To heighten the sonic immersion, Frueh took advantage of Harper Hall鈥檚 extensive renovations last winter. He utilized the new surround sound system to project bird call recordings from different directions across the room. At one point, he improvised at the piano in response to them.

鈥淒uring COVID, my brother [Ben Frueh, a 麻豆影院 violin student] and I gave outdoor concerts for our neighbors,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淚 distinctly remember one time someone telling me they had a much easier time focusing because the performance was in a natural soundscape鈥攖he soundscape became part of the pieces that we were performing.鈥�

At 麻豆影院, Frueh found academic footing for these sentiments. A variety of influences proved influential, many found through musicology coursework and an independent study with Sonja Lynn Downing, associate professor of ethnomusicology. The work of acoustic ecologist R. Murray Schafer, bioacoustician Bernie Krause, alongside the deep listening techniques of composer Pauline Oliveros鈥斺�攑roved pivotal.听

Frueh originally considered an outdoor concert, but piano-moving logistics proved impractical. Indoors, however, he found new creative possibilities: the chance to design tailored soundscapes for each piece, pairing recorded birdsong with its musical reflection.

鈥淭he instruments in Quartet for the End of Time imitate the common nightingale and Eurasian blackbird鈥擡uropean species which we wouldn’t be able to hear live,鈥� he explained. 鈥淪o, instead I’ve been able to pull recordings of those and play those through the surround sound.鈥�

Several world premieres took this approach even further, each with a unique relationship to birds and place.

Frueh was joined by his brother Ben for Thomas Meinzen鈥檚 Headland (2024), written during a residency at Sitka Center for Arts and Ecology on the Oregon coast. It features field recordings from more than 10 birders.听

鈥淏en and I have worked with Thomas for over five years,鈥� Frueh said, 鈥渁nd this piece really celebrates the birds of that coastline. The field recordings are cued live by the performers, to enter at different points in the piece.鈥�

Headland was also recorded in the spring and will be featured on an environmentally themed EP the Frueh brothers are releasing with Meinzen on Aug. 1.

Another piece, 罢飞颈迟肠丑别谤,听by Orson Abram, received its second performance, having been premiered by Frueh at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music over his 2024 spring break.

鈥淔辞谤 Twitcher, we used a transducer on the piano鈥檚 soundboard that amplifies the bird songs through the instrument itself, so the piano becomes the speaker鈥攖he birds basically have a voice through it.鈥�

The final two premieres underscored the recital鈥檚 global reach: Nickerson Beach by Brad Balliett evoked a Long Island birding site, including video projections in slow-motion.听

Another, Julia Tchira鈥檚 Upland Sandpiper, connected Argentina and Wisconsin through the migratory path of a single species. This piece took an activist bent, aiming to draw attention to the conservation issues often faced by different grassland migratory birds. Frueh and Tchira鈥檚 collaboration was听.

Even older pieces gained new life in this context. Amy Beach鈥檚 Hermit Thrush at Eve, which Frueh first performed as a sophomore, returned with immersive recordings of the bird that inspired it.

Frueh explained: 鈥淚t鈥檚 been influential for me to think: what is it like to interact musically with a soundscape?鈥澨�

Frueh will explore that question further this summer, performing in the soundSCAPE festival in Blonay, Switzerland. After that he鈥檒l attend Bowling Green State University to pursue further piano studies.

Fittingly, among Surtees鈥檚 favorite moments are both the dramatic midpoint and the exhilarating coda. Although he identifies the movement as the hardest piano work he鈥檚 yet tackled, the difficulties arise from unexpected details.听

鈥淭he thing that makes [the coda] so hard is actually the dynamic鈥攊t鈥檚 piano,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f it was forte, it could sync much more with the keys and fit the hand better. But I remember being so satisfied when I first played through it, thinking, 鈥榃ow, I actually did it.鈥欌�澨�

Although Chopin is now the centerpiece of Surtees鈥檚 repertoire, his interest in the composer鈥檚 music developed gradually. Born and raised in Bardstown, Kentucky, Surtees began piano lessons in his hometown before transitioning to more advanced studies with Dr. Wesley Roberts at Campbellsville University. With his eye on 麻豆影院, Surtees began audition preparations鈥攊t was only at this point that his interest in Chopin came into focus.听

