1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,200 Welcome back to another episode of the PianoPod. 2 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:13,660 I am Eric Hunter. 3 00:00:13,660 --> 00:00:15,280 I'm Yukimi Song. 4 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:17,600 I'm Clara Zhao. 5 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,600 The PianoPod is a monthly podcast where we interview some of the brightest talent in 6 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:22,920 the industry. 7 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,780 Each episode features a guest speaker who's making bold new innovations that may change 8 00:00:26,780 --> 00:00:29,980 the way we play or teach piano. 9 00:00:29,980 --> 00:00:36,720 Our guest of last episode was Mike Grande, who is a creator of the pioneering video conferencing 10 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:43,080 platform called Rock Out Loud Live, which could reshape the way virtual music lessons 11 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:44,120 are taught. 12 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:49,320 If you're teaching or taking music lessons online right now, you should definitely check 13 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:52,360 it out and let us know what you think. 14 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:59,480 If you want to find out more about us and why we started this podcast, we have an extra 15 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:06,200 introductory video on our YouTube channel and SoundCloud channel, where you can also 16 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:08,640 catch up on the previous episodes. 17 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:12,080 The links are in the description below. 18 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:17,600 Today our guest is Chantal Balestri, a performer, teacher and organizer extraordinaire. 19 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,120 Chantal, how are you doing today? 20 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:21,120 Hello, Eric. 21 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:22,120 Hello, everyone. 22 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:23,120 Thank you. 23 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:24,120 Hi. 24 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:25,120 Thank you so much for joining. 25 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:26,120 Hi. 26 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:27,120 So nice to have you. 27 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:31,680 So Chantal is zooming in today all the way from Italy, where she has been living since 28 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:33,400 the beginning of the pandemic. 29 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:38,080 Well, beginning for Americans, basically since March, right? 30 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,560 Prior to that, she was in New York City here with the rest of us. 31 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:47,600 And we will get to the story of how she ended up back in Italy a little bit later. 32 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:51,560 But first, Chantal, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do? 33 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:52,560 Yes. 34 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:54,040 It's all everyone again. 35 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:57,760 So I'm a pianist, so I have a career as a performer. 36 00:01:57,760 --> 00:01:59,080 I am a teacher. 37 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:06,400 I teach in different institutions, even now in New York, but also in Italy right now. 38 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:12,240 And I am also an organizer, promoter, manager of musical events. 39 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,880 In fact, I have my own festival. 40 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:15,880 Wonderful. 41 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:16,880 Wonderful. 42 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:17,880 Thanks. 43 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:24,360 So now that you're back in Italy, what's life like there? 44 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:26,840 I'm sure it's a big change, right? 45 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:28,080 That's a very good question. 46 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:31,000 I mean, things are changing all the time. 47 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:35,480 And I'm not just saying that because of the situation, but because it's really like that. 48 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:41,040 Actually a few days ago, we were having again a normal life, kind of normal life, of course, 49 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:48,400 with masks, paying attention to all the measures we need to do now, right now. 50 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,980 But the thing that changed a lot is the closed theaters. 51 00:02:51,980 --> 00:02:56,960 So again, we are in the situation like in the United States in which we cannot have 52 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:58,680 concerts anymore. 53 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:04,120 And we were like, you know, people were already going back to have concert or going to concerts 54 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,320 like before now. 55 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,220 No, anymore. 56 00:03:08,220 --> 00:03:14,340 So we are not in a lockdown, but still for artists, it's a very difficult time because 57 00:03:14,340 --> 00:03:18,760 things are changing all the time and it's unpredictable and it's hard to plan and to 58 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:19,760 do things. 59 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:20,760 Yeah. 60 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:24,040 I think all of us are feeling the pinch of it right now. 61 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:29,640 I don't know if it's true or not, but I saw a statistic the other day that I think 62 62 00:03:29,640 --> 00:03:37,800 percent of performers may be leaving the industry because there's just no performances, live 63 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,000 performances right now. 64 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,200 But we'll get to that a little bit more later. 65 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:46,520 Let's maybe we'll focus on happier times a little bit. 66 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,680 Can you tell us a little bit about how you got started as a pianist and what it was like 67 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:51,680 growing up? 68 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:56,440 Yeah, I want just to say one thing about what you said, we need to be positive. 69 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,200 Let's look at statistics, please. 70 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:00,200 That's right. 71 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:01,200 Yeah. 72 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,240 So we will see and we can find a way. 73 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:07,520 And as we said later on, I'm going to speak about that. 74 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:09,400 So briefly about my life. 75 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:14,320 Well, I mean, like many other musicians, I started when I was a kid. 76 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:15,320 I started in Italy. 77 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,720 I mean, I'm half Italian, I'm Swiss, but I grew up in Italy. 78 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:20,960 I started like many private lessons. 79 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:22,880 I started in conservatory very early. 80 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:30,600 I was 10 years old and I started like I was practicing a lot solo repertoire. 81 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:34,080 I was focusing a lot like in Italy, there is a lot of pressure. 82 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:38,800 Like when you go to conservatory, you need to be a big soloist. 83 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:44,920 But then, of course, I always continue to think like it's important to practice and 84 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:46,920 to work on my solo repertoire. 85 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:51,120 But I start opening a little bit, broadening a little bit my mind and trying different 86 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:52,120 things. 87 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:57,920 So I started music when I was 18, which is kind of late actually, but I didn't get an 88 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,440 opportunity before because of this mentality. 89 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:09,760 And because of a festival and then I graduated, I started doing other experiences and with 90 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:11,520 other musicians. 91 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:16,760 And then I also moved to later on to another country, moved to Germany. 