful conversation, we explore embodied performance, somatics, breath, creativity, cultural identity, and even the menstrual cycle as a source of artistic insight. Elena’s work challenges long-held assumptions about what pianists should play, how they should train, and how the body shapes sound.In this episode, Elena and I talk about:✅ Her journey from Venezuela to the UK — and how navigating multiple identities shaped her artistry✅ The creation of Salsa Nueva and the importance of commissioning new works✅ What it means to challenge 19th-century biases about repertoire and artistic identity✅ Her work as an embodied pianist and how somatics, breath, and movement transform playing✅ Collaboration with dancers, visual artists, poets, and composers✅ Why she opens taboo conversations like creativity and the menstrual cycle among biologically female performers🎬 Set a reminder for the premiere tomorrow at 8 pm ET: https://youtu.be/exIQxYGbQw8 🎧 Prefer audio? Listen to the audio episode (Spotify, Apple, Amazon & more) available tomorrow, November 18 at 8:00pm ET: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-piano-pod/ 📝 Read my full review of Elena’s groundbreaking album Salsa Nueva on Substack #ThePianoPod #Season6 #ElenaRiu #EmbodiedPianist #SalsaNueva #LatinAmericanMusic #NewMusic #ContemporaryPiano #SteinwayArtist #WomenInMusic #Somatics #MusiciansHealth #ClassicalMusicReimagined

🎶✨ What if jazz could be taught as naturally as language—where freedom, creativity, and collaboration drive learning?Welcome to Season 6, Episode 5 of The Piano Pod, featuring Quentin Walston — pianist, composer, educator, and founder of This Is Jazz™. In this conversation, we explore how Quentin bridges performance, pedagogy, and entrepreneurship through his acclaimed book How to Teach Jazz & Improvisation and his growing online platform empowering educators worldwide.In our talk, Quentin shares: ✅ His mission to make jazz approachable for every student ✅ How his book helps teachers with little or no jazz background start confidently ✅ Turning small classroom moments into creative breakthroughs ✅ Building a thriving online community for jazz educators ✅ Balancing artistry and business as a modern musician ✅ His personal journey — from discovering jazz as a child to releasing his album Retro Future👉 Stay tuned until the end for rapid-fire fun and key insights on creativity, confidence, and cultivating joy through improvisation.🎼 Explore Quentin’s Work 🌐 Website: quentinwalston.com 📘 Book: How to Teach Jazz & Improvisation 🎵 Platform: This Is Jazz 💿 Album: Retro Future🎧 The Piano Pod 💖 Subscribe or unlock exclusive content: thepianopod.substack.com 🎵 Listen to our Sounds of Inspiration – Piano Works from Season 6 playlist: YouTube Playlist 📫 Join our newsletter: Sign UpStay Connected: 🌐 thepianopod.com 🚨 linktr.ee/thepianopod 📱 Instagram: @thepianopod 😃 Facebook: @thepianopod ⏳ TikTok: @thepianopod

In this trailer, get a glimpse into my upcoming conversation with Quentin Walston — a pianist, composer, and educator known for his joyful fusion of jazz, improvisation, and storytelling. In this episode, we dive into creativity, connection, and the spirit of collaboration that defines his work and the evolving world of modern musicianship.✨ Watch the YouTube Premiere: https://youtu.be/hYK86QGXxW0 🎧 Listen to the full audio episode: https://linktr.ee/ThePianoPodAudio 📰 Learn more about Quentin — read my latest blog on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/thepianopod/p/meet-our-guest-quentin-walston?r=2q1iy3&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web🎹 The Piano Pod is an award-winning podcast and YouTube show reimagining classical and contemporary music through authentic conversations with artists, educators, and cultural innovators shaping the future of the art form.#ThePianoPod #QuentinWalston #Jazz #Podcast #Season6 #CreativityAndConnection #Trailer

