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 Arts Music Interviews

Season 6

"This Is Jazz" 🎹 Pianist & Educator Quentin Walston on Jazz for Everyone

🎶✨ 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 Up Stay Connected: 🌐 thepianopod.com 🚨 linktr.ee/thepianopod 📱 Instagram: @thepianopod 😃 Facebook: @thepianopod ⏳ TikTok: @thepianopod

🎬 TPP LIVE IN CONCERT REPRISE | Recorded Live at Mannes Prep, The New School

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.com Dr. 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

The World of MICROVIDS 🎶 Composer, Stefania de Kenessey on Music, Poetry & Love

🎶✨ 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

"Boundless Creativity" feat. Mada & Hugh Piano Duo on Love, Life, & Artistic Freedom

🎹🔥 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 Freedom In 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 subscription Subscribe to our Sounds of Inspiration – Piano Works from Season 6 playlist Latest News Website

Music Transforms -- Chad Lawson on creativity, healing, and human connection

🎹✨ 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 👉 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-UECGgH5g The Light Within: https://youtu.be/QZwL3ojac0I?si=dR6CUnz-UECGgH5g Website: 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/40kiukh Stay Connected: 🚨 Latest News: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod 🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com 📱 Instagram: @thepianopod 😃 Facebook: https://facebook.com/ThePianoPodNYC ⏳ TikTok: @thepianopod

Official Trailer: Season 6 Finale "Spirit, Body, & Soul" feat. David Berry

🎙️ SEASON 6 FINALE TRAILER How do we bring our full musical selves to the stage? In the Season 6 finale of The Piano Pod 🎙, host Yukimi Song sits down with concert pianist, composer, arranger, educator, and artistic leader David Berry for a rich and deeply personal conversation on virtuosity, improvisation, composition, contemporary music, and artistic identity. 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 music, and his own original works, he embodies the spirit of this season's theme: Creativity and Connection. Join us as we explore what it means to bring heart, soul, and one's authentic musical self to the stage. 🎧 Spirit, Body, and Soul: Pianist David Berry on Virtuosity, Creativity, and Artistic Identity 📅 Premieres Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 8 PM ET ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMkiqc0BoAQ 🎙️ Listen on all major podcast platforms: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-piano-pod/ 💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content https://thepianopod.substack.com 🎙️ Nominate a Guest for Season 7: Culture and Courage https://forms.gle/NPxggt25PU2CaKFD9 🌐 Website https://thepianopod.com 📸 Instagram https://instagram.com/thepianopod 📘 Facebook https://facebook.com/thepianopod 🔗 All Links https://linktr.ee/thepianopod #DavidBerry #ThePianoPod #ClassicalMusic #PianoPodcast #ConcertPianist #Composition #Improvisation #CreativityAndConnection #EastmanSchoolOfMusic #Juilliard

Official Trailer: "Sound Liberation" feat. Joe Williams, Sound Liberator

🎙️ NEW TRAILER: Sound Liberation What does it mean to be a Sound Liberator? In our upcoming episode of The Piano Pod, pianist, composer, educator, and scholar Joe Williams reflects on artistry, identity, freedom, Black excellence, and the power of music to preserve histories and connect communities. “My responsibility is really to free people through my art.” A powerful conversation on belonging, authenticity, representation, and what it means to move through the world on your own terms. 🎧 Sound Liberation: Joe Williams on Black Artistry, Legacy & Belonging in Concert Music 📅 Premieres Tuesday, June 2 at 8 PM ET 🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zogy7Vs75mo #ThePianoPod #JoeWilliams #SoundLiberation #Juneteenth #BlackArtistry #ConcertMusic #ContemporaryClassical #Pianist #Composer #ClassicalMusic

Official Trailer: "Beyond Borders" feat. Oscar Macchioni, Steinway Artist & Pedagogue

Here is the Trailer for: Season 6 Episode 18: Beyond Borders: From Argentina to Poland to Texas—Oscar Macchioni Reflects on a Life in Music In our upcoming episode, we welcome Steinway Artist and renowned piano pedagogue Dr. Oscar Macchioni. This conversation goes far beyond tango. Together, we explore: • tango as a universal concert genre • artistic labels and misconceptions • audience engagement and concert programming • Szymanowski and William Bolcom • music across borders and cultures • and the evolving role of classical music today Born in Argentina, shaped by years of study in Poland, and now based in Texas, Macchioni reflects on a life in music rooted in curiosity, cultural connection, and artistic exploration. 🎧 Season 6, Episode 18 premieres tomorrow — Tuesday, May 19 at 8 PM ET on YouTube and all major audio platforms. ▶️ YouTube Premiere: https://youtu.be/_sDxpwSBb-k?si=npr-uxApcF1eieIF 🎙 Audio Platforms: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-piano-pod/ 📝 Meet Our Guest Blog: https://open.substack.com/pub/thepianopod/p/meet-our-guest-dr-oscar-macchioni?r=2q1iy3&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true #ThePianoPod #OscarMacchioni #ClassicalMusic #Piano #Tango #KarolSzymanowski #WilliamBolcom #PianoPedagogy

Official Trailer: Season 6 Eps.17 "Music as Witness" feat. Anna Shelest

🎬 TRAILER — Music as Witness What 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

Official Trailer: Season 6 Episode 16 feat. Joy Luck Trio

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/id1542535778 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6tVYe2x1yILfaJm1yjyt2P?si=6e315e2c003b49a6 Amazon 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-music See you tonight. #ThePianoPod #JoyLuckTrio #Pipa #Erhu #Piano #MusicPodcast #ClassicalMusic #ChineseAmericanArtists

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