92 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:22,680 And this actually really helped me to realize that there were so many opportunities to start 93 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:26,800 working with singers, for example, other instrumentalists. 94 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,480 There was the Department of Contemporary Music. 95 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,960 So I discovered a new world there. 96 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:41,120 And after all, I came back here and finished my second degree when I was pretty young, 97 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:46,580 let's say because in Italy was allowed to take a degree very early, like when you were 98 00:05:46,580 --> 00:05:49,080 still in high school. 99 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:55,960 So I could take my master's degree when I was already 21, I mean, or just 21. 100 00:05:55,960 --> 00:06:00,360 And then I was like, well, what do I do? 101 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:05,760 I like being in Italy, but I want to explore more. 102 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:10,320 And so I decided to go to New York. 103 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,720 And this was five years ago now, it was 2015. 104 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:18,360 So I did, of course, like many of the applications and I got in school there. 105 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:23,280 I was in New York University and New York, I got to have a lot of experiences, which 106 00:06:23,280 --> 00:06:28,340 led me also later on to have more experience in the organizational side. 107 00:06:28,340 --> 00:06:34,400 So to work as a promoter first and then later on, like myself creating something new. 108 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,600 Can I ask you, how did you choose New York? 109 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,520 And were there any other cities or countries that you considered at the time when you were 110 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:43,880 looking to make a change? 111 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:50,360 Well, I actually was considered first to go back to Germany because I really loved the 112 00:06:50,360 --> 00:07:02,040 experience and being Swiss myself, I felt my culture was close to the German one. 113 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:03,960 And so this was my first thing. 114 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:11,400 But then something happened in my life, which made me realize that maybe another way would 115 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,800 have been better for me. 116 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:21,800 So basically, long story, I tried to make it a little bit short, is like I had some 117 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:28,120 friends who moved there and they start asking me why you don't want to go to New York as 118 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:29,120 well. 119 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,760 And I was like, no, I don't think this is something I want to do. 120 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:38,760 But then a lot of incidents happened in my personal life and knowing people also, but 121 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:45,120 we were moving to New York, also in a sentimental life, I met a person who was moving to New 122 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:46,200 York. 123 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:52,160 And then I met also in Italy, a professor from the New York University who became later 124 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:53,600 on my own professor. 125 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:58,920 So there was a lot of things which made me feel, well, maybe I should really go to New 126 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:00,240 York. 127 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:05,360 So it sounds like things were converging on New York as the most logical destination for 128 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:06,360 you. 129 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:12,480 Yes, I mean, it's just I saw that life was giving me signals and I was like just listening 130 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:16,960 to them and say, well, maybe I should go overseas and not just stay here in Europe. 131 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:18,800 So I did that. 132 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:20,200 You know what? 133 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:25,240 All the coincidences happened and then that led you to New York. 134 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:29,620 It's not necessarily you were looking into, I am in the future, I'm going to go to New 135 00:08:29,620 --> 00:08:30,620 York. 136 00:08:30,620 --> 00:08:33,640 Some people have that desire, but not for your case. 137 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:39,600 I didn't have that strong desire to live in New York either, but things happened and New 138 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:43,280 York was the place for me. 139 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:53,920 But as a European, what do you think about doing music in New York and Europe? 140 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:59,600 Obviously, classical music started in Europe and then Europe is the place to study. 141 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:06,120 That's what I was thought when I was a kid, but now a lot of people come to the West, 142 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:12,080 as in this continent, not just in the United States, but some people go to Canada to study 143 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:13,080 classical music. 144 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,600 So what do you think of that? 145 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:21,200 Well, this is a really good question and actually to reply well to this, I would need probably 146 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:26,520 the entire hour to speak about the differences between Europe and the United States and there 147 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:27,520 are many. 148 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:36,880 Surely, I can say that you can tell that Europe is where classical music comes from. 149 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:42,200 And there is a deep tension to traditions, maybe too much. 150 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:50,880 This is probably the limit sometimes in the sense that, as I say, I grew up in an environment 151 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:55,140 in which I was a pianist, I was a soloist, this was the only way. 152 00:09:55,140 --> 00:10:02,800 And this is unrealistic because most of the pianists cannot reach the big career as Marta 153 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:04,600 Argerich or Kristian Zimmerman. 154 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:12,160 Of course, you can do concerts like I'm doing, solo concerts, but thinking to just play in 155 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:17,200 the most beautiful theatres, it's not realistic because this is the way it is. 156 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:23,880 So it can be good because they prepare you really strongly. 157 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:31,080 And actually the requirements when I did the conservatory were really high. 158 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:37,080 Like when I graduated when I was 18, I had to prepare two hours and a half repertoire, 159 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,760 dividing two days to 24 hours. 160 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:43,560 And I had to do two piano concertos. 161 00:10:43,560 --> 00:10:52,320 And so, of course, when I ended this, I felt like already, you know, that I studied a lot 162 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:54,200 of it, I had already a lot of repertoire. 163 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:55,200 So this was good. 164 00:10:55,200 --> 00:11:02,320 But on the other side, they don't really look at the practical life, what to do later on 165 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:03,700 in your life. 166 00:11:03,700 --> 00:11:04,700 Things are changing. 167 00:11:04,700 --> 00:11:10,480 I'm not saying, but still I can say that this is kind of a limit in which they are trying 168 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,360 to work on. 169 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:16,120 And in the United States, what I felt, I mean in New York, because I need to speak about 170 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:20,040 New York, of course, I had concerts all around the United States, but I lived just in New 171 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:21,040 York. 172 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:25,680 And my experience is I had the feeling that I could experiment, but I could meet people 173 00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:32,400 with great idea and trying to do so many interdisciplinary, interdisciplinary, yeah. 174 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:38,160 Sorry, sometimes I'm losing my English a little bit. 175 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:41,680 But it's okay. 176 00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:49,560 And so it's a good place to think bigger, to do some very beautiful projects. 