The Piano Pod Live in Concert: A Bold New Chapter in Classical Music marked the first-ever live event for the award-winning podcast and YouTube show The Piano Pod, conceived and hosted by Executive Producer Yukimi Song. Presented in collaboration with Mannes Prep, a pre-college music program offering comprehensive and nurturing pre-professional training at The New School, this milestone concert brought the show’s signature format — music performance, interview, and panel discussion — from the digital space to the stage. 🎹 Featured Artists Dr. Jee-Hoon Krska — Prelude in G-sharp Minor, Op. 32 No. 12 by Sergei Rachmaninoff 🔗 https://www.keystosuccessnewark.org Eleonor Bindman — her transcription of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 for piano four hands (Secondo: Yukimi Song) 🔗 https://www.eleonorbindman.comDr. Nnenna Ogwo — The Sun is Rising by Black American composer Consuela Lee 🔗 https://www.juneteenthlp.org Donna Weng Friedman ( @donnawengfriedman9968 ) — Fantasy on The Wizard of Oz by William Hirtz for piano four hands (Secondo: Yukimi Song) 🔗 https://www.donnawengfriedman.com 🎙️ About the Event Filmed live at Ernst C. Stiefel Hall at The New School, this 90-minute event blended world-class performances with an engaging interview session and audience panel discussion. The artists shared personal stories, insights on collaboration, and visions for keeping classical music vibrant and relevant today. 💬 Special Guests Caroline Sonett-Assor, Director of Mannes Prep, The New School Audience members and artists in conversation 🎥 Video by: Scott Chiu, Portable Recording Studio (https://www.portablerecordingstudio.com/) 📸 Photography by: Vin Carvalho (https://www.thephotoartstudio.com/) ✨ Presented by: The Piano Pod — Where tradition meets innovation. In Collaboration with: Mannes Prep, The New School Produced by: Yukimi Song Studio LLC #ThePianoPod #MannesPrep #LiveConcert #ClassicalMusic #PianoPodcast #ConcertAndConversation #PanelDiscussion #CreativityAndConnection #DonnaWengFriedman #NnennaOgwo #EleonorBindman #JeeHoonKrska #YukimiSong #TheNewSchool

🎶✨ How can nineteen tiny piano miniatures blossom into one of the most expansive, collaborative, and award-winning projects of our time? Welcome to Season 6 Episode 3: The World of MICROVIDS — Composer & Advocate for Women in Music, Stefania de Kenessey. In this episode of The Piano Pod, I sit down with Stefania de Kenessey, a composer whose works have been heard at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, La MaMa, and around the world. Her latest project, Microvids, began as nineteen piano miniatures written during the pandemic — and has since grown into a global tapestry of music, poetry, improvisation, orchestral performance, and film. In our conversation, Stefania opens up about: ✅ The surprising origins of MICROVIDS and how “tiny nothings” became her richest work ✅ Collaborations with pianist Donna Weng Friedman, violinist Curtis Stewart, narrator Krystal Joy Brown, and the New Jersey Youth Symphony under Helen Cha-Pyo ✅ Award-winning films inspired by MICROVIDS, including Silent Cry ✅ How MICROVIDS can connect with youth orchestras and piano students around the world ✅ Her advocacy for women in music, her Hungarian roots, and her expansive multi-genre style — from opera to dance to provocative video works like Menstrual Rosary 👉 Stay tuned until the end for rapid-fire fun, candid reflections, and exclusive performance excerpts from MICROVIDS, Unorthodox, and Menstrual Rosary. https://www.navonarecords.com/catalog/nv6751/ 🌐 Stefania's Website🎬 Watch Silent Cry (award-winning short film)🎬 Watch Menstrual Rosary (winner of 33 film awards) [The Piano Pod] 💖 Subscribe TPP on Substack to unlock exclusive content 🎵 Listen to our Sounds of Inspiration – Piano Works from Season 6 playlist 📫 Subscribe to our newsletter🚨 Latest News: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod 🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com