鈥淚 was already into Chopin when I auditioned,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut it was Ballade No. 1 that sealed the deal. It just put him in a league of his own.鈥澨�

Read about LSO Concerto Competition co-winner Ben Frueh

At 麻豆影院, Surtees has found space to foster that connection. Under the mentorship of Michael Mizrahi, the Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Music, his curriculum has been tailored to emphasize Romantic repertoire, particularly Chopin. Even as he explores new terrain鈥攈is current fascination is Enrique Granados鈥檚 Goyescas鈥擟hopin remains a guiding force.听

鈥淭here鈥檚 a freedom and emotional honesty in his music that鈥檚 rare,鈥� Surtees said. 鈥淲ith Chopin, the music speaks for itself.鈥澨�

Surtees plans to perform the full Goyescas suite for his senior recital, but his long-term goals are still Chopin-focused.听

鈥淚 think my biggest Chopin project goal would be to learn all three of his piano sonatas,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he third is a masterpiece. … It’s pristine and chaotic at the same time. And the first, people give it a bad rap, but it鈥檚 a beautiful piece.鈥澨�

For now, though, Surtees is focused on one thing: stepping onto the Memorial Chapel stage and sharing a piece of music that has shaped who he is.听

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a dream to learn this concerto,鈥� he said. 鈥淕etting to perform it鈥攅specially with an orchestra鈥攊s something I never thought I鈥檇 do until much later. That鈥檚 what makes it so special.鈥�

Keating decided to attend 麻豆影院 after a trial lesson with Kautsky, drawn to the collaborative and student-led environment of 麻豆影院, including in the Conservatory.

鈥淚n a lot of places, if you鈥檙e a piano major, you鈥檙e just playing piano, but at 麻豆影院 it鈥檚 so much more than that,鈥� Keating said. 鈥淵ou get to collaborate. You get to take what classes you want. It was obvious that this was the place I could go to get the most out of my education.鈥�

Keating also is involved in the Conservatory鈥檚 Opera Theatre program and the 麻豆影院 University Concert Choir. After graduation, he plans to continue his education in a graduate program where he can express himself as both a pianist and conductor.

Mizrahi has received wide acclaim for his artistic excellence. He has performed on some of the world鈥檚 greatest stages鈥擟arnegie Hall, Tokyo鈥檚 Suntory Hall, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Chicago Cultural Center, among them. He is a founding member of NOW Ensemble, a chamber group devoted to the commissioning and performing of new music by emerging composers. NOW Ensemble released its seventh album, Before and After, in 2021.

Mizrahi has released two previous solo albums, The Bright Motion in 2012 and Currents in 2016, both featuring newly commissioned works for solo piano. He was set to record and release Dreamspace in 2020鈥攗ntil the COVID pandemic happened.

鈥淚 had a recording date booked and everything,鈥� Mizrahi said. 鈥淏ut we all know how 2020 went. Some of the pieces that were written for me go back 10 years. Now I鈥檓 excited to get some of these pieces out into the world.鈥�

Many of those compositional pieces were written specifically for Mizrahi. They cater to his strengths as a pianist鈥攔hythmic vitality and a commitment to exploring the sonic possibilities of the 88 keys played in a traditional way.

鈥淚 think this album is a little more mellow than my other albums, so it has that more impressionist sound,鈥� Mizrahi said.

That, combined with three of the pieces referencing dreams or nighttime, led to the Dreamspace title.

鈥淚 kept coming back to that imagery,鈥� Mizrahi said.

He also kept coming back to the mission to elevate new music, to grow the 21st century repertoire for piano.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just, OK, I played it, let鈥檚 move on to the next thing,鈥� Mizrahi said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 getting it out there for other people to play; getting it to students; getting it to colleagues. Some pieces from my previous albums have now been recorded by others. That is how music gets into the repertoire. And some of those pieces, hopefully in 100 years will still be played.鈥�

That is all part of giving back as an artist, Mizrahi said. It鈥檚 an important lesson he tries to impart to his students in the Conservatory.

鈥淲e talk a lot in the Conservatory about bringing forward compositional voices that maybe don鈥檛 get as much airtime, so to speak, as some of the canonic composers,鈥� Mizrahi said. 鈥淲hether it is composers from marginalized groups or composers whose music was only recently discovered or pieces that are just being written today, as performers we need to make it our mission to help bring that music into the world.鈥�

Along with Metcalf, Williams, and Werfelmann, Dreamspace features works from composers Andrea Mazzariello, Mark Dancigers, Yiheng Yvonne Wu, Chiayu Hsu, and Alan Shockley, all of whom Mizrahi has connected with in the past.