177 00:11:49,560 --> 00:11:51,800 And so I felt really inspired. 178 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:56,240 And actually, it's also easier than also to find some jobs. 179 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:57,240 It's true. 180 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:02,920 It's something to say to a knowledge, especially for us pianists, in which it's very hard also 181 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,920 to find a job like pianist in orchestra. 182 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:10,720 And so for example, if you're a string player, probably it's easier for you in Europe to 183 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:12,880 find a job in orchestra. 184 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:16,000 But if you're a pianist, it's not as easy. 185 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:17,000 Yeah. 186 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:24,400 I mean, certainly, there's only room for so many solo piano careers, right? 187 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:28,080 And the rest of us have to be a little bit more inventive and sometimes dabble in different 188 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:32,840 things and have multiple different jobs to make it work. 189 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaking of which, I know you're a very dedicated teacher. 190 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,240 Can you talk a little bit about your experiences with teaching? 191 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:41,240 Yes. 192 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:45,560 So I really love teaching, as you say. 193 00:12:45,560 --> 00:12:48,800 And I started not right away. 194 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:52,160 I didn't think when I was a little bit younger to do that. 195 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:57,320 And it happened naturally, casually, to start to do that when I got to teaching public school 196 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,440 in Italy first. 197 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:02,960 And I was very inexperienced back then, like every woman. 198 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:09,600 But immediately, I felt like it was such a privilege to be able to help the new generation 199 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:15,800 to love music and to appreciate and to not just appreciate but being able to play well 200 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:17,760 and master the piano. 201 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:23,720 So when I got to New York, I got offered, along with the scholarship, the opportunity 202 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:26,960 to be an adjunct faculty at NYU. 203 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:28,440 I was very happy about that. 204 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:29,800 And I really enjoyed the experience. 205 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:33,600 Of course, I was working with college level students, so it was different. 206 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:40,160 But I really do enjoy working with college students and also younger students as well. 207 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:45,040 And right now, I have students of any age, any level. 208 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:52,120 And I'm still maintaining teaching online from Italy at different times because of the 209 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:53,660 time zone. 210 00:13:53,660 --> 00:13:59,140 And I'm also teaching right now in Italy because I had to adapt to the situation. 211 00:13:59,140 --> 00:14:03,920 So I'm maintaining that and mostly privately. 212 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,440 And yes, so this is basically what I'm doing. 213 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:11,240 And during this time, so I work with my students, not just in piano. 214 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:17,360 But I try to take the experience I took from New York, from what I learned in New York 215 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:18,760 to put in my teaching. 216 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:24,780 So I really pay attention, not just technical repertoire side, but also try to combine also 217 00:14:24,780 --> 00:14:26,700 compositional side. 218 00:14:26,700 --> 00:14:30,960 And so I work a lot about composition with my students as well. 219 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:37,120 So I did a little project recently, which all my students who are in lockdown had to 220 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:43,080 prepare their own piece, even the ones who started like five, six months. 221 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:44,080 That's amazing. 222 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:45,080 That's great. 223 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:46,080 Yeah. 224 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:47,080 Wow. 225 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,320 So Shantel, I have a question for you. 226 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:53,280 I know you a little bit on the personal level. 227 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:56,840 And I think in certain way, I mean, I have such respect for you. 228 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,800 And you came here very young, you know, and I can relate. 229 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:01,900 I came here when I was 17. 230 00:15:01,900 --> 00:15:07,440 And I think one time you mentioned that you also didn't come from a musical family. 231 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:12,080 How did you, you know, come up to be so driven, right? 232 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:16,240 What drives you to keep on doing all these things at such a young age? 233 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:20,280 Well, this is a very good question as well. 234 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:25,720 I mean, no one in my family is a musician, but anyways, I can tell from my, especially 235 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:30,200 my mother's side, but also some people on my father's side have a love for music. 236 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:37,560 And I anyways come from Italy in which luckily still our grandfathers, not all of them, love 237 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:38,560 opera. 238 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,440 So I grew up with opera like being a big thing. 239 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:47,320 And so, and actually loved to sing. 240 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:53,080 I wanted actually to be a singer, but I realized very soon I was a better pianist than a singer. 241 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,200 So I continue with piano. 242 00:15:55,200 --> 00:16:02,080 And so what drives me, it's, I mean, I started playing piano in a particular moment in my 243 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:03,080 life. 244 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:04,080 You know, I was very young. 245 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:08,700 It was a hard moment because of a familiar situation. 246 00:16:08,700 --> 00:16:17,760 And for me, music was my moment in which I could really enjoy my time with myself. 247 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,680 And I was simply loving what I was doing. 248 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:27,160 And so for my whole life, music has been always something for me, like this is saving me in 249 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:28,160 any situation. 250 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:35,700 And it's, it's good in any case, even the worst situation, music is there for me. 251 00:16:35,700 --> 00:16:38,840 So I have this, this relationship with music. 252 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:43,320 It's really part of me because of my previous experiences. 253 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:47,920 So I just, I just love music because of that. 254 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:53,760 And then I saw later on how music can influence other people, how can it can be useful for 255 00:16:53,760 --> 00:17:00,360 other people, how it can really change life in a, not just for our spirit, not just how 256 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:05,680 I was when I was a child, I was thinking music was very good for feeling better, but in fact 257 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:09,040 it can actually really help you in a practical way. 258 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:15,440 So yeah, so I'm really grateful to music and this is what motivates me to go always on 259 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:21,760 and to continue to be a musician and to be, let's say, not just a performer, but also 260 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:23,480 a teacher and then also organizer. 261 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:26,440 Yeah, I can see you're very passionate about that. 262 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:28,280 So that's amazing. 263 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:34,160 When the hard time comes, you know, we always need these passion to drive us forward, right? 