Rhyuhn Green is a young composer and pianist with a vision: classical music should become a melting pot of different cultures. The Juilliard student is a recipient of a prestigious Kovner fellowship and has just released his debut album, ph3onix3s. TWoA talked to the Philadelphia native about his musical journey, leadership in the classical arts, and, of course, his album.

Chloe Helimets, 15, is one of eighty-six dancers selected to compete at this year’s Prix de Lausanne taking place from 2 to 9 February 2025 in Lausanne, Switzerland. TWoA talked to Chloe about growing up in a ballet family, her ballet journey, and about the best way to approach competitions.

Fedor Dostoevsky’s dark psychological novel Crime and Punishment is a masterpiece of world literature. Last autumn, you could find it in the dance bags of many dancers at American Ballet Theatre: choreographer Helen Pickett and co-director James Bonas were turning the book into a ballet for American Ballet Theatre. The company will perform the production at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ins Washington on 12-16 February 2025. TWoA talked to ABT dancer Joseph Markey, who created the part of Luzhin, and who will have his debut as Raskolnikov in Washington.

Rae Yue Pung is a 21-year-old pianist from Singapore who recently released her debut album “Piano Sonatas” on all digital platforms. TWoA talked to Rae about classical music education in Singapore, her musical journey, and the challenges and rewards of embarking on the transition from highly-gifted child musician to mature artist.

Find out from former Royal Harpist Alis Huws about the special connection between the harp and Wales, about her time as Official Royal Harpist, and about the healing power of music. Right in time for the festive season, be enchanted by Alis’s tales of blind medieval bards and the coronation of a king, of compassion and the gift of music.

There are some performances that stick with you. Paloma Livellara Vidart’s interpretation of Christopher Wheeldon’s  “You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio” at the Prix de Lausanne 2024 is one of those. TWoA talked to the Prix de Lausanne 2024 prize winner about her dance journey from Buenos Aires to Monaco and about her first couple of weeks at New York’s ABT Studio Company. Get ready for some deeply personal insights.

Do you enjoy watching classical music content on YouTube or Instagram? If the answer is yes, you are probably a fan of Nahre Sol, the Juilliard-trained pianist, composer and content creator. TWoA talked to Nahre about composing variations on an iPhone ringtone and much more.

Crystal Huang, 15, is having a remarkable year. Until about two years ago, Crystal was training in commercial dancing. In 2024, Crystal became a prize winner at the Prix de Lausanne, one of the most prestigious international ballet competitions. She is also a prize winner at the Youth America Grand Prix 2024, 2024 YoungArts (Dance/Ballet) and of the Grand Prix at the 2024 South Africa International Ballet Competition. TWoA talked to Crystal about her unusual dance journey, gathering some valuable tips on how to succeed at competitions.

Spencer Rubin is an oboe student at The Juilliard School. He has earned numerous grand prize and first place awards in national and international competitions and has performed as a soloist with orchestras. Spencer is also a trailblazer on social media, making classical music and the oboe accessible through his channels on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. TWoA talked to Spencer about his musical journey, the oboe and much else.

This is part II of our interview with performance psychologist Noa Kageyama. Noa is on the faculty of The Juilliard School, teaching performing artists how to use principles of sport psychology to perform to their full abilities under pressure. TWoA talked to Noa about beating performance anxiety, building confidence, effective practice and building mental resilience.

Performance psychologist Noa Kageyama is on the faculty of The Juilliard School, teaching performing artists how to use principles of sport psychology to perform to their full abilities under pressure. TWoA talked to Noa about beating performance anxiety, building confidence, effective practice and building mental resilience.

Yuka Iwai is a principal soloist with K-Ballet Tokyo. Two weeks before K-Ballet’s recent revival of Giselle, she found out that she would step in for an injured dancer and dance Giselle at the production’s opening night. TWoA talked to Yuka about the special challenge of learning a principal role in two weeks.

Eunike Tanzil is a composer, pianist and producer. She writes music that tells a story and has gained social media fame with her “Hum me a melody” Instagram series. On 26 April 2024, Eunike signed an exclusive agreement with Deutsche Grammophon. TWoA talked to Eunike about composing and finding your own voice.

TWoA talked to Royal Ballet soloist Mariko Sasaki about her upcoming debut in Swan Lake. It is her first leading role in a three-act classical ballet.

