Having lived in New York for eight years, the city has never once bored me. I’ve heard a lot — really, a lot — of concerts: from intimate jazz sets to grand orchestral evenings, from solo piano recitals to boundary-pushing premieres. Some events have become personal rituals — the Vienna Philharmonic or Berlin Philharmonic at Carnegie, new commissions at the Met, and countless discoveries in between.
This diary is a way for me to share the performances that continue to inspire me — concerts I look forward to attending, programs that resonate with my own work, and moments that remind me why I make music.
🎶 Upcoming Concerts
September 2025
TWINE — A Ballet by Miro Magloire · New Chamber Ballet
3 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Excited for TWINE, full-length ballet by Miro Magloire to music by Tonia Ko.
Josefowicz Plays Szymanowski · Leila Josefowicz · Marta Gardolińska
A wonderfully Polish-focused program: works by Polish composers Lutosławski and Szymanowski with Polish conductor Marta Gardolińska, with half-Polish violinist Leila Josefowicz, plus Mason Bates’s Devil’s Radio (New York premiere).
October 2025
Salonen Leads BartĂłk & Boulez
It was just announced that Esa-Pekka Salonen will serve as Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Principal Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris—fitting, since the program includes Boulez’s Rituel, originally commissioned by both orchestras. You know how rarely I get a Boulez night; happily there’s more this season for his centennial. Also on the program: Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra and Stravinsky’s Octet.
Philharmonia Orchestra · Marin Alsop & Alexandre Kantorow
I’ve never heard Marin Alsop live, though I enjoyed seeing her featured in The Conductor. This program includes Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 — always a feast.
November 2025
Augustin Hadelich Plays Barber
I’m a big fan of Augustin Hadelich (I’ve enjoyed his performances very much in Hong Kong and at Yale). Excited to hear him in Barber’s Violin Concerto—I’ve only heard him live in Britten and other Romantic/Classical works. And this season I’ll hear Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2 twice (the other is with the Vienna Philharmonic in March at Carnegie).
January 2026
Yefim Bronfman Plays Schumann
I love Bronfman’s playing—especially in the Schumann Piano Concerto. I’m also curious to hear two remarkable women on the program: composer Chen Yi and conductor Xian Zhang.
Beethoven & Elektra Suite
My first time hearing violinist MarĂa Dueñas. That opening D on timpani in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto always makes me think of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (I played the organ part back at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts). I always enjoy Manfred Honeck’s conducting, and I’m keen to hear his own orchestra arrangement of Richard Strauss’s opera Elektra.
February 2026
Bruce Liu, Piano
I’m looking forward to hearing Bruce Liu’s return to Carnegie Hall — I saw him once last year and attended the subscriber event. I especially love the mix — Ligeti alongside Ravel’s Alborada del gracioso, Albéniz’s El Puerto from Iberia, and Liszt’s Rhapsodie espagnole — a Spanish spirit!
March 2026
Vienna Philharmonic · Conductor: Andris Nelsons
I make it a tradition to hear the Vienna Philharmonic each year, and this concert is especially exciting with Andris Nelsons — one of my favorite conductors. I still vividly remember his Beethoven Third Symphony with the Boston Symphony in 2017. This time, I’m looking forward to experiencing Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2 live for the first time.
The Crossing with Claire Chase
Yes to Claire Chase — and this program also features some of my favorite contemporary composers. I haven’t been to a choral performance in a long time, let alone one dedicated to contemporary repertoire!
The Philadelphia Orchestra · Conductor: Marin Alsop · Pianist: Hayato Sumino
Hayato Sumino is such a rising star, and I’m excited to hear him in Gershwin — a perfect fit for his style, with its seamless blend of classical and jazz. This will also be my second time hearing Marin Alsop this season, and I’m eager to experience her conducting in a different repertoire and with a different orchestra.
April 2026
Boston Symphony Orchestra · Conductor: Andris Nelsons · Pianist: Lang Lang
Yes again to my favorite conductor, Andris Nelsons — this time with Lang Lang performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto. I’ll also have the rare chance to hear both Sibelius’s First and Second Symphonies this season, conducted by Nelsons with different orchestras.
Schultz, Barber & Stravinsky
This program hits so many of my sweet spots—20th-century orchestral and vocal music. Ives, George Lewis, Floyd, Stravinsky, Barber… deeply intrigued.
Hannigan: La voix humaine
Soprano-conductor Barbara Hannigan is always riveting in this rare double role. Very curious to hear Poulenc’s La voix humaine live.
May 2026
Behzod Abduraimov, Piano
Behzod Abduraimov is known to me for his electrifying Ravel performances, and this will be my first time hearing him live. With a program centered on the Romantic repertoire!
Dudamel and Spanish Harlem Orch.
Must-see for several reasons: Dudamel’s first season as NY Phil music director, plus music by Gabriela Ortiz alongside Ginastera, Villa-Lobos, and Gershwin.
Evgeny Kissin, Piano · Joshua Bell, Violin · Steven Isserlis, Cello
This program is full of the “-sky” and “-vich” masters — a feast of Russian chamber music. I love the chamber series Kissin has been curating at Carnegie Hall each year, and it’s always a highlight to hear him collaborate with other musicians!
June 2026
Bychkov Conducts Bruckner
I’ve heard quite a few Bruckner symphonies and I’m slowly collecting them all—so Bruckner 8, here we go. And I do love Semyon Bychkov.
Tianyu TINA DENG 