by Lou Lesko
I’ll admit to having a ridiculously pedestrian perception of classical music artists. Pianists specifically. Call it lack of direct exposure, or maybe too much Bugs Bunny when I was a kid. Or maybe, maybe, maybe it’s the awe I feel when I watch a pianist play with a supernova-like intensity that I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced. Is this envy? Insecurity? Probably a blend.
My next guest, classical pianist Dorothy Robbins, was kind enough to set me straight when she visited the Chaos & Creativity headquarters in Marin county.
Dorothy Robbins is the epitome of talent and grace. A confident young woman with a warm and friendly disposition that mildly contradicts what one might expect when looking at her long list of accomplishments. Which—so far—have culminated in her recently received Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance. It turns out the political dynamics of the classical music space are not that dissimilar from the ones found in Hollywood. Unexpected, but understandable when you look at the competitive nature of the landscape.
What became abundantly obvious after my conversation with Dorothy is the pursuit of a career in classical music is meant for the talented and the hyper-driven. It starts with a choice that’s made at a young age, Dorothy was ten when she started. What follows is a relentless pursuit of perfection. Classical music is a lifestyle choice that requires superhuman dedication for a very long run.
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- Hosts: Kimi Recor and Lou Lesko
- Producer: Cheramie Johnson
- Editor: Alexandra Covey
- Music: Kieran Kerwin
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