• 1 hour 20 minutes
    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.

    📱 Follow The Piano Pod

    🎧 Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms. Subscribe for more conversations on creativity, artistry, and the future of classical music.

    21 April 2026, 11:45 pm
  • 1 minute 57 seconds
    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

    21 April 2026, 12:45 pm
  • 1 hour 26 minutes
    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.

    [THE PIANO POD]

    7 April 2026, 11:52 pm
  • 1 minute 38 seconds
    Official Trailer: Season 6 Eps.15, The Sound of Perseus feat. Michael Ostrzyga, Composer

    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.

    7 April 2026, 1:14 pm
  • 1 hour 18 minutes
    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

    The Piano Pod

    🔗 All Links

    24 March 2026, 11:40 pm
  • 1 minute 26 seconds
    Official Trailer ✅: The Infinite Staircase feat. GRAMMY-nominated Pianist Han Chen

    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

    24 March 2026, 12:16 pm
  • 1 hour 32 minutes
    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

    Children's Music

    Learn More About Vivian Fang Liu

    Meet Our Guest: Vivian Fang Liu https://substack.com/home/post/p-190096545

    The Piano Pod

    17 March 2026, 11:40 pm
  • 1 minute 33 seconds
    Official Trailer for Season 6 Eps.13 Vivian Fang Liu

    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

    17 March 2026, 3:32 pm
  • 1 hour 26 minutes
    "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?

    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]

    [THE PIANO POD]

    Subscribe for more conversations on creativity, mentorship, and the future of classical music.

    25 February 2026, 12:40 am
  • 1 minute 43 seconds
    Official Trailer: "Sapiens - A Human History on the Piano feat. Sean Hickey

    🎥 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

    23 February 2026, 1:20 pm
  • 51 minutes 56 seconds
    "Building Artists Through Music & Mentorship" Pavlina Dokovska on Pedagogy, Leadership, and the Mannes International Piano Festival

    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.

    ABOUT THE PIANO POD

    🎧 Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms.

    Subscribe for more conversations on creativity, mentorship, and the future of classical music.

    18 February 2026, 12:40 am
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