264 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:35,160 Thank you. 265 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:44,200 So besides teaching in New York and performing, you said you were organizing events. 266 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:46,600 Can you tell us a little bit more about that? 267 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:53,200 Well, actually my first big experience in organizing, I mean, I always had an attitude 268 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:57,720 in a sense, like I liked organizing things, even non-musical things. 269 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:01,400 And it's something like I always enjoyed since I was younger. 270 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:06,160 So in school, when there was some project at school, I loved doing that. 271 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:13,200 Let's say the most official thing I did was actually when I was moving to New York, because 272 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:20,960 as you know, the fees are a lot higher than European ones and we don't need to worry too 273 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:26,280 much about paying university fees, but it was a different story when I had to move to 274 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:27,280 New York. 275 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:34,040 So I was very lucky because I found the right people and I was able to organize the first 276 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:41,600 concert series with some of my friends and amazing organizers in Milan, which is one 277 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:45,280 of the main cultural cities in Italy. 278 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:50,840 And so I organized concert series with my friends and we loved by experience. 279 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:59,120 First, of course, because show how much friendship can be amazing when it's connected to music 280 00:18:59,120 --> 00:19:04,440 and my friends, of course, helped me to raise money to go to the United States. 281 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:05,440 So this was amazing. 282 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:10,440 But then I also enjoyed also the process of organizing everything. 283 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:15,880 And I said that this is an experience I want to do it again and continue to do that. 284 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:20,960 So when I was then in New York, I actually didn't search for particular things to do, 285 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:29,760 but I was contacted by a professor of mine from Italy who founded an international festival 286 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:30,920 in Italy. 287 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:34,920 And he asked me if I wanted to be the promoter in the United States. 288 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:39,440 And I took this challenge and it actually was very good, very successful because we 289 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:44,560 got many applications from the United States to the first edition of this festival. 290 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:52,360 So I continue another here and then came very natural to me when I decide to not me, just 291 00:19:52,360 --> 00:19:58,160 me because there is another person we decided to create the first international festival 292 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,280 ourselves. 293 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,440 Which brings me to something else I wanted to talk about, which is the global leaders 294 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:05,400 program that you're involved with. 295 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,400 Could you talk about that a little bit? 296 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,400 Yes, actually, this is OK. 297 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:12,680 I tell you a little bit about the program. 298 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:19,800 So the global leaders program is a program which exists since around 10 years in the 299 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:26,560 United States, even if it was funded by the Youth Orchestra of America and the main organizers 300 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:28,680 are from Chile. 301 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:40,120 And it's very unique because it's for performers, so for musicians who have a career as performing 302 00:20:40,120 --> 00:20:49,640 artist, but also are really into the social impact in the sense that they are looking 303 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:54,960 to organize or they organize events which impact the society. 304 00:20:54,960 --> 00:21:04,160 So and they have every year around 40 cohort members and there is a selection process, 305 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:06,960 which is not easy to do. 306 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:18,360 And if you are selected, basically you take lessons, actually classes, weekly with renowned 307 00:21:18,360 --> 00:21:20,040 university around the world. 308 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,880 Of course, everything is online, even before the pandemic. 309 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:26,160 So it was already online school. 310 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:35,560 And they help you, I mean, to work for your projects and they give you the skills that 311 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:39,320 you need to make this project happen. 312 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:44,480 And it's amazing not just because you have the opportunity to have these classes, but 313 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:53,160 also because they gave you the opportunity to meet and actually they have a base in Chile. 314 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:59,920 And in fact, I met all of the cohort members this January, right before the pandemic. 315 00:21:59,920 --> 00:22:05,320 And I was there 20 days and we meet and we share all our ideas. 316 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:10,960 And it was really an amazing moment because you really have a chance to be surrounded 317 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:18,160 by people who really have your same goals and really think in your same way, which is 318 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:20,360 not always the case. 319 00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:25,680 And then also they give you a lot of content. 320 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:34,480 So in general, around the world of associations, like one very famous LC-STEMMA in the different 321 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:45,040 states, and they are able to help you to reach your goals also through the help of these 322 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:46,040 associations. 323 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:53,200 So I was very lucky to be part of this last year, so the 2020. 324 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:57,800 Unfortunately I had to leave because, it's not I had to leave, I took the decision to 325 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:01,120 leave because of the pandemic. 326 00:23:01,120 --> 00:23:07,000 I had a project, a big project I wanted for my first year to happen, but it was meant 327 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:08,460 to be in person. 328 00:23:08,460 --> 00:23:13,440 So I felt like I could not comply what I really wanted to do. 329 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:20,760 So I decided to put this on hold and I'm actually back right now on it. 330 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:27,040 And so I'm going to continue with my project for this 2021, hoping that this year we can 331 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:28,040 do in person. 332 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:30,240 If not, anyways, I will do it. 333 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:35,160 If it's not even this year, I'm just waiting to continue to work on the festival. 334 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:40,680 And yeah, so, and I'm very happy to be part of this program. 335 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:46,540 Let's get to the elephant in the room, which is the pandemic, because I know it's been 336 00:23:46,540 --> 00:23:51,080 very it's been difficult for all of us. 337 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:53,200 But you have a really interesting story. 338 00:23:53,200 --> 00:24:00,840 So you're here living in New York, family is in Italy and tell us about it. 339 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:01,840 What happened? 340 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:02,840 Well, what happened? 341 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:09,760 It happened like, yeah, I had to make a big, big choice on what to do. 342 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:16,120 So in order to understand better why I decided to go back to Italy, I need to explain a little 343 00:24:16,120 --> 00:24:18,280 bit about the situation. 344 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:27,240 So as you probably many of you know, Italy was the country most affected by the covid 345 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:30,220 after China and the first one after China. 