鈥淭hose of us who are fortunate enough to have had the training and experience to be playing at a certain level, I think part of the way we give back to society is bringing new works into the world,鈥� Mizrahi said. 鈥淭here are a ton of people out there who can play Chopin and Mozart, and every performance is different and there is no reason we shouldn鈥檛 play that music. But it truly is incumbent upon us as performers to commission composers, to premiere new works, to enter new works into the conversation with the older works, creating an ever-changing landscape.鈥�

Mizrahi, , received his bachelor鈥檚 degree from the University of Virginia, where his concentrations were in music, religion, and physics. He holds master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees from the Yale School of Music.

Outside of the classroom and studio, Mizrahi has worked to foster partnerships between 麻豆影院鈥檚 Conservatory of Music and the surrounding community over the past 15 years. He helped found 麻豆影院鈥檚听project that brings classical chamber music to children and populations who ordinarily do not participate.听And he has been instrumental in bringing immersive summer music programs to the 麻豆影院 campus. He led the launch of two programs that will debut during the summer of 2024鈥攖he 麻豆影院 Summer Music Institute that is designed for advanced high school pianists and string players (July 14-21, 2024) and the 麻豆影院 Chamber Music Festival, designed for advanced instrumentalists ages 18 and over (July 21-Aug. 4, 2024)

Padilla earned his Bachelor of Music in piano performance at the Curtis Institute of Music and Northern Illinois University and a Master of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance and literature at Eastman School of Music.

We caught up with him to talk about interests in and out of the classroom.

In the classroom

Inside info:听What鈥檚 one thing you want every student coming into your classes to know about you?

Despite what they may have heard, I鈥檓 actually the meanest, scariest piano teacher who will make them practice their scales eight hours a day! Seriously, I am committed not only to helping students hone their technical skills at the keyboard, but to direct these skills toward developing their own individual voice and musical personality. In addition to guiding students鈥� understanding of the centuries of Western classical tradition, I enthusiastically encourage their celebration of historically under-represented and marginalized composers, especially those from indigenous cultures, in efforts to include more of these voices in concert halls and to move our art forward.

Getting energized:听What work have you done or will you be doing at 麻豆影院 that gets you the most excited?

Over the last dozen years or so, I have enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with members of the Spanish and Latin American Studies departments on grant projects exploring music, art, literature, and food from South/Central America and the Caribbean. These projects provided fascinating opportunities to celebrate Latinx culture via a dynamic interaction of creative fields. More recently, I have enjoyed coaching Filipino music students on a program of Kund铆man (Filipino folk songs) and collaborating with Filipino composers and performers on a 麻豆影院 University Research Fellowship project transcribing indigenous music from the Asian Pacific Islands. My students and I have been invigorated by the opportunity to delve into music from our shared API heritage. I鈥檓 also excited by the chance to advise my current international students on exploring music from their own heritage, including music from Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam, Japan, and China.

Going places:听Is there an example of somewhere your career has taken you (either a physical space or something more intellectual, emotional, or spiritual) that took you by surprise?

During my first overseas trip to perform at international music festivals in Europe, I arrived in Rome and spent my first day there wandering into various churches throughout the city. In one of the first churches I entered, I inadvertently found myself face to face with Caravaggio鈥檚 dramatic painting of St. Paul鈥檚 conversion on the way to Damascus in the church of Santa Maria del Popolo鈥檚 Cerasi Chapel. It brought me to my knees and left an indelible image in my memory.

Out of the classroom

This or that:听If you weren鈥檛 teaching for a living, what would you be doing?听听

Teaching, like performing, is more of a passion for me rather than merely a means to making a paycheck, so I would want to continue teaching and performing on a freelance basis, regardless of making a living at it. Taking a break from musical activities, I鈥檇 love the chance to camp and hike the Alaskan wilderness with my wife, two sons, and our dog, Polo, savoring the evening light of the summer solstice together.

Right at home:听Whether for work, relaxation or reflection, what鈥檚 your favorite spot on campus?

