Once again, LAMP has nurtured our hearts. The warmth, the sincerity and generosity, the laughter and joy and cozy dinner parties alongside peaceful walks in solitude and late night practicing in the “Old Castle”. I was asked by a dear host why I keep returning to LAMP. Well, there’s the indisputable level of musicianship here that continues to inspire and drive me to perform at my best, but so much more than that are the relationships. The details in the intimate, personal, real experience we have here as people, friends, family. Community. I love community. I love.
Read MoreI’ve written enough cheesy declamations of my love and gratitude. I’ll let these notes speak for themselves. I only got to open them a few days ago, and they gave me such hope. I couldn’t stop smiling. Particularly at a time when I felt burnt out, discouraged, a little … blank - these words reminded me, that we were all together, that we were present, we created the emoting that is so wondrous and touching.
So, thank you all.
Read More“We believe in the power of music to bring people together. No matter what style, what genre, which part of the world the music comes from, it’s truly a universal language. We share a very deep sort of nostalgic connection to music we might have never even heard. If we just offer a space that’s very accessible, inclusive, non-judgmental, that’s what we’re aiming to do. The more we bring it out there, the more we humanize classical music.”
Read MoreMontreal, skye.pianist is back! Super excited to share this program I’ve been touring this summer, now on home turf, and with my dearest friends of the Trio Eudaemonia - Julia Weldon on cello and Maitreyi Muralidharan on violin for a special performance of Reena Esmail’s Piano Trio.
Read MoreThe rush of warmth expansiveness
Overflow of love and joy and breadth
The desire to share with someone this view
This feeling
This openness
This incredible understanding
Who?
Clouds at the end of the open endless horizon those rolling hills stretching into the sky
The cars driving into that bliss
How is the sky
So big
Here
...
?
Read MoreAnd that’s a wrap!
What another whirlwind of a summer it has been. Each of these places have taught me invaluable lessons - they’ve enlightened such contrasting musical, professional, personal experiences.
I’m grateful for the ways they’ve expanded and enriched my perspective and self-awareness. More and more, even after I am challenged, exhausted, and often disillusioned with the work and dreams I pursue, I still manage to become more assured of just who I want to be, what I want to do - as a friend, a member of diverse communities, an artist of many hats, and sometimes (when not a magical music fairy), just a derpy, down-to-earth human being.
Read MoreLove, kindness, humility. A celebration of our shared humanity. Featuring compositions by Reena Esmail, Delong Wang, Larysa Kuzmenko, Fazil Say, and Martin Scherzinger.
Read More8 hands, 1 honky-tonk piano, loads of cuteness. Come join 5 rowdy pianists in bringing alive the sweet, silly, fantastical world of Japanese animation alongside exquisite French duets!
Read MoreIn a time of immense political upheaval, “Us" is an invitation to reconnect with each other and with the world around us. This solo piano program celebrates traditional cultural heritages and unravels social issues across the world from China and India to Turkey, Ukraine, and Africa.
Read MoreSo excited to announce some news for the rest of 2022!
Opera McGill: OMG Beta Lab (Montreal, Canada)
Lunenburg Academy of Music (LAMP): NOW Festival (Lunenburg, Canada)
Verbier Festival: Summer Academy (Verbier, Switzerland)
La Napoule Art Foundation: Canadian Artist Residency (Mandelieu-la-Napoule, France)
Again, so much heart and thought and effort went into this one. Always searching for ways to communicate these special messages. And it’s touching to receive the enthusiastic responses of each listener, to hear that the experience was fun, accessible, and heartwarming. :’) Thank you for everyone who has supported me on this journey! <3
Read MoreCuteness has swept across our world by storm. And it both attracts and repels. While cuteness can elicit warm fuzzy feelings, it can also provoke ugly or aggressive ones. More than just sweet, cuddly, and charming, cuteness has become fused with the uncanny, grotesque, and monstrous - often in a frivolous and subversive way. But: there is still hope for the innocent. Alongside our world of irony and cynicism, there is a place for magic, simplicity, and sincerity – the parallel universe of Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Spirited Away. These deeply cherished animations are pure, earnest, and irresistibility cute. Likewise, their music wield the power of cute to open our hearts to vulnerability and tenderness. My research will use composer Joe Hisaishi’s film scores to investigate the musical recipe to cuteness. How does cuteness become the sound of empathy? And how can we find hope, innocence, and vulnerability within the cynic?
Read MoreHappy Year of the Tiger!
After some delay and hesitation, I’ve decided to still go through with releasing this live concert album. This is me, imperfections and all. Live, alive, human.
The best gift is time. If you will, take 60 minutes to listen through this whole story, with some nice hot oolong tea, maybe a piece of mochi cake or matcha cookie …
Read MoreLive Concert Video Broadcast:
Nov 27 @ 5:00PM EST on facebook.com/twangpiano
Album Release:
Feb 1, 2022
I did another thing.
I gave a lot of my heart and magic. So - love, imagination, passion, courage, dreams, … an invitation - to explore, connect, and discover life and art together.
Read MoreAt the age of 19, Mozart was already considered to be in his mature years when he composed his first group of six piano sonatas in 1775. These virtuosic works are full of the energy, drama, and witty humor that is distinctive of Mozart’s voice. At the same time, they have moments of deep expression and intimacy. The third sonata in B-flat major has the only slow movement with the marking Andante amoroso, and the second sonata in F major is the only piano sonata with a slow movement written in a minor key.
Read MoreMy solo recital will be on October 30, 2021 @5PM in Redpath Hall. Magic and fairy tales, of course. Halloween. Macabre. Princess and dwarfs. Please join me for this enchanted autumn adventure~
Read MoreFinally back home!
12 cities. 8 countries. 66 days.
What a journey this has been. I keep saying that, but… this summer in Europe - the amount of magic, the growth, the unexpected adventures, friendships, stories, experiences - I really shall treasure them dearly. Coming back now, of course I’ve missed Canada and Montreal and my incredible castle in the sky intensely, but I feel like there’s now this new perspective. Of what I want to do, could do. Of Europe. Of possibilities professional and personally. Moving to Europe, pursuing more crazy opportunities?
Read MoreWhat a crazy summer it’s been. From Italy to Germany to Romania to Belgium. And a few more chapters left (Netherlands, France, Switzerland)! There have been so many unexpected adventures, beautiful friendships, deeply personal and moving experiences. And of course, so much incredible music. Never enough incredible music.
Here’s a brief recap. More in-depth reflections in the journaling section.
Just finished the first draft of the libretto for Labyrinth of Tears, and there is still so much work and learning to do from here, but I am also super super excited to get back to live performances! Several postponed and new opportunities lined up wonderfully for a packed summer tour in Europe! It’s been a while since my last adventures there, can’t wait to travel and explore the world again… <3
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