🎶✨ How can nineteen miniature piano pieces transform into a boundless world of music, poetry, collaboration, and film?Season 6 of The Piano Pod continues with an extraordinary episode featuring composer Stefania de Kenessey and her latest project, Microvids. What began as small, intimate sketches during the pandemic has blossomed into her most expansive and personal work — brought to life through powerful collaborations across instruments, voices, ensembles, and even award-winning films.In this conversation, Stefania shares:✅ The surprising origins of Microvids and its evolution across multiple formats✅ How collaboration turned tiny piano pieces into something vast and universal✅ Why Microvids resonates with youth orchestras, students, and audiences worldwide✅ The role of love, vulnerability, and connection in her music✅ Her advocacy for women in music and her vision for the next generation🎬 Don’t miss it! Watch the premiere on Tuesday, Oct 14 at 8:00 pm ET right here on our YouTube channel🎧 Prefer audio? The episode will also drop everywhere you listen to podcasts at the same time!Explore more:🌐 Website: https://www.stefaniadekenessey.com/🎼 Album: https://www.navonarecords.com/catalog/nv6751/

🔥 “Music isn’t just about playing the notes — it’s about living beyond the keys.”🔥Welcome to the premiere of Encore Conversations — The Piano Pod’s new series, where past guests return for short, powerful conversations about their latest projects and evolving journeys.To kick it off, I’m joined by Jeeyoon Kim — pianist, educator, podcaster, and now a two-time author. You may remember her from Season 3, when she shared her debut book, Whenever You’re Ready, and her bold mission to transform the concert experience.Now she’s back with her new book Beyond the Keys and companion album Radiance — projects that dive even deeper into love, resilience, and the creative spirit.🎶 The episode opens with Jeeyoon’s stunning performance of Piazzolla’s Libertango (arr. Kyoko Yamamoto), also featured on Radiance. From her unforgettable 2023 Carnegie Hall debut to the raw personal stories she reveals in Beyond the Keys, Jeeyoon shows us how music, writing, and life lessons intertwine to create something extraordinary.📌 Explore More 🎶 Watch the full Libertango performance (from Radiance):📖 Download 4 free chapters of Beyond the Keys🛒 Order Beyond the Keys on Amazon: https://a.co/d/3DTUMik✨ If you missed Jeeyoon’s first Piano Pod appearance (Season 3, Episode 14), go back and listen. You’ll see why her originality and authenticity continue to inspire this community.👍 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Encore Conversations and Season 6 episodes that celebrate Creativity & Connection.[The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music]💖 Subscribe to our Substack page for free or unlock exclusive materials with a paid subscription🎵 Subscribe to our Sounds of Inspiration – Piano Works from Season 6📫 Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/40kiukh Stay Connected:🚨 Latest News: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com 📱

In this special premiere of Encore Conversations, The Piano Pod’s brand-new alumni series, I sit down with award-winning pianist, author, and educator Jeeyoon Kim. You may remember her from Season 3, where she inspired us with her originality, authenticity, and mission to make concerts deeply personal. Now she returns with her most intimate project yet — her second book Beyond the Keys and companion album Radiance.In our Encore Conversation, Jeeyoon opens up about:✅ The inspiration behind Beyond the Keys ✅ Why she chose to share her deepest challenges with her readers ✅ What she discovered about herself through writing ✅ How her new album Radiance expands on the book’s themes of love, resilience, and connection🎬 Join the broadcast of this special Encore Conversation on September 9, 2025, at 8:00pm ET: https://youtu.be/0bpMQiBLkaY[Jeeyoon Kim]🎹 Watch Libertango from Radiance: https://youtu.be/LK3dnspkqEY?si=5Ml6VZcQ6_OPu8_R 📖 Free preview (4 chapters) of Beyond the Keys: https://dedicated-thinker-5780.kit.com/3ee9541685 🛒 Order the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/3DTUMik 🌐 Website: https://www.jeeyoonkim.com[The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music]💖 Subscribe for free or unlock exclusive materials with a paid subscription: https://thepianopod.substack.com/subscribe 🎵 Subscribe to our Sounds of Inspiration – Piano Works from Season 6: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeBrJAY2RQ_uqBAHXTkMwM4nISe9vxvDa 📫 Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/40kiukh

