In an era where classical music struggles to connect with younger audiences and break free from traditional presentation formats, pianist and producer Yukimi Song has created something revolutionary with The Piano Pod—a podcast and YouTube show that began with just “a mic and a mission” in 2020 and has now evolved into a live concert experience that promises to redefine how classical music engages with communities. As Executive Producer of The Piano Pod, Song has spent years building bridges between classical music and modern audiences through digital platforms, culminating in the groundbreaking Piano Pod Live in Concert premiering October 4, 2025, at Stiefel Hall in partnership with Mannes Prep at The New School. This unique event brings together four outstanding pianist-thought leaders who exemplify the evolving identity of classical music: Dr. Jee-Hoon Krska, founder of Keys 2 Success and MIT-trained engineer providing musical opportunities for Newark youth; Eleonor Bindman, concert pianist known for accessible Bach transcriptions and global educational impact; Dr. Nnenna Ogwo, founder of Juneteenth LP who amplifies music of the African Diaspora; and Donna Weng Friedman, award-winning pianist and filmmaker who blends storytelling with advocacy across multiple platforms. Built around Season 6’s theme of “Creativity & Community,” the event features solo performances, interview segments, panel discussions, and audience interaction designed to inspire students with diverse career paths while demonstrating how classical music can break down barriers between artists and audiences, as well as between tradition and innovation. Through this live experience, Song is creating what she calls “a shared space for learning, storytelling, and celebrating the evolving identity of classical music,” positioning The Piano Pod as a catalyst for intergenerational dialogue and community building that extends the impact of classical music through both live performance and digital platforms.
Q. The Piano Pod started with just “a mic and a mission” in 2020 and has grown into a platform that bridges classical music with modern audiences. What inspired you to launch this project during the pandemic, and how did you identify the specific gaps in classical music presentation that The Piano Pod addresses through its podcast and YouTube format?
Yukimi Song: In 2020, as the world went quiet and live performances disappeared overnight, I felt not only urgency but also frustration as an educator. I had spent years trying to connect with students – even incorporating pop songs – yet many still drifted away from lessons. I carried that disconnect personally, and it made me question how classical musicians are perceived. Too often, our field seems distant from everyday life, and the voices of educators like me feel overlooked. Out of this mix of urgency and reflection, I created The Piano Pod. On this platform, artists could share their journeys, struggles, and passions in candid conversation, making classical music feel more human, relatable, and alive.
Q. Your live concert debut features four pianist-thought leaders who represent different approaches to expanding classical music’s reach, from youth education in Newark to amplifying African Diaspora music to creating accessible Bach transcriptions. How did you select these particular artists, and what criteria do you use to identify musicians who embody the “evolving identity of classical music” that The Piano Pod champions?
Yukimi Song: Each of the four artists embodies a unique facet of what I call the “evolving identity” of classical music. Dr. Jee-Hoon Krska, a pianist and MIT-trained engineer, is pioneering access for underserved children in Newark through her nonprofit, Keys 2 Success, demonstrating how music can serve as a tool of empowerment and community building. Eleonor Bindman, an internationally acclaimed pianist and arranger, has reimagined Bach for new generations through her celebrated transcriptions and recordings, making his music joyful, approachable, and inclusive for both audiences and students worldwide. Dr. Nnenna Ogwo, a pianist and educator, amplifies the music of the African Diaspora through her Juneteenth LP initiative, celebrating cultural identity while creating a platform for voices too often overlooked in classical music. And Donna Weng Friedman, an award‑winning pianist and filmmaker, blends performance with advocacy and storytelling, using her projects to champion women composers and highlight social issues through art.
Beyond their artistry, they are educators, innovators, and cultural leaders. When curating this event, I looked for musicians whose work expands the impact of classical music beyond the concert hall — people modeling diverse career paths and showing that being a musician today is about more than just performing; it’s about creating connections, telling stories, and sparking change.
Q. The event format combines solo performances with interview segments, panel discussions, and audience interaction, creating what you describe as “a shared space for learning, storytelling, and celebrating.” How do you balance the traditional concert experience with these conversational elements, and what specific outcomes do you hope to achieve by breaking down barriers between artist and audience in this live setting?