346 00:24:30,220 --> 00:24:37,240 So I was in New York, it was the end of February, basically, and I was looking at the news and 347 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:42,800 I started, of course, to freak out because I saw that this was happening and nobody knew 348 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:46,160 really what was really going on. 349 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:51,640 And I remember thinking that this was happening in a very, very small town in Italy. 350 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:52,640 And I was so surprised. 351 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:59,120 I was like, how is it possible that this is happening in such a small place in Italy and 352 00:24:59,120 --> 00:25:03,840 it's not happening in a big city like New York, in which everyone comes from everywhere 353 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:04,840 in the world. 354 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:09,400 So I was just surprised and I was feeling very stressed. 355 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:14,880 And I remember I was speaking with my roommate and with some friends in New York saying this 356 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:17,160 is very wrong. 357 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:22,080 I don't know if I can say very wrong, but there is absolutely something that I don't 358 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:27,040 understand because probably this virus is already here. 359 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:30,440 I'm pretty sure the situation is like that. 360 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:37,760 So I started feeling very uncomfortable going around taking the subway and see so everything 361 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:40,680 like nothing was happening. 362 00:25:40,680 --> 00:25:43,260 And I started feeling scared. 363 00:25:43,260 --> 00:25:46,800 And so I didn't enjoy anymore going to work. 364 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:52,320 I didn't feel like it was right what was happening. 365 00:25:52,320 --> 00:26:02,560 So many ways I didn't think back then to leave until I saw a discussion by the president. 366 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:09,440 It was in the middle of March saying that in two days he would have closed the borders 367 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:15,240 with Europe and people could not come to Europe anymore. 368 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:20,280 And from Europe, sorry, could not come from Europe anymore. 369 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:23,840 And so I was like in the beginning I didn't really react. 370 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:29,920 But then the day after I woke up feeling, okay, I think things are getting bad, even 371 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:32,800 because of course New York University closed. 372 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:35,680 So I had to do lessons online. 373 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:40,640 I had to have a concert and they didn't want to cancel it. 374 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:42,520 And I was the one pushing to cancel. 375 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,920 And I was sure things were going to close very soon. 376 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,240 They had no other possibility. 377 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:52,440 And I was like, well, the president is going to close the borders. 378 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:54,040 I will be blocked here. 379 00:26:54,040 --> 00:27:01,560 Do I want to stay here and not be able to see my students in person and being alone 380 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:05,280 here in New York or is it better to stay in Italy with my family? 381 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:12,760 So in less than 24 hours, I bought a ticket and I was on a plane and leaving. 382 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:18,360 And I honestly didn't expect to be so long. 383 00:27:18,360 --> 00:27:21,960 I thought like I will be back in one month and one month and a half. 384 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:23,760 But actually now it's seven months. 385 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:26,760 I cannot even believe seven months have passed. 386 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:34,000 And the fact is that I'm not back in New York simply because I'm not allowed because all 387 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:40,120 the visa for worker right now from Europe are not allowed in the United States. 388 00:27:40,120 --> 00:27:44,000 So even if I would like to go back now, I cannot. 389 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:49,840 And that's our loss, isn't it? 390 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:51,240 Yeah. 391 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:57,560 So it just makes me think that during that time, it was a very scary time because nobody 392 00:27:57,560 --> 00:27:58,560 knew what was going on. 393 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:02,840 And we were missing pieces of the story that we have now. 394 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:06,520 Maybe you were lucky to get out when you did. 395 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:10,920 What has it been like living in Italy since you got home? 396 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:19,600 Well, first, like I think for many people was like, what's bad? 397 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:22,480 I was in New York in the middle of so many things. 398 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:24,880 As I said, I was organizing and organized. 399 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:26,800 I was going to perform in a concert. 400 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:28,840 I was doing so many things in New York. 401 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:34,400 And then the day after, I'm in lockdown in Italy in the middle of nowhere because really 402 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:38,720 my house, it's in the nature, there is nothing around. 403 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:44,080 And so I was like, no, this is a very strange situation. 404 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:46,900 And so in the first two weeks were very hard. 405 00:28:46,900 --> 00:28:52,240 But then I started doing the activities I told before and I started finding energy. 406 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:58,320 And then I was very, very stressed about my own festival because the festival would have 407 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:01,440 been in the summer. 408 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:03,920 And I was like, should we go do that? 409 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:05,720 Should we not do that? 410 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:12,440 And so then we decided to cancel it as first reaction because it sounded like there were 411 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:15,040 no other ways. 412 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:17,640 And this was like in April. 413 00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:25,200 But at the end of April, I decided that, no, I need to find a way. 414 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:32,400 I cannot let all the work I did because you work all year to make it up in a festival 415 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:34,340 of 10 days, really. 416 00:29:34,340 --> 00:29:37,680 So I didn't want this to be thrown away. 417 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:39,320 And I said I need to do something. 418 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:45,040 And so I took advantage of the lockdown because the fact that I was blocked home, I could 419 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:46,480 not do anything else. 420 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:52,040 And I worked really so many hours all day on making it happen. 421 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:58,440 And in two weeks, a new version of the festival was ready online. 422 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:00,560 This happened so in the middle of May. 423 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:03,280 Yeah, I think that's really incredible. 424 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:08,320 I mean, now, many months later, we've kind of gotten used to the idea of doing everything 425 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:09,980 musical online. 426 00:30:09,980 --> 00:30:15,320 But in the beginning, when Zoom wasn't even an established platform and everybody was 427 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:19,600 kind of transitioning and musicians were just standing around with their hands in the air 428 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,080 being like, what do we do? 429 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:25,480 Basically most of the summer festivals were canceled. 430 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:29,280 So I feel like you were really a pioneer in figuring out how to move things online and 431 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:30,280 keep going. 