Stepping onto the Chapel stage, with its magical acoustics, I feel the haunting presence of ghosts from past performances, and I draw inspiration for creative music-making.

One book, one recording, one film:听Name one of each that speaks to your soul? Or you would recommend to a friend? Or both?

Book: Constantin Stanislavski鈥檚 An Actor Prepares 鈥� Stanislavsky鈥檚 method for training actors to 鈥渓ive鈥� their roles directly parallels the challenge of performing artists to inhabit the vast range of characters and emotions explored in musical works.

Recording: Johann Sebastian Bach鈥檚 St. Matthew Passion performed live by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Willem Mengelberg in 1939 鈥� musicmaking so profoundly human that it moves me to tears every time I hear it.

Film: Charlie Chaplin鈥檚 The Great Dictator 鈥� Chaplin鈥檚 model of humility and humanity in his final speech provides a crucial message for all of us during this troubling time of rising authoritarianism in the world.

.

She spent two sabbaticals in Paris and has performed abroad in France, England, Italy, Spain, Poland, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand, Brazil, Australia, Russia, and South Africa. Known as both a solo and collaborative performer, Kautsky has performed chamber music at the Aspen, Tanglewood, and Grand Teton festivals, and presented masterclasses on five continents, including January 2018 appearances in Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi.

In 2022, . In it, she plays works from a huge variety of composers鈥擝ach, Haydn, and Mozart to Ruth Crawford Seeger, George Walker, and George Crumb鈥攚hile discussing how the music came to be.

She holds a Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory, a Master鈥檚 of Music from the Juilliard School, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from State University of New York at Stony Brook.

We caught up with Kautsky to talk about interests in and out of the classroom.

In the classroom

Inside info:听What鈥檚 one thing you want every student coming into your classes to know about you?

Maybe I鈥檇 like them all to know that despite the fact that I鈥檓 certainly older, and am supposedly wiser, I鈥檓 constantly grappling just like they are鈥攚ith doubts, with failures, with efforts to change. That I鈥檝e lost plenty of competitions and had plenty of applications turned down听and given plenty of performances I wasn鈥檛 happy with鈥攁nd that none of that overturns the incredible joy of spending your days and life doing something you totally love.

Getting energized:听What work have you done or will you be doing at 麻豆影院 that gets you the most excited?

You know, I鈥檝e been doing the same thing here for many years, so you鈥檇 think I might be tired of it, but teaching my private piano students still feels to me like just about the most exciting thing I could possibly be doing. The combination of dealing every day with music that I鈥檝e loved my whole life and getting to know students at a time in their lives when they鈥檙e grappling so intensively with who they are feels like such a privilege.

Going places:听Is there an example of somewhere your career has taken you (either a physical space or something more intellectual, emotional, or spiritual) that took you by surprise?

I鈥檇 say that my trip to Vietnam a few years ago to give masterclasses was both wonderful and surprising.听 I grew up in the Vietnam war era, and I鈥檇 been very active as an anti-war activist. I was staggered to find when I visited that country 50 years later that Americans were both forgiven and welcomed. The family of one of my wonderful students made sure that I had an unforgettable time there.

Out of the classroom

This or that:听If you weren鈥檛 teaching for a living, what would you be doing?听听

Ooh, that鈥檚 a hard one since music is something that gets inside you so young鈥攎y guess is that most likely I鈥檇 still be a college professor, maybe teaching English or history? My family is chock-full of people in academia, so that feels very natural.听 And I love reading and libraries and college-age students.

Right at home:听Whether for work, relaxation or reflection, what鈥檚 your favorite spot on campus?

I think the library is my favorite spot. I love the library staff; they鈥檙e incredibly helpful. And the first thing I always do on entering is peruse the selection of new books that鈥檚 right by the circulation desk. I can never believe my luck that someone is putting all those latest books that I鈥檇 just read about right there in front of me. Another favorite, if I鈥檓 allowed two, is the Chapel. Playing music in there is such a gift鈥攕uch beautiful sound in that grand space.

One book, one recording, one film:听Name one of each that speaks to your soul? Or you would recommend to a friend? Or both?

Crazy to try to choose just one of each, so know that there鈥檚 really no first place among many I could just as well have listed, but here are a few top choices:

Film: I loved The King鈥檚 Speech because it grabbed so perfectly the paralysis of stage fright and the struggle of overcoming one鈥檚 inner demons. How great is it that it all happened to a king?

