The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music

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🎹🔥 What makes a four-hand piano duo so powerful, intimate, and endlessly creative?

Welcome to Season 6 Episode 2: Four Hands, Boundless Creativity — Mada & Hugh, the Award-Winning Duo on Love, Life & Artistic Freedom

In this captivating episode of The Piano Pod, I sit down with the award-winning Mada & Hugh Piano Duo — Romanian-born pianist Mădălina-Claudia Dănilă and Korean-American pianist Hugh Sung. Known for their electrifying four-hand performances, imaginative arrangements, and engaging video productions, Mada & Hugh are redefining what it means to collaborate in classical music today.

In our conversation, they open up about:

• The artistry and intimacy of four-hand piano playing
• Their daring arrangements, from Romanian folk gems to Sweet Child O’ Mine
• Behind-the-scenes secrets of their video production and vlogs
• Mădălina’s journey from Romania to the U.S. and her research on George Crumb
• Hugh’s entrepreneurial path — inventing AirTurn and pushing the boundaries of music tech
• The risks they’ve taken to reinvent themselves and the courage it takes to build a new artistic life together

👉 Stay tuned until the end for rapid-fire fun, candid reflections on creativity and connection, and exclusive performance excerpts — including Suita din Dobrogea and Silence and a Face from Christian Mecham’s Three Omens.

[Mada & Hugh Piano Duo]

• Website:
• YouTube Channel
• 🎼Download their amazing 4-hand arrangements HERE

[The Piano Pod]

• Subscribe to TPP on Substack for free or unlock exclusive materials with a paid subscription
• Subscribe to our Sounds of Inspiration – Piano Works from Season 6 playlist
• Latest News
• Website

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

🎹🔥 What makes a four-hand piano duo so powerful, intimate, and endlessly creative?

Season 6 of The Piano Pod continues with an electrifying episode featuring the award-winning Mada & Hugh Piano Duo — Romanian-born pianist Mădălina Dănilă and Korean-American pianist Hugh Sung. Known for their imaginative arrangements, captivating performances, and cross-cultural collaboration,

Mada & Hugh are redefining what it means to perform and create in the 21st century. In this conversation, they share:

• ✅ The artistry and intimacy of four-hand piano playing
• ✅ Their daring arrangements — from Romanian folk gems to Sweet Child O’ Mine
• ✅ Behind-the-scenes secrets of their video productions
• ✅ Insights into their entrepreneurial journeys, from George Crumb research to inventing AirTurn
• ✅ How love, creativity, and connection fuel their partnership on and off the stage

🎬 Don’t miss it! Watch the premiere on Tuesday, Sept 23 at 8:00pm ET right here on our YouTube channel 👇 👉

🎧 Prefer audio? The episode will also drop everywhere you listen to podcasts at the same time! https://linktr.ee/ThePianoPodAudio

Explore more:

• 🌐 Website: https://www.madahugh.com/
• 📺 YouTube: @madahughpianoduo
• 🎹 Watch the entire performance of Suita din Dobrogea by Mada and Hugh Piano Duo: https://youtu.be/RiKUH1wR3Po?si=mmcH6OARFWWMIgev

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

🎹✨ Can music heal, comfort, and truly transform lives?

In this special Season 6 premiere of The Piano Pod, I sit down with Billboard-charting pianist and composer Chad Lawson — also the first musician ever appointed as a U.N. Ambassador for the World Federation for Mental Health. His composition “The Light Within” became the official theme song for World Mental Health Day, and his music has touched millions through streaming, concerts, hospitals, and beyond.

In our conversation, Chad opens up about:

• The inspiration behind his latest album, Where We Are: Unity Edition
• How he turned adversity into artistry with his debut Set on a Hill
• Why combining music and wellness has become his mission
• And the story of how he became a U.N. Ambassador through music

👉 Stay tuned until the end for rapid-fire fun, personal insights, secrets to building a successful creative career, and an exclusive excerpt of Chad’s breathtaking piece “Sanctuary.”