432 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:35,440 I want to know what good, what's the positive of this whole experience? 433 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:39,880 I feel like that's going to be so inspiring for the younger artists. 434 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:44,360 We are always trying to drive, drive ourselves and work so hard. 435 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:45,560 And it is hard. 436 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:47,080 It is so hard. 437 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:52,360 But for you, you're still working so much and motivated. 438 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:56,720 So what is the positive of all this experience? 439 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:58,080 Positive, you mean? 440 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:00,160 Yeah, the positive experiences. 441 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:03,880 I mean, of this pandemic, the positive was the festival. 442 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:10,560 Because honestly, I think that we didn't realize back then, but because of this online edition, 443 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:18,400 I think we upgraded, if I can say that, we reached a next level. 444 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:19,400 And how? 445 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:24,080 Because this was the challenge to move up on a festival online. 446 00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:25,600 I had to change things. 447 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:26,600 Okay. 448 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:28,080 They could not happen like normal life. 449 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:33,960 But instead of doing the same thing, we try to find the opportunities which normally we 450 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:35,080 don't have. 451 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:42,280 For example, one thing I was really happy about the festival was that we could include 452 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:49,560 guest artists that usually are so busy with their solo career that they cannot even accept 453 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:53,360 to participate in a festival as guest artists. 454 00:31:53,360 --> 00:31:56,360 So I reached these people really carefully. 455 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:57,960 And I asked them if they want to join. 456 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:01,280 I was so happy to hear that all of them say yes. 457 00:32:01,280 --> 00:32:04,320 So we had a really big name since this is for pianists. 458 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:10,600 I can say that we had Beatrice Rana as one of our guest artists. 459 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:16,000 We had other two Italian pianists, but are really well known, especially in Europe. 460 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:18,960 One is Filippo Gorino and Federico Colli. 461 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:21,360 It's casual, but they are Italian. 462 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:25,440 The other ones, they are European and from other countries around the world. 463 00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:27,200 But the pianists were Italians. 464 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:31,880 And they usually are really busy with their, as I said, with their solo career. 465 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:35,880 So it was great to have them as part of the students. 466 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:48,120 And also, I included also the series of people speaking about how to be a musician and entrepreneur, 467 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:56,080 how to be a musician and be an organizer in general, and how to manage the time and doing 468 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:59,760 everything, how to include social empathy, music. 469 00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:06,040 So I took all the knowledge I acquired in this last year and I tried to put in the festival. 470 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:09,400 And I could do this just because it was a line, because it was impossible to invite 471 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:11,440 all these people to Fivizzano. 472 00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:16,640 Fivizzano is the main town where we do a festival. 473 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:17,960 And so we decided to do a line. 474 00:33:17,960 --> 00:33:23,920 So why I'm saying all of this, that there is always a way. 475 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:28,800 And we are extremely lucky to live in this era in which we have internet right now, like 476 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:32,040 you're doing this amazing podcast. 477 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:33,360 We could not do that. 478 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:37,960 We just need to find the best way to do this. 479 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:43,160 And also, you can always find a different opportunity on a personal side. 480 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:50,400 I'm here, I'm in Italy, and it's hard because in Italy in general, it's very hard finding 481 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:51,400 jobs. 482 00:33:51,400 --> 00:34:00,520 And if you find jobs, it's also not really rewarded, let's say that. 483 00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:03,200 So it's hard. 484 00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:07,640 But anyways, what you can do, I'm applying to as many jobs as possible. 485 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:10,520 And right now I applied to conservatory. 486 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:15,440 For example, in Italy, there are many openings, luckily, there are many openings. 487 00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:17,520 So I'm also in Europe. 488 00:34:17,520 --> 00:34:24,560 So I'm trying to readapt because I would like to go back to New York, but I'm not sure everything 489 00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:25,960 is so unsure right now. 490 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:32,760 So you just need always to search for some plan B, but doesn't mean that is something 491 00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:34,080 that you don't want to do. 492 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:37,640 It's just something different. 493 00:34:37,640 --> 00:34:43,760 You're expecting and this is so never, never think, oh, there is no way there is always 494 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:44,760 a way. 495 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:46,100 You're such a fighter. 496 00:34:46,100 --> 00:34:48,680 It's very inspiring for so many people, I'm sure. 497 00:34:48,680 --> 00:34:50,020 Yeah, that's great. 498 00:34:50,020 --> 00:34:52,160 So I hope you will come back soon, right? 499 00:34:52,160 --> 00:34:53,160 Is that the plan still? 500 00:34:53,160 --> 00:35:00,920 Yeah, I mean, as I said, I would love to, but it all depends on how this travel ban 501 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:01,920 is going on. 502 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:05,440 I mean, it's changing, it's staying the same. 503 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:07,440 I have no idea about this. 504 00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:13,040 So this is why I don't want to just wait, because I actually did this mistake. 505 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:20,840 I think many did this mistake, not just me, about people from other countries who doesn't 506 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:23,400 live anymore in the United States. 507 00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:26,760 And to just, okay, let's wait one dot, but makes no sense. 508 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:28,760 So business will not find too many jobs. 509 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:30,280 And then I will take a choice. 510 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:35,080 Whenever I get the chance to go back, I will decide then. 511 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:36,080 Amazing. 512 00:35:36,080 --> 00:35:37,720 Just keep on taking actions. 513 00:35:37,720 --> 00:35:39,920 If there's a dream, there is a way, right? 514 00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:42,920 So perfect. 515 00:35:42,920 --> 00:35:48,000 And do you have any advice for young artists coming up? 516 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:49,480 Oh, wow. 517 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:56,000 Yes, I actually have many, and many I think they are from just what I just said to Clara 518 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:57,120 right now. 519 00:35:57,120 --> 00:36:04,960 I mean, my advice is, of course, to be dedicated musician if this is, of course, your goal. 520 00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:09,600 If you want to be a musician, of course, you need to focus on practicing and practicing 521 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:12,080 is the first thing. 522 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:17,120 But to be open, to try new experience and not be afraid. 