Book: I recently read a novel called Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien, which is about the fate of Western-style musicians during China鈥檚 Cultural Revolution. It chronicles the enormous emotional power of music and all the intersections of the State with people鈥檚 most private lives. I found it incredibly moving and sad鈥攍osses of personhood that could result in suicide.

Recording: I guess one of the very first recordings (and these were LPs) I loved was Artur Schnabel鈥檚 recording of the Schubert Bb sonata. That piece is now a sort of iconic masterpiece that every pianist knows, but when I was an 11-year-old kid discovering it, it was a revelation. I had no idea why I loved it, which I guess is part of the beauty and power of being a kid. Just sheer emotional impact.

For Bass, a dual-degree student majoring in music performance (piano) and French, the win follows earlier competition success. In the spring, he took first place in a national piano competition organized by the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC). The biennial competition draws submissions from piano students across the country.

Michael Mizrahi, the Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Music and Bass鈥檚 piano teacher in the Conservatory, said the results at the statewide competition are testament to the high level at which 麻豆影院 students are performing.

鈥淭hese competitions provide a wonderful opportunity for our students to hone their craft, gain valuable feedback, and showcase the progress they’ve made as musicians,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese results speak to the consistent strength of the students in our Conservatory of Music, who continue to represent 麻豆影院 brilliantly in their performances all over the country.鈥�

The MTNA National Competitions are the most prestigious student competitions in the country. Each year, thousands of students compete for top prizes and national recognition. The purpose of the MTNA performance competitions is to provide educational experiences for students and teachers and to recognize exceptionally talented young artists and their teachers in their pursuit of musical excellence.

The three-tiered Junior, Senior and Young Artist Performance Competitions begin with state competitions. The winners/representatives of each state’s competitions advance to a video-only division competition. Division winners then compete in the national finals at the annual MTNA National Conference.

鈥淚 like the idea of having a more well-rounded education, which is something that 麻豆影院 does really well in a way I don鈥檛 think many conservatories do.鈥�
– Jonathan Bass

Participants for this competition submit recordings online. They must be NFMC members and submit five recordings鈥攁t least one by an American composer, and the five in total can鈥檛 exceed 30 minutes. All five factored into the judges鈥� evaluations.

Sharing in the excitement of Bass鈥� first-place finish was Mizrahi.

鈥淛onathan plays beautifully in such a variety of styles and is never afraid to ask questions when he knows there is more to learn鈥攁nd there is always more to learn as a musician.鈥� Mizrahi said.

Keys to success

Originally from Washington Island in northern Door County, piano has brought Bass all around the Great Lakes region. While studying at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Interlochen, Michigan, as a teenager, Bass met Mizrahi, who came to teach a master class. He had already been eyeing 麻豆影院 because of its double-degree program, but Mizrahi鈥檚 visit sealed the deal.

鈥淚 played for him in that master class, and it totally just clicked for me,鈥� Bass said. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥楾his is great, I want to study with Professor Mizrahi.鈥欌��

Bass said he loves the 麻豆影院 Conservatory of Music鈥檚 sense of community and support amongst the students.

鈥淚鈥檝e been to a whole bunch of music festivals, and I spent a year at an arts boarding high school before I came to 麻豆影院,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 can tell you that the feeling of mutual supportiveness is not a given.鈥�

鈥淭here are two qualities that the most successful musicians have: passion and curiosity,鈥� Mizrahi said. 鈥淭hose two qualities will take you a long way toward realizing your musical dreams. 麻豆影院 is such a wonderful place to teach because so many students are already passionate and curious.鈥�

Bass also credits the Conservatory faculty with helping make 麻豆影院 a welcoming environment. He said the professors are always happy to help, both in and out of classes. Bass said Mizrahi goes out of his way to help him make important connections.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e a music major, your music teacher is the most important thing,鈥� he said.

Bass is planning two recitals near the end of Spring Term. One features a chamber music trio performing music by Reena Esmail (showcased in 麻豆影院鈥檚 recent Master Works concert), and the other features a sonata with piano and cello.