[Chad Lawson]

• Sanctuary full video: https://youtu.be/QZwL3ojac0I?si=dR6CUnz-UECGgH5g
• The Light Within: https://youtu.be/QZwL3ojac0I?si=dR6CUnz-UECGgH5g
• Website: https://www.chadlawson.com/
• Podcast: https://www.calmitdownpodcast.com/

[The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music]

• 💖 Subscribe for free or unlock exclusive materials with a paid subscription: https://thepianopod.substack.com/subscribe
• 🎵 Subscribe to our Sounds of Inspiration – Piano Works from Season 6: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeBrJAY2RQ_uqBAHXTkMwM4nISe9vxvDa
• 📫 Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/40kiukh
• Stay Connected:
• 🚨 Latest News: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod
• 🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com
• 📱 Instagram: @thepianopod
• 😃 Facebook: https://facebook.com/ThePianoPodNYC
• ⏳ TikTok: @thepianopod

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

🎹✨ Can music heal, comfort, and truly transform lives? In this special

Season 6 premiere of The Piano Pod, I sit down with Billboard-charting pianist and composer Chad Lawson — also the first musician ever appointed as a U.N. Ambassador for the World Federation for Mental Health.

His composition “The Light Within” became the official theme song for World Mental Health Day, and his music has touched millions through streaming, concerts, hospitals, and beyond. In our conversation,

Chad opens up about:

• ✅ The inspiration behind his latest album, Where We Are: Unity Edition
• ✅ How he turned adversity into artistry with his debut Set on a Hill
• ✅ Why combining music and wellness has become his mission
• ✅ And the story of how he became a U.N. Ambassador through music

🎬 Join the broadcast of this special episode on September 9, 2025, at 8:00pm ET:

[Chad Lawson]

• 📺 Sanctuary full video: https://youtu.be/QZwL3ojac0I?si=dR6CUnz-UECGgH5g
• 🎹 The Light Within: https://youtu.be/QZwL3ojac0I?si=dR6CUnz-UECGgH5g
• 🌐 Website: https://www.chadlawson.com/
• 🎧 Podcast, Calm It Down: https://www.calmitdownpodcast.com/

[The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music]

• 💖 Subscribe for free or unlock exclusive materials with a paid subscription: https://thepianopod.substack.com/subscribe
• 🎵 Subscribe to our Sounds of Inspiration – Piano Works from Season 6: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeBrJAY2RQ_uqBAHXTkMwM4nISe9vxvDa
• 📫 Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/40kiukh Stay Connected:
• 🚨 Latest News: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod
• 🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com
• 📱 Instagram: @thepianopod
• 😃 Facebook: https://facebook.com/ThePianoPodNYC
• ⏳ TikTok: @thepianopod

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

✨ Season 6 of The Piano Pod is here! ✨

This year, it’s all about Creativity and Connection — the messy, vulnerable, transformative stories behind the music.

🎹 We kick things off with an inspiring lineup: 🎶

• Chad Lawson on September 9, 8:00 pm ET.
• Mădălina Dănilă & Hugh Sung — the award-winning Mada & Hugh Piano Duo, whose artistry and unique bond radiate joy, innovation, and cultural connection.

And for the first time ever — The Piano Pod Live in Concert! 🎉 📅 October 4, 2025 📍 Stiefel Hall at The New School, in collaboration with Mannes Prep. Featuring performances and conversations with Donna Weng Friedman, Dr. Jee Hoon Krska, Dr. Nnenna Ogwo, and Eleonor Bindman.

💡 Why tune in? Because behind every polished performance is a story—unexpected, human, and full of resilience. This season dares to ask: What does it really mean to be a 21st‑century musician?

👉 Watch episodes on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platforms, and join our community on Substack.

Don’t miss the premiere: September 9, 2025, at 8:00 pm ET with Chad Lawson!

