THE MAGAZINE
Will Social Media Shape the Future of Classical Music?
Can social media shape the future of classical music? TWoA traces how platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are transforming how audiences discover, experience, and reimagine the genre—through creators and performers such as TwoSet Violin, Anna Lapwood, and Spencer Rubin—and whether this digital shift can move classical music beyond outreach toward real cultural change.
Eating the Opera: The Recipes Behind Three of Italy’s Most Celebrated Composers
Good music isn’t made on an empty stomach. From extravagant truffles to simple, nourishing beans, this article pairs iconic operatic works with the favourite recipes of Italy’s most celebrated composers — from Gioachino Rossini’s legendary love of indulgent cuisine, to Giacomo Puccini’s humble student meals, and Giuseppe Verdi’s rustic countryside fare — proving that opera is, quite literally, a feast for all the senses.
Arguing for Instagram: How Algorithmic Addiction Can Advance the Dancer
What if procrastination isn’t the enemy of progress? From late-night scrolling to slow-motion rewatches, this article argues that Instagram’s algorithm — when used actively — can become an unexpected tool for technical growth, artistic confidence, and deeper engagement with dance.
Sumina Studer, Violinist and Music Entrepreneur: London’s Hidden Music and Art Spots
For award-winning violinist and music entrepreneur Sumina Studer, London is less a backdrop than a network of encounters — museums revisited, concert halls scaled to intimacy, and informal spaces where music feels newly alive. In this conversation, the violinist reflects on the city’s creative ecology, the value of risk-taking in classical music, and how art spaces shape the way we listen, live, and connect.
Inspiring Words at the 2024 Prix de Lausanne
Amid the intensity of competition at the Prix de Lausanne, the most enduring moments came not from medals, but from memory and meaning. In speeches that resonated far beyond the stage, Alessandra Ferri and Darcey Bussell reflected on fear, freedom, and the responsibility of art — offering young dancers a vision of ballet rooted not in perfection, but in purpose.
Dancer Dorms
What begins as a carefully imagined dorm room often ends in something far more utilitarian. For a dance major, Pinterest-worthy décor gives way to yoga mats, resistance bands, and improvised stretching tools. In this article, TWoA reflects on how training quietly transforms personal space — turning a room meant for rest into a site of discipline, adaptation, and daily physical negotiation.
Six Favorite Dance Movies in NYC *Unranked
New York has long been a city where dance unfolds in studios, on stages, and in the streets. This unranked selection of six dance films — spanning ballet, musical theatre, documentary, and street styles — offers a way to revisit the city’s rhythms, tensions, and joys, and to see how movement has helped generations of New Yorkers tell their stories on screen.
A Ballet Dancer’s Take: On Balletcore
Balletcore promises satin ribbons, slick buns, and legwarmers warmed by nostalgia. But for dancers who have lived inside the studio, the aesthetic can feel strangely hollow. In this essay, former professional dancer Hannah Lipman traces the distance between ballet as fantasy and ballet as discipline, asking whether fashion’s current obsession can move beyond costume to honor the labor, rigor, and movement that define the art form itself. When brands collaborate with dancers like India Bradley of New York City Ballet, Balletcore begins to shift—from static style to something closer to lived motion.
Viviana Durante, Artistic Director of English National Ballet School: “Follow Your Dream and See Where It Takes You!”
What does it take to follow a dream—especially when it begins far from home? In this TWoA interview, Viviana Durante, Artistic Director of English National Ballet School, reflects on her journey from Rome to the world’s leading stages and her philosophy of dance education today. From resilience and homesickness to interpretation, individuality, and collaboration, Durante shares what it means to build artists—not just dancers.
How to Enjoy Art History by the Pool (or From Your Sofa)
Art history doesn’t have to be confined to lecture halls and libraries. In this TWoA lifestyle piece, Tamar Avishai offers easy, pleasurable ways to weave art into your summer—whether you’re poolside, travelling, or stretched out on the sofa. From novels and films to podcasts, museums, and even colouring books, this is art history at its most relaxed and inviting.
Reuniting with Nature: Yo-Yo Ma’s Birdsong
What happens when music listens back to nature? Yo-Yo Ma brings his cello into forests and open landscapes, creating a quiet dialogue between human sound and birdsong. From his Our Common Nature initiative to his collaboration with composer Anna Clyne, this piece explores how music can reconnect us—with the natural world and with one another.
Ask the Experts: Practice and Competition Advice from Pianists Seokyoung Hong 홍석영 (15) and Saehyun Kim 김세현 (16)
How much should you really practise? How do you stay calm on stage? In this TWoA expert guide, Cliburn Junior pianists Seokyoung Hong and Saehyun Kim share honest advice on competition pressure, mental practice, and trusting the music—cloud-gazing included.
Keep Cool!
Stressed before exams or performances? Take a cue from West Side Story—and let Riff’s iconic “Cool” remind you how music and dance help us breathe, pause, and reset. A TWoA moment of calm.
Isabella McGuire Mayes: Life Lessons from Great Teachers
Former Vaganova Ballet Academy graduate Isabella McGuire Mayes reflects on the teachers who shaped her discipline, confidence, and artistic voice. In this TWoA interview, she shares the life lessons behind elite ballet training.
Escape the February Blues!
Grey skies and winter fatigue setting in? TWoA offers you a visual escape through joyful, light-filled paintings—from cherry blossoms to swinging gardens—designed to lift the February blues.
Gift Guide for Artsy Teens
Looking for thoughtful gifts for creative teens? From music and ballet essentials to art supplies with personality, this gift guide rounds up inspiring ideas for artsy minds — perfect for wish lists, stocking fillers, and last-minute finds.
Winter Fashion
Oversized coats, cosy layers, and festive party looks—winter fashion is all about comfort with a touch of magic. From everyday staples to holiday outfits, discover how to dress for the season the TWoA way.
Goodbye October – Hello November!
From ballerina flats to oversized coats, November fashion is all about comfort, nostalgia, and layering done right. Discover the fall trends worth wearing—and why they fit perfectly into the TWoA world. 🍂
Sweet Teeth for Halloween
Halloween baking doesn’t need to be complicated. These playful “sweet teeth” treats are easy to make, slightly spooky, and guaranteed to raise a smile—especially when paired with Louis Armstrong playing in the background. Curious how to make them? TWoA shows you how.
Reader’s Response to “The Joy of Simple Gestures”
What advice would you give your younger self? In this thoughtful reader response to “The Joy of Simple Gestures,” a retired professor of literature reflects on the teachers who discouraged her, the mentors who nurtured her love of books, and why young people should pursue art, music, and storytelling—regardless of approval.