鈥淚鈥檓 surrounded by so many talented, thoughtful, dedicated musicians here, and they all push me to be my best,鈥� Bass said. 鈥淭his term in particular I鈥檝e been lucky enough to work with some really incredible people whom I admire and respect very much.鈥�

Bass, who is majoring in music performance (piano) and French, is eyeing graduate school and further piano pursuits, including teaching. He wants to explore more nonstandard repertoire and strike a balance between standard and nonstandard.

鈥淢ost music careers end up being a mix of a bunch of different things,鈥� Bass said. 鈥淚 like the idea of having a more well-rounded education, which is something that 麻豆影院 does really well in a way I don鈥檛 think many conservatories do.鈥�

Marcy O鈥橫alley, 麻豆影院鈥檚 director of international admissions, said she and her Admissions colleagues erupted in cheers when she got the text from Bohdan that his interview with the consul in Poland went off as planned, the visa was secured, and he was on his way.

鈥淵es, we do this job to keep our colleges vibrant and viable, but every once in a while, we are able to see how a college can pull together and beat all the odds and change a student鈥檚 life,鈥� O鈥橫alley said. 鈥淚t probably shouldn鈥檛 have worked, but like so many things that we have learned about the Ukrainians, Bohdan鈥檚 family never gave up and 麻豆影院 was able to respond. 鈥� It was my favorite day at 麻豆影院.鈥�

A life disrupted

The story of Bohdan鈥檚 journey is one of heartbreak, hope, and perseverance.

Music was ever-present for Bohdan as he grew up in Vynnychky, a small village 13 miles outside Lviv in western Ukraine. His father would sing Ukrainian folk songs; his mother would play the stringed bandura, a Ukrainian folk instrument. Like his three siblings鈥攁n older brother, younger sister, and younger brother鈥� Bohdan would study music from his earliest years.

鈥淢usic was everywhere and in everything,鈥� Bohdan said. 鈥淎ll the time, I was surrounded by music.鈥�

Until he wasn鈥檛.

It was a year ago Feb. 24 that Russia invaded Ukraine, launching a war that has killed tens of thousands and upended lives across Ukraine and beyond. Bohdan was 18 and midway through his final year at a music preparatory school, with plans to enroll in the fall at Lviv National Music Academy to continue his piano studies.

Russia鈥檚 invasion short-circuited those plans, setting off a series of events that would lead to Bohdan landing in Appleton, more than 4,000 miles from home, in time to begin classes in 麻豆影院鈥檚 Conservatory of Music in September.

鈥淓verything changed鈥�

When the war began, Bohdan thought he鈥檇 be heading east to join the fight. But he has asthma, making him ineligible to serve in the Army. While he did volunteer work鈥攈elping to load supplies on trucks that were heading to the front lines and working with a territory defense group that produced handmade blood-stopping harnesses鈥攈is focus would remain on his studies.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not in the worst part, not part of the front. But alarms were going off. Alarms would go off and you鈥檇 have to go to the shelter because you don鈥檛 know if there are missiles flying through your area.”
– Bohdan Tataryn听

鈥淟ife changed,鈥� Bohdan said. 鈥淓verything changed. We鈥檙e not in the worst part, not part of the front. But alarms were going off. Alarms would go off and you鈥檇 have to go to the shelter because you don鈥檛 know if there are missiles flying through your area. Once I looked up and saw a missile flying above my house. It鈥檚 a terrible feeling.鈥�

Mary Deckert, meanwhile, was watching news reports out of Ukraine from her home in Richland Center, a city of 5,000 midway between Madison and La Crosse in southwestern Wisconsin. She had hosted Bohdan鈥檚 mother, Natalia, as an exchange student 25 years earlier. They stayed in a touch for a while, with Deckert twice visiting in Ukraine, the last time 18 years ago, when Bohdan was 4 months old.

鈥淲e had kind of lost track of each other,鈥� said Deckert, now 83. 鈥淓ighteen years is a long time.鈥�

News reports of the war were alarming, and Deckert went in search of a phone number so she could check on her old friend. She and Natalia began having frequent conversations, including about the possibility of Bohdan coming to the United States to study music. Natalia sent Deckert four demo videos.

鈥淚鈥檓 not a pianist, so I took them to people who are and who teach piano,鈥� Deckert said. 鈥淭he first guy said, 鈥楬e needs to be in a conservatory; he is very, very good.鈥� I took them to three other places, and they all said the same thing.鈥�

麻豆影院 steps up

That led Deckert to 麻豆影院, where she first connected with Rosie Cannizzo in the Conservatory and then O鈥橫alley in Admissions. It was late spring, well past the usual window for considering international applicants.