🎹🔥 What makes a four-hand piano duo so powerful, intimate, and endlessly creative?Welcome to Season 6 Episode 2: Four Hands, Boundless Creativity — Mada & Hugh, the Award-Winning Duo on Love, Life & Artistic FreedomIn this captivating episode of The Piano Pod, I sit down with the award-winning Mada & Hugh Piano Duo — Romanian-born pianist Mădălina-Claudia Dănilă and Korean-American pianist Hugh Sung. Known for their electrifying four-hand performances, imaginative arrangements, and engaging video productions, Mada & Hugh are redefining what it means to collaborate in classical music today.In our conversation, they open up about:The artistry and intimacy of four-hand piano playing Their daring arrangements, from Romanian folk gems to Sweet Child O’ Mine Behind-the-scenes secrets of their video production and vlogs Mădălina’s journey from Romania to the U.S. and her research on George Crumb Hugh’s entrepreneurial path — inventing AirTurn and pushing the boundaries of music tech The risks they’ve taken to reinvent themselves and the courage it takes to build a new artistic life together👉 Stay tuned until the end for rapid-fire fun, candid reflections on creativity and connection, and exclusive performance excerpts — including Suita din Dobrogea and Silence and a Face from Christian Mecham’s Three Omens.[Mada & Hugh Piano Duo] Website:YouTube Channel🎼Download their amazing 4-hand arrangements HERE[The Piano Pod]Subscribe to TPP on Substack for free or unlock exclusive materials with a paid subscriptionSubscribe to our Sounds of Inspiration – Piano Works from Season 6 playlistLatest NewsWebsite

🎹🔥 What makes a four-hand piano duo so powerful, intimate, and endlessly creative? Season 6 of The Piano Pod continues with an electrifying episode featuring the award-winning Mada & Hugh Piano Duo — Romanian-born pianist Mădălina Dănilă and Korean-American pianist Hugh Sung. Known for their imaginative arrangements, captivating performances, and cross-cultural collaboration, Mada & Hugh are redefining what it means to perform and create in the 21st century. In this conversation, they share: ✅ The artistry and intimacy of four-hand piano playing ✅ Their daring arrangements — from Romanian folk gems to Sweet Child O’ Mine ✅ Behind-the-scenes secrets of their video productions ✅ Insights into their entrepreneurial journeys, from George Crumb research to inventing AirTurn ✅ How love, creativity, and connection fuel their partnership on and off the stage 🎬 Don’t miss it! Watch the premiere on Tuesday, Sept 23 at 8:00pm ET right here on our YouTube channel 👇 👉 🎧 Prefer audio? The episode will also drop everywhere you listen to podcasts at the same time! https://linktr.ee/ThePianoPodAudio Explore more: 🌐 Website: https://www.madahugh.com/ 📺 YouTube: @madahughpianoduo 🎹 Watch the entire performance of Suita din Dobrogea by Mada and Hugh Piano Duo: https://youtu.be/RiKUH1wR3Po?si=mmcH6OARFWWMIgev

🎹✨ Can music heal, comfort, and truly transform lives?In this special Season 6 premiere of The Piano Pod, I sit down with Billboard-charting pianist and composer Chad Lawson — also the first musician ever appointed as a U.N. Ambassador for the World Federation for Mental Health. His composition “The Light Within” became the official theme song for World Mental Health Day, and his music has touched millions through streaming, concerts, hospitals, and beyond.In our conversation, Chad opens up about:The inspiration behind his latest album, Where We Are: Unity EditionHow he turned adversity into artistry with his debut Set on a HillWhy combining music and wellness has become his missionAnd the story of how he became a U.N. Ambassador through music👉 Stay tuned until the end for rapid-fire fun, personal insights, secrets to building a successful creative career, and an exclusive excerpt of Chad’s breathtaking piece “Sanctuary.”[Chad Lawson]Sanctuary full video: https://youtu.be/QZwL3ojac0I?si=dR6CUnz-UECGgH5gThe Light Within: https://youtu.be/QZwL3ojac0I?si=dR6CUnz-UECGgH5gWebsite: https://www.chadlawson.com/Podcast: https://www.calmitdownpodcast.com/[The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music]💖 Subscribe for free or unlock exclusive materials with a paid subscription: https://thepianopod.substack.com/subscribe🎵 Subscribe to our Sounds of Inspiration – Piano Works from Season 6: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeBrJAY2RQ_uqBAHXTkMwM4nISe9vxvDa📫 Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/40kiukhStay Connected:🚨 Latest News: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com📱 Instagram: @thepianopod😃 Facebook: https://facebook.com/ThePianoPodNYC⏳ TikTok: @thepianopod