523 00:36:17,120 --> 00:36:20,200 If you don't feel comfortable, it's fine. 524 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:21,200 It's fine. 525 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:26,160 Every time we try something new, you are never ready for real. 526 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:28,400 So just go with it. 527 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:39,960 And try also to, I know that it's hard if you're shy, but if you see something interesting, 528 00:36:39,960 --> 00:36:44,760 don't be afraid to go to the person who think it's organizing this event or to speak with 529 00:36:44,760 --> 00:36:48,240 someone you think might be interesting for you to know. 530 00:36:48,240 --> 00:36:53,840 The worst thing might happen is someone saying no or not really replying to you. 531 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:57,280 But it's almost never the case. 532 00:36:57,280 --> 00:37:04,480 I learned a lot from my experience that every time you ask something and that you think 533 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:07,560 it's important and it's meaningful. 534 00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:11,360 Most of the time people replies positively to that. 535 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:20,440 And so just present yourself for who you are and really try to see what to explore and 536 00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:22,920 see what you like the most. 537 00:37:22,920 --> 00:37:24,760 And yeah, trying something new. 538 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:31,360 And both on the performing side, which means with repertoire, explore with repertoire, 539 00:37:31,360 --> 00:37:37,040 explore with playing with other people, explore with playing different ensemble and also with 540 00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:43,800 dancers, with artists in general. 541 00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:49,080 And also explore outside of just the performing. 542 00:37:49,080 --> 00:37:55,880 And then of course, everyone is different and will find what's the best. 543 00:37:55,880 --> 00:38:01,040 And you will also recognize your limits and what are your qualities, which is very important 544 00:38:01,040 --> 00:38:03,280 because knowing your limits is important. 545 00:38:03,280 --> 00:38:08,920 As I mentioned before, I love doing composition with my students, but if I will see that they 546 00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:15,640 reach the level which they need to continue and to go on, I will not fit for that. 547 00:38:15,640 --> 00:38:17,080 I will find someone else. 548 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:24,640 So you need to be humble also to know everything and how you know these things by doing these 549 00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:31,840 things and you will see then later what suits best for you. 550 00:38:31,840 --> 00:38:38,680 So maybe to sum it up, you might say experiment freely and try a lot of things, but then focus 551 00:38:38,680 --> 00:38:42,080 on your strengths for your career. 552 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:43,080 Exactly. 553 00:38:43,080 --> 00:38:44,080 Exactly. 554 00:38:44,080 --> 00:38:46,080 And yeah, don't be afraid. 555 00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:49,960 Meet people and speak with them. 556 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:57,640 Even if I know that not for everyone is easy, but with practice it gets easier. 557 00:38:57,640 --> 00:38:59,000 I'm just curious, sorry. 558 00:38:59,000 --> 00:39:00,000 Go ahead. 559 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:01,240 What are you working on? 560 00:39:01,240 --> 00:39:04,360 I see the score on the piano. 561 00:39:04,360 --> 00:39:05,840 So what are you working on? 562 00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:12,600 Well, that actually it's a Chopin waltz because the last student I had was playing a Chopin 563 00:39:12,600 --> 00:39:13,600 waltz. 564 00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:15,600 It's on my repertoire right now. 565 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:16,600 Oh, okay. 566 00:39:16,600 --> 00:39:22,680 Yeah, right now, actually, right now it's a good question because I was planning to 567 00:39:22,680 --> 00:39:29,520 have some concert with Just Got Canceled and this is like a little bit changing of a plan. 568 00:39:29,520 --> 00:39:33,880 So sometimes it's hard for me to find like for everyone, I think the motivation. 569 00:39:33,880 --> 00:39:40,120 So I'm actually in a moment in which I have some repertoire I want to work more like a 570 00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:41,120 Schubert. 571 00:39:41,120 --> 00:39:44,960 I did a concert this summer on the Van Der Fantasie. 572 00:39:44,960 --> 00:39:48,000 I have some Schubert Lists. 573 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:52,600 I'm working some Lists, Chopinitudes. 574 00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:58,280 And I wanted to decide right now what to do next about some contemporary new pieces. 575 00:39:58,280 --> 00:40:02,280 And I was watching out some more about it. 576 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:07,160 And but right now, yes, I'm practicing, for example, sorry, I'm interrupting sometimes 577 00:40:07,160 --> 00:40:12,400 and just saying that for fun, just for fun, but I don't think this is fun. 578 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:14,160 It's Prokofiev's third concerto. 579 00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:17,880 I'm just practicing myself. 580 00:40:17,880 --> 00:40:18,880 My favorite. 581 00:40:18,880 --> 00:40:21,880 Yeah, it's fun. 582 00:40:21,880 --> 00:40:25,040 Yeah, just do. 583 00:40:25,040 --> 00:40:26,840 But I don't have any performance. 584 00:40:26,840 --> 00:40:33,760 The first performance that should happen and it will be in February, March. 585 00:40:33,760 --> 00:40:37,400 We still are looking for the date to be with orchestra. 586 00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:42,200 And so and they gave me freedom for the concerto. 587 00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:46,080 So I need to decide what to play. 588 00:40:46,080 --> 00:40:47,080 Let's see now. 589 00:40:47,080 --> 00:40:48,240 But it's a working process. 590 00:40:48,240 --> 00:40:52,200 I don't have a clear idea because of a situation. 591 00:40:52,200 --> 00:41:00,760 So I sometimes practice something like just because I want to and then I go next without 592 00:41:00,760 --> 00:41:03,040 focusing too much into it. 593 00:41:03,040 --> 00:41:14,240 I tend to when I don't have a fixed goal to not be completely dedicated to practice piece 594 00:41:14,240 --> 00:41:17,440 until it's completely ready. 595 00:41:17,440 --> 00:41:19,120 I prefer having a goal. 596 00:41:19,120 --> 00:41:25,320 I know I have a concert and so I need to be prepared for the concert. 597 00:41:25,320 --> 00:41:27,720 Which orchestra are you playing this? 598 00:41:27,720 --> 00:41:30,240 Actually, is that the secret? 599 00:41:30,240 --> 00:41:32,000 No, no, no, no, it's not. 600 00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:36,640 Actually, I think the person will be very happy to hear the organizers. 601 00:41:36,640 --> 00:41:45,960 Daniel Montes is a conductor, Bolivian conductor, and he's managing a school in Honduras, Victoria 602 00:41:45,960 --> 00:41:47,480 Nolopet. 603 00:41:47,480 --> 00:41:49,840 It's very nice and they have an orchestra there. 604 00:41:49,840 --> 00:41:55,120 So it's actually this is connected to the global leaders program, actually. 605 00:41:55,120 --> 00:42:03,000 And so it's so I will go there to perform with orchestra, but also I will be teaching 606 00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:06,400 the piano students and doing some concert with them. 607 00:42:06,400 --> 00:42:11,200 I'm thinking already to do some four and six and things together. 608 00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:13,600 So this is the plan. 609 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:19,640 It all depends on the pandemic and actually this would have happened already. 610 00:42:19,640 --> 00:42:23,840 I don't remember now with data, but should have already happened. 611 00:42:23,840 --> 00:42:29,340 We had to yes, in September, you see, I'm forgetting right now because so many things 612 00:42:29,340 --> 00:42:36,720 got canceled and we postponed and other things are going to be postponed, but still they 613 00:42:36,720 --> 00:42:40,720 are not able to provide me any date. 614 00:42:40,720 --> 00:42:44,360 So I'm here waiting for that. 615 00:42:44,360 --> 00:42:48,340 As a woman, as a female professional. 616 00:42:48,340 --> 00:42:57,840 So what do you feel the difference between on this continent, currently where I am in 617 00:42:57,840 --> 00:43:02,640 Europe, but even in Europe, you said you studied in Germany. 618 00:43:02,640 --> 00:43:10,760 So Germany and Italy, a complete different in terms of that gender dynamics, traditional 619 00:43:10,760 --> 00:43:15,080 versus modern, but contemporary. 620 00:43:15,080 --> 00:43:17,360 So what do you think? 621 00:43:17,360 --> 00:43:24,760 What do you think this gender dynamic contrast in the United States and where you are right 622 00:43:24,760 --> 00:43:26,360 now, let's say? 623 00:43:26,360 --> 00:43:35,560 Wow, this is a very important questions and I need carefully to, it's not easy to express 624 00:43:35,560 --> 00:43:37,800 carefully what I would like to say. 625 00:43:37,800 --> 00:43:41,080 Okay, there are differences. 