While there was a want to help, O鈥橫alley admitted she wasn鈥檛 optimistic Bohdan was ready to join a Conservatory of this stature or if there was enough time. And then she watched one of the videos.

鈥淲hen I saw it, I was blown away,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 ran鈥擨鈥檓 not exaggerating鈥擨 ran down the hall and got Mary Kate [Smith, director of Conservatory admissions]. We watched it together. The recording wasn鈥檛 great, but it was clear that this was a gifted musician. Mary Kate said, 鈥榊es, we鈥檇 want him here,鈥� and she went to work coordinating the Conservatory audition.鈥�

There were still finances to consider, a student visa application, and travel dilemmas.

鈥淭here were so many obstacles to enrollment, but our thought was we鈥檇 keep trying until we ran out of time,鈥� O鈥橫alley said.

A generous scholarship was approved. The Office of Financial Aid fast-tracked an offer.

鈥淚n international admissions, we admit the bulk of our students in the winter and early spring,鈥� O鈥橫alley said. 鈥淏ecause the review of foreign credentials and the creation of a visa application is a longer process, it is difficult to process an admit quickly. Additionally, the Conservatory audition process logistically takes time and coordination between the Conservatory Admissions team and the Conservatory faculty, and it was already finished for the year.听But we had heard so many stories of the war in Ukraine; everyone I spoke to was feeling the same way鈥攊f we have a chance to help a student out of that, then let鈥檚 try.鈥� 听

“Everyone I spoke to was feeling the same way鈥攊f we have a chance to help a student out of that, then let鈥檚 try.鈥�
– Marcy O’Malley, director of international admissions

Anthony Padilla, a piano professor in the 麻豆影院 Conservatory, joined the conversation. The withdrawal of another student from his piano studio had provided an opening.

Bohdan鈥檚 audition recordings included a dramatic etude by Ukrainian composer Viktor Kosenko that left Padilla and colleagues impressed.

鈥淣one of us in the Piano Department had ever heard it,鈥� Padilla said.

A need to learn English

Bohdan spoke Ukrainian, Polish, and Russian fluently. His English was minimal.

His mother spoke English; she even taught it in Ukraine. She would serve as Bohdan鈥檚 tutor for the next four months. Each night after school, she and Bohdan would huddle for English lessons.

鈥淭hree hours every night,鈥� Bohdan said. 鈥淚t was difficult.鈥�

Come early summer, in the middle of those marathon study sessions, he got word from 麻豆影院 that he had been accepted, contingent on the visa process being doable.

鈥淒uring those months of preparing to come here, I kept saying, 鈥榃hat have I done?鈥欌�� Bohdan said. 鈥淎t first, I couldn鈥檛 even understand, oh my God, I鈥檓 going to the U.S. to a university. I thought I was dreaming. It couldn鈥檛 be like that. It all happened very quickly.鈥�

On Sept. 2, he would fly from Poland, where he was able to get the visa with just hours to spare. He would make a stop in Norway en route to the U.S., then in Florida and Georgia before landing in Appleton. It was his first time flying alone, first time being away from his family, first time traveling outside of Ukraine.

For nearly 30 hours, Bohdan said, from the time he left Poland until he touched down at Appleton International Airport, he felt like he couldn鈥檛 breathe.

鈥淚t was a lot of stress,鈥� he said. 鈥淪omehow, I handled it.鈥�

Deckert, who signed on as his sponsor, was there to meet him at the airport.

Life at 麻豆影院

Activities in the Conservatory take up much of his time, Bohdan said. It often feels听overwhelming. Homesickness and worry about his family are constant companions. The welcome he鈥檚 felt at 麻豆影院, though, has eased his concerns.

鈥淓veryone was, and still is, very nice to me,鈥� Bohdan said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if it is because of my accent or if people here are just nice. It was not difficult to get used to life here.鈥�

In the Conservatory, Padilla said Bohdan quickly found his groove. He called Bohdan a 鈥渨onderful addition to my studio, the 麻豆影院 Piano Department, and the entire Conservatory.鈥�

Padilla has helped Bohdan stay connected to music from home, including the piece from Kosenko that he first shared in his audition video.