#ThePianoPod #Season6 #CreativityAndConnection #ChadLawson #MadaAndHugh #ClassicalMusic #PodcastLaunch

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Thinking about starting a podcast—but feeling overwhelmed by where to begin? I created a mini-course for artists, educators, and independent creatives who want to build a podcast that feels authentic, intentional, and achievable.

And this bonus episode is a FREE intro lesson. Inside, I’ll walk you through what to expect in my full course, share a bit of my story, and show you that you don’t need fancy gear or a business plan to start—you just need your voice and a clear path.

▶️▶️ Explore the full course here: https://tr.ee/letspodcast

🌴🌴 Start podcasting your way—with purpose, creativity, and confidence.

#StartAPodcast #PodcastingForCreatives #Let’sPodcast #PodcastTips #PodcastCourse #HowToPodcast2025

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

This episode is brought to you by Juneteenth LP — celebrating Black artistry and legacy in classical music. 🎉 Get Your Ticket: https://publictheater.org/performances-jp/2025/j/juneteenth-lp/

🎹 What does it mean to live and create with authenticity?

In this powerful season finale, we sit down with Dr. Maria Thompson Corley — pianist, composer, novelist, poet, educator, and advocate — for a conversation that is as multifaceted as her artistry. From performing her compositions to championing music by Black composers and writing novels and librettos, Dr. Corley shares how her lived experiences—as a mother, artist, and scholar—fuel a profoundly human and inclusive vision for classical music and beyond.

💡 In this episode, we explore:

• ✅ What true inclusion looks like in classical music today
• ✅ How Dr. Corley integrates underrepresented composers into mainstream repertoire
• ✅ Her experiences raising two creative children, one of whom is neurodivergent
• ✅ Writing opera, novels, and poetry as extensions of her voice
• ✅ Co-founding Silence-Optional concerts for sensory-sensitive audiences
• ✅ Her reflections on legacy, authenticity, and creative purpose

Whether you are a musician, educator, or listener seeking a deeper connection through music, this conversation will move you, challenge you, and expand your sense of what classical music can be.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Corley:

• 🌐 Website
• 📘 Facebook
• 📷 Instagram

📰 The Piano Pod Links

• 🎧 Sounds of Inspiration (Season 5) - all the music mentioned
• 📝 Substack VIP Access
• 🎁 Make a Donation: https://bit.ly/3EsvRDg
• 🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com
• 📢 Link Hub: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod
• 📸 Instagram: /thepianopod
• 👍 Facebook: /thepianopodnyc
• 🎵 TikTok: /thepianopod

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

🎬 Enjoy the official trailer for The Piano Pod’s Season 5 Finale!

Episode Title: The Fullness of Being – A Grand Finale with Maria Thompson Corley on Art, Inclusion & Creative Legacy“

As we wrap up Season 5 of The Piano Pod, themed Authenticity and Joy, we are proud to feature a visionary artist whose life and work embody both.

Dr. Maria Thompson Corley is a Juilliard-trained pianist, composer, novelist, poet, and educator whose multidimensional artistry defies outdated expectations of what a classical musician should be. With performances at venues including Carnegie Recital Hall, the Liszt Academy, and Alice Tully Hall, Maria has also composed deeply moving solo piano and vocal works—among them Lucid Dreaming (a Fidelio semifinalist) and Willful Ignorance, which confronts social injustice with nuance and grace.

Her creative legacy extends beyond the concert hall:

• 🎼 She is the composer of the upcoming full-length opera The Boy from Troy (libretto by Diana Solomon-Glover), supported by OPERA America and slated for Carnegie Hall in 2026.
• 🎹 Her piano works, including Lucid Dreaming, Willful Ignorance, Calm Strength, and Reflections on a Modulating Pulse, highlight her emotional range and commitment to storytelling through sound.
• 📚 She is also the author of two novels and a published poet, exploring themes of identity, resilience, and transformation.