🎹✨ Can music heal, comfort, and truly transform lives? In this special Season 6 premiere of The Piano Pod, I sit down with Billboard-charting pianist and composer Chad Lawson — also the first musician ever appointed as a U.N. Ambassador for the World Federation for Mental Health. His composition “The Light Within” became the official theme song for World Mental Health Day, and his music has touched millions through streaming, concerts, hospitals, and beyond. In our conversation, Chad opens up about: ✅ The inspiration behind his latest album, Where We Are: Unity Edition ✅ How he turned adversity into artistry with his debut Set on a Hill ✅ Why combining music and wellness has become his mission ✅ And the story of how he became a U.N. Ambassador through music 🎬 Join the broadcast of this special episode on September 9, 2025, at 8:00pm ET: [Chad Lawson] 📺 Sanctuary full video: https://youtu.be/QZwL3ojac0I?si=dR6CUnz-UECGgH5g 🎹 The Light Within: https://youtu.be/QZwL3ojac0I?si=dR6CUnz-UECGgH5g 🌐 Website: https://www.chadlawson.com/ 🎧 Podcast, Calm It Down: https://www.calmitdownpodcast.com/ [The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music] 💖 Subscribe for free or unlock exclusive materials with a paid subscription: https://thepianopod.substack.com/subscribe 🎵 Subscribe to our Sounds of Inspiration – Piano Works from Season 6: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeBrJAY2RQ_uqBAHXTkMwM4nISe9vxvDa 📫 Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/40kiukh Stay Connected: 🚨 Latest News: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod 🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com 📱 Instagram: @thepianopod 😃 Facebook: https://facebook.com/ThePianoPodNYC ⏳ TikTok: @thepianopod

✨ Season 6 of The Piano Pod is here! ✨ This year, it’s all about Creativity and Connection — the messy, vulnerable, transformative stories behind the music. 🎹 We kick things off with an inspiring lineup: 🎶 Chad Lawson on September 9, 8:00 pm ET. Mădălina Dănilă & Hugh Sung — the award-winning Mada & Hugh Piano Duo, whose artistry and unique bond radiate joy, innovation, and cultural connection. And for the first time ever — The Piano Pod Live in Concert! 🎉 📅 October 4, 2025 📍 Stiefel Hall at The New School, in collaboration with Mannes Prep. Featuring performances and conversations with Donna Weng Friedman, Dr. Jee Hoon Krska, Dr. Nnenna Ogwo, and Eleonor Bindman. 💡 Why tune in? Because behind every polished performance is a story—unexpected, human, and full of resilience. This season dares to ask: What does it really mean to be a 21st‑century musician? 👉 Watch episodes on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platforms, and join our community on Substack. Don’t miss the premiere: September 9, 2025, at 8:00 pm ET with Chad Lawson! #ThePianoPod #Season6 #CreativityAndConnection #ChadLawson #MadaAndHugh #ClassicalMusic #PodcastLaunch

Thinking about starting a podcast—but feeling overwhelmed by where to begin? I created a mini-course for artists, educators, and independent creatives who want to build a podcast that feels authentic, intentional, and achievable. And this bonus episode is a FREE intro lesson. Inside, I’ll walk you through what to expect in my full course, share a bit of my story, and show you that you don’t need fancy gear or a business plan to start—you just need your voice and a clear path. ▶️▶️ Explore the full course here: https://tr.ee/letspodcast 🌴🌴 Start podcasting your way—with purpose, creativity, and confidence. #StartAPodcast #PodcastingForCreatives #Let’sPodcast #PodcastTips #PodcastCourse #HowToPodcast2025