Pianist Tiffany Poon is about to launch her solo album Diaries: Schumann. Hong-Kong born, but New York-based, Tiffany is an artist with a mission: to demystify classical music by emphasising the human side of it. Her more than 323K subscribers on YouTube prove she’s on to something. TWoA talked to Tiffany about her first mini-toy keyboard, life and, of course, Schumann.

Benal Tanrısever is a Turkish pianist and music educator. She completed her musical education at The Juilliard School in New York and performed at Carnegie Hall and the Berlin Philharmonic before founding BT Music and Performing Arts, a music and performing arts school in Istanbul,Turkey. TWoA talked to Benal about her journey from Istanbul to New York, her experience at Juilliard, and her philosophy of learning and teaching music.

Cathy Marston’s one-act ballet “The Cellist” tells the tragic story of star cellist Jacqueline du Pré (1945-1987). TWoA spoke to Royal Ballet principal Marcelino Sambé, who created the part of “The Instrument” – Jacqueline du Pré’s cello. Sambé is performing the part again in the Royal Ballet’s current run of the ballet.

Even talking on Zoom from her office at English National Ballet School, Viviana Durante exudes that special something that made her one of the most celebrated dancers of her generation. Since 2020, she has been the artistic director of English National Ballet School (ENBS). TWoA talked to Viviana about leaving home at age eleven to train in a foreign country, her vision for dance education, the importance of giving meaning to every step, and much more.

The Third Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival for pianists aged 13 to 17 is taking place 8 – 17 June 2023 in Dallas, Texas. TWoA talked to two of the talented young pianists chosen to compete at the competition: Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16). Both are originally from Seoul, but are now studying piano at New England Conservatory Preparatory School while attending Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Read on to find out about their lives in Korea and the USA.

The Third Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival for pianists aged 13 to 17 is taking place 8 – 17 June 2023 in Dallas, Texas. TWoA talked to two of the talented young pianists chosen to compete at the competition: Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16). Both study piano at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School and attend the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Read on for some practical advice on the triple challenge of practicing, performing and competing.

From 11 May until 16 June 2023, Dutch National Ballet and ISH Dance Collective, a street dance ensemble, present their latest collaboration: Dorian. The production mixes hip hop and ballet and presents an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. TWoA talked to ISH Dance Collective’s Lars De Vos and Skya Powney, a member of Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company.

Elaina Spiro is a young cellist studying with Professor Rhonda Rider at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She is in her third year of her undergraduate studies. TWoA talked to Elaina about her life in music and her unconventional path to Boston Conservatory.

Elaina Spiro is a third-year cello student at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She has some great advice on efficient music practice and concert wear.

Amelia Febles Díaz is a young Cuban violinist. TWoA talked to Amelia about her classical music training in Cuba and about “Mozart y Mambo,” an inspiring project created by French horn player Sarah Willis of the Berlin Philharmonic that brings together Mozart and Cuban dances.

Nina Vinther is a mezzo-soprano pursuing a Master of Music in vocal performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. While still a student at Cambridge, Nina became the first female choral scholar with St. John’s College Choir. TWoA talked to Nina about music at Cambridge, feminism, sustainability and the power of art to translate facts into stories.

The use of social media in the arts can be a blessing, but there are many things to avoid to make sure that it doesn’t turn into a curse. TWoA talked to principal dancer Julian MacKay about social media and the arts: Julian and his brother Nicholas run MacKay Productions, a production company that, among other projects, supports dancers and institutions with their social media presence.

Julian MacKay is a fountain of energy and ideas. The young principal dancer is still in his early twenties, but while building an international career, he already finished a bachelor’s degree and founded a production company together with his brother Nicholas. TWoA talked to Julian about his artistic journey from Montana to Moscow, London, St. Petersburg, San Francisco and Munich.

Julian MacKay is a principal ballet dancer, but the worlds of classical dance and classical music have a lot in common. Based on his own experience, Julian shares his tips on how to navigate your way to the top.

Betania Johnny is a young violinist, a student at London’s prestigious Royal College of Music and a member of Chineke!, Europe’s first orchestra for black and ethnically diverse classical musicians. TWoA talked to Betania about her musical journey and about Chineke!’s ground-breaking achievements in its seven years of existence.

TWoA talked to 18-year-old percussionist Jordan Ashman, winner of the prestigious BBC Young Musician (2022) competition.