Hong-Kong born pianist Tiffany Poon has appeared with orchestras and in recital throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and China since she was first accepted to the Juilliard pre-college program at the age of eight. In addition to live performances she is also dedicated to building an online community on her YouTube and social media channels, where she shares insights of her life as a musician with the goal of demystifying classical music. This season, Tiffany will perform debut recitals in Munich’s Herkulessaal presented by Concerto Winderstein’s Klassik vor Acht series, on the Washington Performing Arts’ Hayes Piano Series at the Kennedy Center, and a recital debut at the Dresden Music Festival.
You started the nonprofit organization Together with Classical a little over a year ago. You successfully raised $12,000 during your first fundraiser. Could you tell me a little bit about how people are responding to the mission of the organization, and what you hope your next fundraiser will accomplish?
Thank you for asking about Together with Classical! My audience’s overwhelming support for me during the pandemic has meant so much to me. I wanted to found a nonprofit platform that could give back to the community, give an equal voice to anyone and everyone who loves classical music, while at the same time redistribute the support for me to other musicians and education as a charity. I never thought I would do something like this as a pianist – I’m lucky to have such a kind community supporting my endeavors.
Our last fundraiser launched Together with Classical Grant and we were able to help 17 students and musicians from all over the world with their tuition, instrument and music project expenses.
I’m very much looking forward to growing Together with Classical and continuing to support more people’s passion for classical music.
You mention in one of your videos the “dehumanizing” element of classical music performance: the performer goes on stage in front of the audience, plays, the audience is allowed to give only mostly nonverbal feedback (applause), and the performer exits. It’s almost like an invisible wall exists between the two. But your videos are anything but impersonal. They really draw viewers into the world of the classical performer. Is this a bit of what you hoped would be the result when you started vlogging your experiences and life as a musician? An opportunity to interact with your audience?
There has always been only one hope: to introduce classical music to a 21st century living audience. During my philosophy studies at Columbia, I was intrigued by writers who critically examined the relationship between objects, art and people during the rise of technology in the 20th century and how technology changed the experience of humanity, for better and for worse. So in 2017, I thought, would bringing back some living human elements to the experience of classical music – music of departed humans – bring more audiences to classical music today? Almost four years later, it is still an ongoing hypothesis. I try my best to share what I learn from my experiences and passion for Robert Schumann’s music to a wider audience. Many only know the more popular classical composers like Mozart, Beethoven or Chopin, so I’m beyond grateful for everyone who has explored the music I love together with me through my videos and concerts.
Would you say that the world of the classical musician can be lonely at times? Much of the day is devoted to practicing, there’s the travel to gigs, performances, competitions, a concert even with rehearsals boils down to a single performance. What keeps you inspired in moments where you have to tough it out in the long and lonely practice sessions?
I’m not sure I could speak for the entire world of classical musicians. Of course, I’m very lucky to have friends who keep me inspired and support me through life in general. Maybe it’s because I don’t practice that much, but I never thought of my practicing as having to “tough it out” in “long and lonely practice sessions.” I think it’s just part of the craft and work to strive towards something better or more beautiful. I don’t think this is exclusive to classical musicians. So many other professions have equally lonely if not tougher, longer practice or work sessions. The hours of working under the blazing sun as a farmer in an unpredictable climate, the years of intense studying and all-nighters to become a lawyer or doctor, the physical and mental tenacity of Olympic athletes to train for years to achieve a medal in just a few minutes or even just a few seconds. I have tremendous respect for all musicians and humans in general who work hard for countless hours.
How does it feel to know that you’ve reached so many people who are interested in classical music with your YouTube channel? This is different than a concert audience since it isn’t only people who can attend or purchase tickets, sometimes there are aspiring young students watching, people revisiting music they once enjoyed, people with no background knowledge in music performance or in classical music.
Of course it feels incredible. I’m always so touched by those who would drive for hours or fly all the way just to come hear two hours of my performance after watching my YouTube. It gives me the confidence and optimism to keep thinking of ways to bring an audience to classical music and into concert halls. Many often draw a line between people who are “just” viewers and people who actually go to concerts, but I think nowadays, especially with the pandemic forcing everyone to be online, I’m hopeful that they will all be in the concert audience one day. At least I will keep trying to make it happen.
Your Classical Chats cover so many different facets of classical music. You’ve interviewed everyone from the world renowned violinist Midori to an electrical engineering scholar who studies machine learning and music, to a visual artist who works with music, and a teen pianist who learns music through Braille. Do you think that music touches our lives in ways we aren’t often aren’t aware of, or in ways that we take for granted?
I think everyone knows that music touches our lives, no matter who we are or what music we listen to, but I think classical music in particular has not had the same opportunity to be embraced by everyone openly, no matter where classical music fits in people’s lives. Oftentimes, classical music is used just to depict the higher-class and poke fun at its datedness. We usually only hear from award-winning musicians and professionals on the stage, while the rest who are amateurs or students don’t get the same opportunity to celebrate and share their passion for classical music. It’s been an honor to be able to talk to a diverse group of guests, from renowned musicians like Midori to amateurs. I hope Classical Chats on Together with Classical’s platform can offer an equal voice to all who love classical music and show that classical music can belong to a big, inviting, diverse, supportive, living community.