This episode is brought to you by Juneteenth LP — celebrating Black artistry and legacy in classical music. 🎉 Get Your Ticket: https://publictheater.org/performances-jp/2025/j/juneteenth-lp/🎹 What does it mean to live and create with authenticity?In this powerful season finale, we sit down with Dr. Maria Thompson Corley — pianist, composer, novelist, poet, educator, and advocate — for a conversation that is as multifaceted as her artistry. From performing her compositions to championing music by Black composers and writing novels and librettos, Dr. Corley shares how her lived experiences—as a mother, artist, and scholar—fuel a profoundly human and inclusive vision for classical music and beyond.💡 In this episode, we explore:✅ What true inclusion looks like in classical music today ✅ How Dr. Corley integrates underrepresented composers into mainstream repertoire ✅ Her experiences raising two creative children, one of whom is neurodivergent ✅ Writing opera, novels, and poetry as extensions of her voice ✅ Co-founding Silence-Optional concerts for sensory-sensitive audiences ✅ Her reflections on legacy, authenticity, and creative purposeWhether you are a musician, educator, or listener seeking a deeper connection through music, this conversation will move you, challenge you, and expand your sense of what classical music can be.🔗 Connect with Dr. Corley: 🌐 Website📘 Facebook📷 Instagram📰 The Piano Pod Links 🎧 Sounds of Inspiration (Season 5) - all the music mentioned 📝 Substack VIP Access🎁 Make a Donation: https://bit.ly/3EsvRDg 🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com 📢 Link Hub: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod 📸 Instagram: /thepianopod 👍 Facebook: /thepianopodnyc 🎵 TikTok: /thepianopod

🎬 Enjoy the official trailer for The Piano Pod’s Season 5 Finale! Episode Title: The Fullness of Being – A Grand Finale with Maria Thompson Corley on Art, Inclusion & Creative Legacy“ As we wrap up Season 5 of The Piano Pod, themed Authenticity and Joy, we are proud to feature a visionary artist whose life and work embody both. Dr. Maria Thompson Corley is a Juilliard-trained pianist, composer, novelist, poet, and educator whose multidimensional artistry defies outdated expectations of what a classical musician should be. With performances at venues including Carnegie Recital Hall, the Liszt Academy, and Alice Tully Hall, Maria has also composed deeply moving solo piano and vocal works—among them Lucid Dreaming (a Fidelio semifinalist) and Willful Ignorance, which confronts social injustice with nuance and grace. Her creative legacy extends beyond the concert hall:🎼 She is the composer of the upcoming full-length opera The Boy from Troy (libretto by Diana Solomon-Glover), supported by OPERA America and slated for Carnegie Hall in 2026.🎹 Her piano works, including Lucid Dreaming, Willful Ignorance, Calm Strength, and Reflections on a Modulating Pulse, highlight her emotional range and commitment to storytelling through sound.📚 She is also the author of two novels and a published poet, exploring themes of identity, resilience, and transformation.In this Season 5 finale, Maria speaks with grace and candor about how motherhood, art, and identity have shaped her life’s work. We discuss:🎵 What real inclusion in classical music truly looks like🎵 How caregiving fueled her creative voice🎵 Why joy—not just correction—should drive inclusive programming✨ Sponsored by Juneteenth LP 🗓️ Premiering Tuesday, June 17 at 8:00 PM ET▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube: 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts🎹 Discover the Season 5 companion playlist, Sounds of Inspiration#ThePianoPod #MariaThompsonCorley #SeasonFinale #CreativeLegacy #WomenInMusic #BlackExcellence #OperaComposer #InclusiveRepertoire #MotherhoodAndArt #AuthenticityAndJoy #JuneteenthLP #SoundsofInspiration #ClassicalMusicPodcast

