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

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.

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

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

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

🎶✨ 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

🎶✨ 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

🎹✨ 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