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

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

by Yukimi Song
Performing ArtsMusic Interviews
Season 6
Spirit, Body, and Soul: Pianist & Composer David Berry on Virtuosity, Creativity, and Artistic Identity
How do we bring our full musical selves to the stage? In this Season 6 finale of The Piano Pod, concert pianist, composer, arranger, educator, and artistic leader David Berry joins host Yukimi Song for a rich and deeply personal conversation on virtuosity, improvisation, composition, contemporary music, artistic identity, and the connections that unite seemingly different musical worlds. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and The Juilliard School, Berry has built a multifaceted career as a performer, educator, curator, and advocate. Equally at home with Liszt, George Walker, James P. Johnson, contemporary composers, and his own original works, he embodies the spirit of this season’s theme: Creativity and Connection. Throughout the episode, listeners will hear excerpts from Berry’s own compositions and arrangements, including Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho and Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child. Featured Music & Recordings Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child Danse Andalouse by Joaquín Nin James P. Johnson: Yamekraw – A Negro Rhapsody Adolphus Hailstork: Chamber Works Featuring the premiere recording of Hailstork’s Piano Quintet Detroit with The Harlem Chamber Players. Spotify Tiny Glass Tavern — Let Us Dance, Let Us Sing Featuring David Berry’s performance of Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho. Spotify Publications Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho for solo piano David Berry, Since Jesus Came Into My Heart: 10 Stylish Arrangements for Solo Piano Lillenas Publishing Company, 2024 David Berry Website Facebook The Piano Pod Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content on Substack Season 6 Piano Music Playlist Nominate Guests for Season 7: Culture and Courage HERE #DavidBerry #ThePianoPod #PianoPodcast #ClassicalMusic
S6 · E20
Jun 16, 2026
1:26:40
Sound Liberation: Joe Williams on Black Artistry, Legacy & Belonging in Concert Music
What does it mean to become a "Sound Liberator"? In this episode of The Piano Pod, pianist, composer, educator, filmmaker, scholar, and advocate Joe Williams joins host Yukimi Song for a wide-ranging conversation on artistry, legacy, belonging, improvisation, education, and the evolving landscape of concert music. Currently pursuing a PhD in composition at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Williams has built a multifaceted career championing composers of African descent while developing his own distinctive creative voice. From premiering new works and producing documentary films to contributing scholarship on Florence Price and composing music rooted in liberation, spirituality, and human connection, Williams exemplifies what it means to be a 21st-century artist. Throughout the episode, listeners will hear musical excerpts featuring works by Florence Price, Maria Thompson Corley, Richard Thompson, Brian Raphael Nabors, and Joe Williams himself. 🎹 Featured Music & Performances Brian Raphael Nabors – Piano Sonata No. 2 Brian Raphael Nabors – Sonata for Cello and Piano (Sterling Elliott, cello; Joseph Williams, piano) Florence Price – Fantasie Nègre in E Minor James Lee III - Album for the Young at Heart Maria Thompson Corley – Lucid Dreaming 👤 Joe Williams Instagram: @soundliberator 🎙️ The Piano Pod 💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content here 🎵 Season 6 Piano Playlist 🎙 Nominate Guests for Season 7 HERE 📫 Join Our Newsletter HERE 🌐 Website #JoeWilliams #ThePianoPod #FlorencePrice #BrianRaphaelNabors #MariaThompsonCorley #ConcertMusic #ContemporaryClassical #Juneteenth #PianoPodcast #ClassicalMusic
S6 · E19
Jun 2, 2026
1:41:51
Beyond Borders: From Argentina to Poland to Texas—Oscar Macchioni reflects on a life in music
In this episode of The Piano Pod, we are joined by Steinway Artist, pianist, and pedagogue Dr. Oscar Macchioni. Born in Argentina, shaped by years of study in Poland, and now serving as Associate Professor of Piano Pedagogy at the University of North Texas, Macchioni reflects on a life in music that moves across borders — culturally, intellectually, and artistically. A central focus of this conversation is his album Mostly Tangos: Piano Music from the Americas. But this episode goes far beyond tango itself. Together, we explore artistic identity, the dangers of labels, concert programming, the evolution of tango into concert music, and how composers such as Astor Piazzolla, William Bolcom, and Karol Szymanowski shaped Macchioni’s artistic world. We also discuss his years teaching in the culturally rich border community of El Paso, Texas, his philosophy on piano pedagogy, and the role universities and artists can play in building meaningful human connection through music. This episode offers a thoughtful reflection on artistry, cultural identity, education, and how music continues to travel across generations and borders. 🌐 Oscar Macchioni Website 🎬 Oscar Macchioni YouTube 🎹 Borderland Chopin International Competition 📖 Read the “Meet Our Guest” blog 💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content 🎵 Season 6 Piano Playlist 🎙 Nominate Guests for Season 7 📫 Join Our Newsletter 🌐 The Piano Pod Website 📱 Follow The Piano Pod Instagram Facebook TikTok 🔗 All Links
S6 · E18
May 19, 2026
1:48:53
Music As Witness feat. Concert Pianist, Anna Shelest
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 Playlist NOMINATE 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.
S6 · E17
May 5, 2026
1:49:11
Joy Luck Trio -- Groundbreaking Pipa-Erhu-Piano Trio
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.
S6 · E16
Apr 21, 2026
1:20:50
The Sound of Perseus feat. Composer & Conductor Michael Ostrzyga
In this episode of The Piano Pod, we are joined by composer, conductor, & Music Director at Univeristy of Cologne, Michael Ostrzyga His 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/thepianopod Facebook: https://facebook.com/thepianopod TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@thepianopod 🔗 All Links: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod
S6 · E15
Apr 7, 2026
1:26:59
The Infinite Staircase feat. Concert Pianist, Han Chen
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 About Florence Price and the legacy of her Piano Concerto Ligeti’s Complete Piano Études and technical/interpretive challenges Infinite Staircase — a 36-work project pairing Ligeti with new commissions Creative programming as artistic identity Commissioning new music and working with living composers Juilliard training and mentorship under Yoheved Kaplinsky Expanding the role of the pianist in today’s classical music world Learn More About Han Chen Website Instagram Meet Our Guest: Han Chen The Piano Pod Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content Subscribe to the Season 6 Piano Playlist — a collection of every piano work mentioned throughout the episodes Join Our Newsletter Website Instagram Facebook 🔗 All Links
S6 · E14
Mar 24, 2026
1:18:57
Accents of Love feat. Pianist and Singer-Songwriter, Vivian Fang Liu
Accents of Love: Vivian Fang Liu on Artistry, Belonging, and Music for the Next Generation The Piano Pod — Season 6, Episode 13 In 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 Liu Chinese Pop Original Children's Music Belong I Is Love Talk to the Fishes with Your Inner Voice Silence All Accents Are Art Learn More About Vivian Fang Liu Website Instagram Spotify Meet Our Guest: Vivian Fang Liu https://substack.com/home/post/p-190096545 The Piano Pod 💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content 📫 Join Our Newsletter 🌐 Website
S6 · E13
Mar 17, 2026
1:32:51
"Sapiens: A Human History at the Piano" feat. Sean Hickey, Composer
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.
S6 · E12
Feb 25, 2026
1:26:54
“Fearless Vision” Asiya Korepanova on Extreme Repertoire, Interdisciplinary Creation, and Artistic Risk
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 & RESOURCES Asiya Korepanova — Official Website Asiya's Merch on Etsy Sounds 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.com Follow Us on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod
S6 · E11
Feb 11, 2026
1:48:53
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