🎉 Bonus Episode – Celebrating Juneteenth with Dr. Nnenna Ogwo 🎉To close out Season 5 of The Piano Pod—our season of Authenticity and Joy—we are sharing a special bonus episode in celebration of Juneteenth Month.Dr. Nnenna Ogwo—pianist, educator, and founder of Juneteenth LP—returns to The Piano Pod (after her powerful appearance in Season 4, Episode 4) to update us on the evolution of her visionary organization. In this short but meaningful conversation, Nnenna reflects on the origin, mission, and future of Juneteenth LP, and invites us to this year’s exciting lineup of events, including the 10th Anniversary Concert at Joe’s Pub on June 19.Juneteenth LP is also our sponsor of the month, supporting the final two episodes of Season 5—featuring two phenomenal Black women artists: Dr. Leah Claiborne and Dr. Maria Thompson Corley.✨ Join us as we celebrate Black history, legacy, and liberation through classical music.🔗 Explore More:Check out all the exciting Juneteenth LP events happening in NYC HERE.Get your ticket to the 10th Anniversary Concert at Joe’s Pub (June 19, 6:30 PM) HERE.Catch up on Nnenna’s full interview from Season 4, Episode 4, where she explored her musical journey, cultural identity, and the birth of Juneteenth LP HERE. #JuneteenthLP #ThePianoPod #BonusEpisode #BlackClassicalMusic #Juneteenth2025 #RadicalInclusion #ClassicalMusicReimagined #AuthenticityAndJoy #Season5Finale #LiberationThroughMusic

This episode is brought to you by ‪Juneteenth LP — Celebrating Black artistry and legacy in classical music. 🎧 What if every child could see themselves in the music they study? In this robust conversation, Dr. Leah Claiborne —pianist, Yamaha Artist, educator, and founder of Ebony Music Inc.—joins The Piano Pod to discuss her mission to expand and redefine the classical canon. From her work on the 100 Works by Black Composers project to her publications and courses on inclusive teaching, Dr. Claiborne is shaping the future of music education through artistry, purpose, and a sense of belonging. 🎹 In this episode, we explore: ✅ The groundbreaking 100 Works by Black Composers project (Sphinx Venture Fund) ✅ Why beginner repertoire is where real change begins✅ How identity and community shape pedagogy ✅ Tools for teachers committed to diversity and inclusion ✅ Her musical journey—from a jazz-rooted upbringing to classical advocacy Whether you are a piano teacher, student, performer, or arts leader, this conversation will leave you inspired, challenged, and equipped to make classical music more inclusive and representative. Connect with Dr. Claiborne: 🌐 Website🌐 Ebony Music IncDr. Claiborne’s Publications – Expanding the Repertoire (Hal Leonard):🔹 Level 1🔹 Level 2About Our Sponsor — Juneteenth LP Founded by pianist and cultural leader Dr. Nnenna Ogwo, Juneteenth LP is now in its 10th year of celebrating Black classical musicians through transformative performances, education, and community events. From their annual concert at Joe’s Pub to their ongoing advocacy, Juneteenth LP is helping to reshape the future of classical music through the lens of heritage, liberation, and joy. 🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe to The Piano Pod for more conversations at the intersection of artistry, equity, and innovation in classical music.

🎬 Here is the trailer for our next episode of The Piano Pod —featuring pianist, educator, and visionary Dr. Leah Claiborne!In this powerful Juneteenth month episode, Dr. Claiborne shares how we can create meaningful change in classical music—through daily action, inclusive pedagogy, and a reimagined canon that reflects all voices.🎹 What we explore: The groundbreaking 100 Works by Black Composers project Why beginner-level repertoire matters just as much as advanced repertoire How music education can empower identity, purpose, and joy Dr. Claiborne’s work through Ebony Music Inc. and Hal Leonard publications Her personal reflections on belonging, activism, and legacy💫 Proudly sponsored by Juneteenth LP, celebrating 10 years of uplifting Black voices in classical music. 🎧 Join the premiere, Tuesday June 3 at 8:00pm ET: https://youtu.be/f-XnqhJ5gC8?si=58RkB8zT56wQlyWO 🎙️ Audio version: https://linktr.ee/ThePianoPodAudio ✨ This is more than an episode—it is a call to action. Do not miss it.