鈥淚 encouraged Bohdan to continue performing it in my studio classes, in our fall recital, and at the state auditions of the MTNA [Music Teachers National Association] Young Artists Piano Performance Competition in order to introduce unfamiliar Ukrainian music to American audiences,鈥� Padilla said.

麻豆影院鈥檚 music librarian set out to locate a score for the Kosenko work and found that it is out of print and unavailable at any library in North America. Bohdan then arranged to have the score sent from his instructors in Ukraine for use at the MTNA event. Bohdan would earn an honorable mention award in the competition, held in Rice Lake.

This term, Bohdan is learning a piano work by another Ukrainian composer, Stanislav Lyudkevich. Again, no score was available in North America, so Bohdan began corresponding with the artistic director of a museum in Ukraine about accessing music by Lyudkevich and other Ukrainian composers. 听

鈥淏ohdan鈥檚 piano studio colleagues and I are fascinated by this unfamiliar repertoire and are eager to learn and perform these works as well,鈥� Padilla said

Staying in touch with family

Bohdan said he鈥檚 been able to talk or text with his family daily. They feel safe, Bohdan said, but the war hangs over every conversation.

鈥淚 read news reports every day,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n the morning, during lunch, at night.鈥�

Deckert, meanwhile, is in frequent contact with both Bohdan and his family. Bohdan stayed at her Richland Center home during the nearly six-week winter break and may do the same come summer. A newly donated piano in Deckert鈥檚 home is available to Bohdan whenever he鈥檚 there.

鈥淗e鈥檚 a wonderful young man,鈥� Deckert said. 鈥淲hat he鈥檚 accomplished in the first months at 麻豆影院 is unbelievable鈥攐vercoming English, overcoming leaving home for the first time, leaving with his family in such a perilous position. He鈥檚 just a well-deserving young man.鈥�

Bohdan said he can鈥檛 begin to thank Deckert enough for the investment she鈥檚 made in him and his family.

鈥淎t the age of 83, she became the main initiator and a driving force of the whole process of my coming to the USA,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he is not only an amazingly generous person 鈥� but also she is a kind, caring grandma who gives me her constant support and warmth when I am so far away from home.鈥�

Bohdan said he鈥檚 equally grateful for the efforts 麻豆影院 made to bring him here, including staff in the Conservatory, Admissions, and Financial Aid offices working above and beyond to make his enrollment possible.

鈥淚 thank them very much for awarding me the exceptional scholarship, and I understand that I received it for my high academic achievements as a pianist, but also that it was a great, decisive, unprecedented, and sincere act of support for Ukraine.鈥�

Kautsky taught at 麻豆影院 from 1987 to 2002 and then rejoined the faculty in 2008. She is among the brilliant and accomplished musicians on today鈥檚 Conservatory faculty, and this recording project was a chance to celebrate the music that has most defined her professional life.

Great Piano Works Explained is geared toward fans of classical music who want a better understanding of the music.

鈥淭he hope is to bring other people in,鈥� Kautsky said. 鈥淢aybe even people who didn鈥檛 know they particularly liked classical music, but they bought it because it sounded interesting. And hopefully it gets them engaged.鈥�

The videos take the viewer through the works of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, through Chopin, Brahms, Liszt, and the rise of Russian pianists, and into more contemporary artists, including composers from marginalized communities. Kautsky talks through each piece as she plays.

鈥淚t was hard and there was a lot of pressure to get it done, but it also felt like this unbelievable gift to get to do this,鈥� Kautsky said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 usually get a chance to say, 鈥榯his is what鈥檚 mattered the most to me in my life.鈥欌��

Online reviews for the series have been glowing. 鈥淚 deeply appreciate Dr. Kautsky鈥檚 warmth, humor, and accessibility, and the way she somehow manages to imbue her 鈥榣ectures鈥� with great humanity,鈥� reads one. 鈥淚 have never had any training in music theory, nor do I even play the piano; Professor Kautsky is helping me understand the tools the great composers have used to build their masterpieces and what makes their handling of those tools so remarkable,鈥� reads another. 鈥淗er quiet, gentle teaching style and authentic love of the piano lend to the best lectures I have ever had,鈥� says another.

Information on Great Piano Works Explained . Ordering information can be found at . (Lawrentians are invited to reach out to Kautsky at kautskyc@lawrence.edu for a discount code.)