In this Season 5 finale, Maria speaks with grace and candor about how motherhood, art, and identity have shaped her life’s work. We discuss:

• 🎵 What real inclusion in classical music truly looks like
• 🎵 How caregiving fueled her creative voice
• 🎵 Why joy—not just correction—should drive inclusive programming

✨ Sponsored by Juneteenth LP

🗓️ Premiering Tuesday, June 17 at 8:00 PM ET

• ▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube:
• 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts
• 🎹 Discover the Season 5 companion playlist, Sounds of Inspiration

#ThePianoPod #MariaThompsonCorley #SeasonFinale #CreativeLegacy #WomenInMusic #BlackExcellence #OperaComposer #InclusiveRepertoire #MotherhoodAndArt #AuthenticityAndJoy #JuneteenthLP #SoundsofInspiration #ClassicalMusicPodcast

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

🎉 Bonus Episode – Celebrating Juneteenth with Dr. Nnenna Ogwo 🎉

To close out Season 5 of The Piano Pod—our season of Authenticity and Joy—we are sharing a special bonus episode in celebration of Juneteenth Month.

Dr. Nnenna Ogwo—pianist, educator, and founder of Juneteenth LP—returns to The Piano Pod (after her powerful appearance in Season 4, Episode 4) to update us on the evolution of her visionary organization. In this short but meaningful conversation, Nnenna reflects on the origin, mission, and future of Juneteenth LP, and invites us to this year’s exciting lineup of events, including the 10th Anniversary Concert at Joe’s Pub on June 19.

Juneteenth LP is also our sponsor of the month, supporting the final two episodes of Season 5—featuring two phenomenal Black women artists: Dr. Leah Claiborne and Dr. Maria Thompson Corley.

✨ Join us as we celebrate Black history, legacy, and liberation through classical music.

🔗 Explore More:

• Check out all the exciting Juneteenth LP events happening in NYC HERE.
• Get your ticket to the 10th Anniversary Concert at Joe’s Pub (June 19, 6:30 PM) HERE.
• Catch up on Nnenna’s full interview from Season 4, Episode 4, where she explored her musical journey, cultural identity, and the birth of Juneteenth LP HERE.

#JuneteenthLP #ThePianoPod #BonusEpisode #BlackClassicalMusic #Juneteenth2025 #RadicalInclusion #ClassicalMusicReimagined #AuthenticityAndJoy #Season5Finale #LiberationThroughMusic

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

This episode is brought to you by ‪Juneteenth LP — Celebrating Black artistry and legacy in classical music.

🎧 What if every child could see themselves in the music they study? In this robust conversation, Dr. Leah Claiborne —pianist, Yamaha Artist, educator, and founder of Ebony Music Inc.—joins The Piano Pod to discuss her mission to expand and redefine the classical canon.

From her work on the 100 Works by Black Composers project to her publications and courses on inclusive teaching, Dr. Claiborne is shaping the future of music education through artistry, purpose, and a sense of belonging.

🎹 In this episode, we explore:

• ✅ The groundbreaking 100 Works by Black Composers project (Sphinx Venture Fund)
• ✅ Why beginner repertoire is where real change begins
• ✅ How identity and community shape pedagogy
• ✅ Tools for teachers committed to diversity and inclusion
• ✅ Her musical journey—from a jazz-rooted upbringing to classical advocacy

Whether you are a piano teacher, student, performer, or arts leader, this conversation will leave you inspired, challenged, and equipped to make classical music more inclusive and representative.

Connect with Dr. Claiborne:

• 🌐 Website
• 🌐 Ebony Music Inc

Dr. Claiborne’s Publications – Expanding the Repertoire (Hal Leonard):

• 🔹 Level 1
• 🔹 Level 2

About Our Sponsor — Juneteenth LP

Founded by pianist and cultural leader Dr. Nnenna Ogwo, Juneteenth LP is now in its 10th year of celebrating Black classical musicians through transformative performances, education, and community events. From their annual concert at Joe’s Pub to their ongoing advocacy, Juneteenth LP is helping to reshape the future of classical music through the lens of heritage, liberation, and joy.

🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe to The Piano Pod for more conversations at the intersection of artistry, equity, and innovation in classical music.