Yukimi Song: I love the ritual and depth of a traditional concert, but I also believe audiences today crave connection. The format of The Piano Pod Live in Concert keeps the integrity of performance at its core — each artist will play a solo or duo piano piece — but we then expand the experience through dialogue. By following music with interviews and panel discussions, the audience gains insight into the human stories behind the artistry. My goals are to enhance educational engagement, bridge classical music with modern innovation, foster mentorship and collaboration, and expand digital and global reach. This creates an atmosphere where curiosity and conversation are encouraged, not just reverence. I hope that attendees leave not only inspired by the performances but also with a sense of belonging — that they feel part of the conversation and realize classical music is for them, not something that exists behind a velvet curtain.
Q. Season 6 focuses on “Creativity & Community,” themes that seem central to your mission of inspiring students with diverse career paths while building intergenerational dialogue. How do you see classical music education evolving to meet the needs of today’s students, and what role does The Piano Pod play in demonstrating alternative career models for young musicians beyond traditional concert and academic paths?
Yukimi Song: Classical music education is at a turning point. Students today are not only preparing to be performers or professors — they’re thinking about how to integrate their artistry with entrepreneurship, advocacy, and technology. Education has to reflect that reality by valuing creativity and versatility as much as technical mastery. At the same time, I believe strongly in the importance of learning musical instruments themselves: the discipline of daily practice, which may seem mundane at first, can transform into a deep sense of mastery and joy. This lesson carries far beyond music, teaching young people resilience and the value of sustained effort. With The Piano Pod, I showcase musicians who are thriving outside traditional models: performers who are also community leaders, digital creators, nonprofit founders, and cross-disciplinary artists. By hearing these stories, students can envision broader career paths that still honor artistic excellence. My goal is to inspire the next generation to see themselves not just as interpreters of repertoire, but as creators of culture and community.
Q. You’re independently fundraising to support this production while partnering with Mannes Prep, demonstrating an entrepreneurial approach to classical music programming. As you continue developing The Piano Pod’s live experiences and digital content, what’s your vision for scaling this model to other cities and communities, and how do you see live events enhancing the impact of your digital platform in building lasting connections between classical music and diverse audiences?
Yukimi Song: Independent fundraising is undoubtedly challenging, but it’s also empowering. It allows me to maintain the mission-driven focus of The Piano Pod and to experiment with formats that larger institutions might hesitate to try. Looking ahead, I’d love to bring this live concert + conversation model to other cities, while also inviting artists from around the world to New York City to be part of the live event. Each program can serve as both a celebration of music and a forum for dialogue, reflecting local communities and global perspectives. This is something digital platforms alone can’t fully replicate. At the same time, by recording and sharing these events through YouTube and the podcast, the impact extends globally. It’s about building a cycle: digital content inspires live experiences, and live experiences generate new digital content, creating lasting connections that go beyond geography.
Conclusion
Yukimi Song’s transformation of The Piano Pod from a digital experiment into a live concert experience represents more than just platform expansion—it demonstrates how classical music can evolve to meet contemporary audiences where they are while preserving artistic excellence and meaningful dialogue. Her curatorial approach, featuring artists who combine performance mastery with community impact and educational innovation, shows how modern classical music leadership extends far beyond traditional concert halls into social entrepreneurship and cultural bridge-building. By creating formats that blend performance with conversation and audience interaction, Song addresses the isolation that often separates classical music from broader cultural discussions, making the art form more accessible without diminishing its sophistication. Her partnership with Mannes Prep while maintaining independent fundraising reflects an entrepreneurial spirit that many arts organizations need to embrace as they navigate changing audience expectations and financial realities. As classical music continues grappling with relevance and accessibility challenges, The Piano Pod’s live concert model provides a compelling framework for how artists can build authentic community connections while inspiring the next generation of musicians to think creatively about their roles as both performers and cultural leaders.To support The Piano Pod Live in Concert and explore classical music innovation, visit https://thepianopod.com/live-events/