626 00:43:41,080 --> 00:43:49,200 I need to say, but as an introduction is I always try to fight this my whole life in 627 00:43:49,200 --> 00:44:01,480 a sense that I try not to think when I'm working as a professional, that there are gender differences, 628 00:44:01,480 --> 00:44:04,920 which doesn't mean that there aren't. 629 00:44:04,920 --> 00:44:14,880 Of course, I'm not saying that, but I just say that I never find found that there are 630 00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:19,320 ways in which woman should act and men should act. 631 00:44:19,320 --> 00:44:21,320 I just be myself. 632 00:44:21,320 --> 00:44:23,400 I don't mind if I'm a young woman. 633 00:44:23,400 --> 00:44:26,360 I always did what I wanted to do. 634 00:44:26,360 --> 00:44:36,320 And if someone was a little bit like talking to me in a sexist way, like you are a woman, 635 00:44:36,320 --> 00:44:40,800 well for me, that person disappeared right away. 636 00:44:40,800 --> 00:44:50,080 So I honestly, but always very confident with myself. 637 00:44:50,080 --> 00:44:53,280 I never really care about that dynamic. 638 00:44:53,280 --> 00:44:56,960 This doesn't mean that things didn't happen and happen. 639 00:44:56,960 --> 00:45:05,000 Actually I had quite bad experiences and I'm sorry to say, sad to say that in Italy, especially 640 00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:07,440 in Italy and with Italian people. 641 00:45:07,440 --> 00:45:14,320 So in the United States happened to me and I was in bad situations. 642 00:45:14,320 --> 00:45:21,040 For example, in the United States, there is this strict way in which professors should 643 00:45:21,040 --> 00:45:25,680 not date or have anything with a student. 644 00:45:25,680 --> 00:45:31,480 I know it's a comfortable topic, but in Italy this is actually happening or a lot of professors 645 00:45:31,480 --> 00:45:35,600 flirt with students and something that's still happening now. 646 00:45:35,600 --> 00:45:41,600 And I had this experience with more than one professor, more than once. 647 00:45:41,600 --> 00:45:42,960 It's just bad. 648 00:45:42,960 --> 00:45:48,800 And unfortunately it happened more in conservatory, in the music school than in my school, normal 649 00:45:48,800 --> 00:45:49,800 school. 650 00:45:49,800 --> 00:45:50,800 And this is bad. 651 00:45:50,800 --> 00:45:53,160 And I hear the stories happening all the time. 652 00:45:53,160 --> 00:46:00,560 I just have a friend who shared with me about it and what happened now to her with a professor 653 00:46:00,560 --> 00:46:01,560 in conservatory. 654 00:46:01,560 --> 00:46:09,080 And the thing is that if it happens, it's very hard to find a way to protect yourself. 655 00:46:09,080 --> 00:46:20,160 I would say that because there is still not culturally a way out to say that this is not 656 00:46:20,160 --> 00:46:21,520 okay. 657 00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:25,520 People still don't think it's not okay. 658 00:46:25,520 --> 00:46:32,040 And in the United States, I think this is stronger on the opposite side, which means 659 00:46:32,040 --> 00:46:36,080 that of course there is a lot of attention to that and I'm very grateful to that. 660 00:46:36,080 --> 00:46:39,460 And so at least these things doesn't happen, let's say. 661 00:46:39,460 --> 00:46:41,520 So I'm speaking now when you are a student. 662 00:46:41,520 --> 00:46:45,680 This is the risk when you're a student. 663 00:46:45,680 --> 00:46:54,080 Then regarding for job, I need to say I was, as I said, pretty lucky in that, which means 664 00:46:54,080 --> 00:46:56,600 I always went in my direction. 665 00:46:56,600 --> 00:47:04,720 Whenever I saw a situation which scared me, it just took away and eliminated the person 666 00:47:04,720 --> 00:47:08,320 from my life. 667 00:47:08,320 --> 00:47:13,920 And I thought about it a lot and I say how can I help in this way? 668 00:47:13,920 --> 00:47:23,680 And some people suggest to me, for example, I have a competition in my festival for composers. 669 00:47:23,680 --> 00:47:26,720 And I could give a prize for a woman. 670 00:47:26,720 --> 00:47:33,360 And I was saying, no, I don't want that simply because, I mean, for sure, it's amazing. 671 00:47:33,360 --> 00:47:36,080 Woman was amazing with this sort of a prize. 672 00:47:36,080 --> 00:47:39,360 And we don't need that. 673 00:47:39,360 --> 00:47:42,040 I just wish we don't need that. 674 00:47:42,040 --> 00:47:43,440 This is my opinion. 675 00:47:43,440 --> 00:47:46,240 I know it's maybe unpopular. 676 00:47:46,240 --> 00:47:49,680 But I don't want to have a special prize because I'm a woman. 677 00:47:49,680 --> 00:47:52,960 I want to have a prize because I'm a good composer. 678 00:47:52,960 --> 00:47:56,400 And she should deserve that anyway. 679 00:47:56,400 --> 00:47:59,360 So we decided to make it anonymous. 680 00:47:59,360 --> 00:48:00,360 OK. 681 00:48:00,360 --> 00:48:08,600 And of course, one of the winners, three winners was a woman because simply because she was 682 00:48:08,600 --> 00:48:10,760 just doing great. 683 00:48:10,760 --> 00:48:17,160 And we didn't have to do anything for this to happen. 684 00:48:17,160 --> 00:48:21,680 And I realized that actually there are other countries in the world in which the situation 685 00:48:21,680 --> 00:48:23,160 is a lot worse. 686 00:48:23,160 --> 00:48:30,240 So at the end, even if I see that things are not good and can be a lot better, and they 687 00:48:30,240 --> 00:48:39,600 should better in terms of wage, sorry, no wage income being paid fairly and other things, 688 00:48:39,600 --> 00:48:42,040 there are situations which are worse in and around the world. 689 00:48:42,040 --> 00:48:49,920 So one of the projects I'm working on right now is trying to collaborate with some association 690 00:48:49,920 --> 00:48:54,920 like in Afghanistan and Dubai to bring women in music here. 691 00:48:54,920 --> 00:48:57,160 Amazing. 692 00:48:57,160 --> 00:48:59,400 Because that's different to the situation. 693 00:48:59,400 --> 00:49:05,000 It's sad to say, but just because it's harder for them to get opportunities. 694 00:49:05,000 --> 00:49:10,960 So for me, it makes sense to empower them more and to help more with this woman from 695 00:49:10,960 --> 00:49:11,960 this country. 696 00:49:11,960 --> 00:49:18,960 For the rest, I just hope that and I'm fighting this every day just by showing what I do and 697 00:49:18,960 --> 00:49:21,360 I could be a man. 698 00:49:21,360 --> 00:49:24,320 I don't know if I can say that. 699 00:49:24,320 --> 00:49:31,840 I just love what I do and I don't feel like I need to prove anything because I'm a woman, 700 00:49:31,840 --> 00:49:33,120 just myself. 701 00:49:33,120 --> 00:49:37,160 And I just wish that everybody would acknowledge that. 702 00:49:37,160 --> 00:49:50,240 Salam! 703 00:49:50,240 --> 00:49:56,600 Salam! 704 00:49:56,600 --> 00:50:02,280 Salam! 705 00:50:32,280 --> 00:50:34,440 Chantawa, what's the name of your festival again? 706 00:50:35,480 --> 00:50:37,960 L'Unigiana International Music Festival. 707 00:50:37,960 --> 00:50:41,560 It's the name of, L'Unigiana is the name of the region 708 00:50:41,560 --> 00:50:44,040 in Italy in the North Tuscany where this is happening. 709 00:50:44,040 --> 00:50:47,200 And it's called L'Unigiana because we literally go 710 00:50:47,200 --> 00:50:51,240 all around the region to the concerts with our students 711 00:50:51,240 --> 00:50:54,520 from around the world and teachers that perform together 712 00:50:54,520 --> 00:50:56,080 and in 10 days. 713 00:50:56,080 --> 00:50:59,400 And we actually have 18 concerts in 10 days. 714 00:50:59,400 --> 00:51:01,640 So it's pretty intense. 715 00:51:01,640 --> 00:51:05,880 And it's just amazing because it's all in the nature. 716 00:51:05,880 --> 00:51:08,400 We do concerts in the caves by the castle, 717 00:51:08,400 --> 00:51:13,400 in the castle actually, by the sea, lake by the mountains. 718 00:51:13,600 --> 00:51:17,360 So it's just very, very, very beautiful for the audience 719 00:51:17,360 --> 00:51:19,320 but also for the students themselves 720 00:51:19,320 --> 00:51:20,960 to perform in these places. 721 00:51:20,960 --> 00:51:23,540 And then of course we get lessons. 722 00:51:23,540 --> 00:51:27,480 And it's not just pianist, piano and chamber music too 723 00:51:27,480 --> 00:51:31,000 with string players and voice students. 724 00:51:31,000 --> 00:51:34,120 So this is basically a festival. 725 00:51:34,120 --> 00:51:35,840 It sounds absolutely magical. 726 00:51:36,840 --> 00:51:40,760 And the link to the website will be in the description 727 00:51:40,760 --> 00:51:42,560 for the podcast. 728 00:51:42,560 --> 00:51:47,120 So unfortunately I think that's all the time we have today. 729 00:51:47,120 --> 00:51:48,840 We wanted to thank you so much Chantal 730 00:51:48,840 --> 00:51:50,480 for joining us today. 731 00:51:50,480 --> 00:51:52,760 And thank you to our audience for listening. 732 00:51:54,220 --> 00:51:55,940 If you enjoyed today's episode, 733 00:51:55,940 --> 00:51:58,320 please hit the thumbs up button down below 734 00:51:58,320 --> 00:52:01,800 and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. 735 00:52:01,800 --> 00:52:06,120 You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram 736 00:52:06,120 --> 00:52:07,480 using the links below. 737 00:52:08,480 --> 00:52:12,080 If you have feedback for us, please leave it in the comments 738 00:52:12,080 --> 00:52:17,080 or if you can also email us at the pianopodnyc at gmail.com. 739 00:52:19,080 --> 00:52:19,920 Thank you. 740 00:52:19,920 --> 00:52:22,800 See you all at the next episode of the PianoPod. 741 00:52:22,800 --> 00:52:23,640 Bye everybody. 742 00:52:23,640 --> 00:52:24,560 Bye everyone. 743 00:52:24,560 --> 00:52:25,400 Bye bye. 744 00:52:25,400 --> 00:52:26,480 Thank you for watching. 745 00:52:26,480 --> 00:52:27,320 Thank you Chantal. 746 00:52:27,320 --> 00:52:28,160 Thank you. 747 00:52:28,160 --> 00:52:29,000 Thank you. 748 00:52:29,000 --> 00:52:29,840 Bye. 749 00:52:29,840 --> 00:52:58,300 After- pushes