ATHENA DENG RETURNS from the CHOPIN Competition! Ep. 27
She just competed at the Olympics of Piano, the 2025 International Chopin Competition. Athena Deng returns to the show to share her experiences!
Join Amos Vang and Athena Deng as they revisit Athena’s Road to Warsaw, from her performance at the preliminaries to her 1st round performance, as well as her preparation and mindset going into and after the Competition. Athena also shares the most important lessons that she learned from this experience, and the unique emotions she experienced from performing on the greatest stage of piano.
See Athena's first appearance on the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttpWfb1L1Z8
#chopin #chopinpiano #chopin2025 #piano #chopincompetition #argerich #athenadeng #dengsisters #canadianchopinsociety #royalconservatoryofmusic #rcm #chopininstitute #classicalmusic
-- CHAPTERS --
0:00 – Introduction
0:59 – Athena Deng describes her experience at the International Chopin Competition!
1:56 – Athena Deng at the Preliminaries
3:27 – How did Athena Deng prepare for the main International Chopin Competition?
6:03 – Athena Deng balanced a Masters of Music at the New England Conservatory with her preparation for the International Chopin Competition!
11:30 – Pianists have to learn and master massive amounts of music in a matter of weeks or even days!
15:02 – Athena Deng tried to use muscle memory to compete in the 1st round, which did not ultimately work out for her.
18:38 – Athena Deng talks about her experiences hearing different interpretations of the same Chopin repertoire at the Competition!
23:57 – Athena Deng felt like she was floating during her performance of Chopin’s Nocturne in G Major at the International Chopin Competition!
29:33 – Why did Athena Deng select the Yamaha for the prelims and the Kawai for the main rounds of the International Chopin Competition?
35:08 – The Shigeru Kawai piano was the 2nd most popular piano at the 2025 International Chopin Competition!
37:22 – Shigeru Kawai pianos are DIFFERENT from the K. Kawai pianos! It is good to practice on heavier pianos.
40:06 – What was Athena Deng thinking and feeling when she stepped onto the world stage and performed her 1st round programme at the International Chopin Competition?
45:27 – The competitors were very friendly and excited to be at the Chopin Competition!
46:51 – What were Athena Deng’s favorite experiences in Warsaw?
48:30 – Athena Deng thinks that the Warsaw Philharmonia felt SMALLER than Koerner Hall in Toronto, Canada!
54:23 – Pianists must know how to project to the back of the concert hall in their performances!
57:43 – Athena Deng visited Zelazowa Wola, Chopin’s birthplace!
59:51 – Dang Thai Son grew up listening to Chopin in the outdoors!
1:02:54 – Nature and wilderness focused CDs in the 2000s and early 2010s
1:05:28 – What were the most important lessons that Athena Deng has learned from the International Chopin Competition?
1:07:28 – How has the International Chopin Competition changed or help evolve Athena Deng’s understanding of Fryderyk Chopin?
1:11:14 – Justice Rosalie Abella took inspiration from Fryderyk Chopin?!
1:16:35 – Sports announcing and piano have A LOT in common. Amos Vang, who’s done both, explains why!
1:18:12 – Will Athena Deng compete in the 2030 International Chopin Competition?
1:22:39 – Athena Deng addresses her fans!