In this inspiring episode of The Piano Pod, "Bach Reimagined - Artistic Innovation of Timeless Music for All Audiences," Eleonor Bindman - pianist, arranger, and recording artist - joins us for an intimate conversation about her groundbreaking work reimagining the music of J.S. Bach for solo and four-hand piano.From her bestselling Brandenburg Duets with Jenny Lin to her most recent solo project ABSOLUTE—featuring beautifully idiomatic piano transcriptions of Bach’s Lute Suites—Eleonor’s artistry invites musicians and listeners of all levels to discover the joy, depth, and brilliance of Bach.In this episode, we talk about:Why she believes “there is no one way to play Bach”Her transcription philosophy and creative processAdvocating for accessible classical music—without compromising qualityHow piano duets can foster collaboration, joy, and musicianship at every stageTips for navigating polyphony, articulation, pedaling, and ornamentation in Bach’s keyboard worksHer Stepping Stones to Bach series and empowering adult amateurs and young students alikeLegacy, innovation, and what it means to be a 21st-century artist-educator🎧 Whether you are a teacher, performer, or passionate amateur, this episode is packed with insights, artistry, and heart.[Eleonor Bindman] WebsiteSpotify: 🎹 Prelude, BWV 998 (from ABSOLUTE) 🎹 Stepping Stone Excerpt🎹 Four-hand Orchestra Suite 🎹 Brandenburg Concerto 🎹 Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 - I. Prelude 🎹 Allegro from Prelude, Fugue and Allegro BWV 998

“It became vital to me to focus on a new way of looking at Bach’s music…” — Eleonor BindmanHere is the trailer for the upcoming episode of The Piano Pod 🎙, titled Bach Reimagined: Artistic Innovation of Timeless Music for All Audiences, featuring pianist, arranger, and recording artist Eleonor Bindman. She joins us for a deeply personal conversation about her groundbreaking transcription work—and why Bach’s music still matters today.From her bestselling Brandenburg Duets with Jenny Lin to her latest solo project ABSOLUTE, Eleonor is reimagining Bach for today’s musicians, making it more accessible, joyful, and alive for pianists of all levels.We talk about:🔹Why there’s no one way to play Bach🔹The artistry behind her piano transcriptions🔹Tips for navigating Bach’s polyphony, pedaling, and ornamentation🔹Duets, collaboration, and musical connection🔹The power of accessibility in classical music🔹Her Stepping Stones to Bach series🔹What does legacy mean as a 21st-century artist-educator📆 Premieres Tuesday, May 20 at 8 PM ET on YouTube and all podcast platforms.✨ Substack VIPs get early access to the audio episode, which is available one day before the official release on our Substack page. Because great conversations—and great music—should never have to wait.We would love to hear what you think—drop us a comment or share your takeaways! And guess what? We have just two more episodes to go before wrapping up Season 5. Let’s finish the season with insight, inspiration, and a shared love for music.#ThePianoPod #EleonorBindman #BachReimagined #ClassicalMusic #PianoPodcast #BachTranscriptions #PianoEducation #PodcastTrailer

🎉 The Piano Pod is officially a Top 3 Finalist for Best Video Podcast in the 2025 Quill Podcast Awards! 🎉Out of thousands of shows across all genres, our little piano podcast has made it to the top—and it would not have been possible without YOU: our amazing guests, listeners, sponsors, and friends.Thank you for voting, sharing, and cheering us on! 💛🗓️ Final winners will be announced on May 27—stay tuned!But the journey isn’t over:🎹 New episode drops May 20 featuring Eleonor Bindman, whose authentic yet groundbreaking Bach transcriptions are changing how all audiences experience his music.🎙️ Two episodes left in Season 5—including a special collaboration with Juneteenth LP, featuring phenomenal Black women artists Leah Claiborne and Maria Thompson Corley📅 After a summer break, Season 6 returns in September 2025, continuing the themes of Authenticity and Joy—and adding new ones🎶 And this October: The Piano Pod: Live in Concert debuts at The New School in collaboration with Mannes Prep—an unforgettable night of performance and storytelling, coming to both video and audio platforms!👉 Check out the full finalist list:https://www.quillpodcasting.com/qpa/quill-podcast-awards🎥 Catch up on episodes:https://www.youtube.com/@ThePianoPod💡 Curious how this all started?https://thecre8sianproject.com/blogs/news/amazing-asians-in-the-arts-yukimi-songThank you for being part of this journey. Let’s keep lifting up the voices, stories, and music that move us all. 💫#ThePianoPod #QuillPodcastAwards #Finalist #BestVideoPodcast #ClassicalMusicPodcast #BachForEveryone #AuthenticityAndJoy #JuneteenthLP #MannesPrep #LiveInConcert #Gratitude