When Aleksandra (Sasha) Kasman speaks about music, we become curious about a new discovery in a well-known piece of music. Or, if it is a piece we are hearing for the first time, we are curious about whether we will experience a musical mystery or an ”a-ha” moment. Did world events effect the music the composer was writing?
From a very young age, Aleksandra enjoyed sharing her enthusiasm about music through piano performances and speaking about music. During the PianoArts 2014 competition, she began to hone her speaking skills through classes on musical content presented by coach Catherine Kautsky and her speaking and stage skills in classes presented by theater artists, such as actress Linda Stephens, a 2018 PianoArts competition coach.
As a PianoArts fellow, Aleksandra took these skills to a new level through numerous performances for a vast variety of audiences in Milwaukee, as well as in Alabama, where she was pursuing her undergraduate degree, and in New York, where she was studying for her master's degree at The Juilliard School. Developing these skills takes time and practice, just as performing the piano does.
Aleksandra is curious about the musical journey and how the musical traveler begins and ends the journey. Sharing that curiosity during her award winning performances at the piano is making a difference in the numbers of people she draws to classical music. In addition to her loyal following of concert goers, she is bringing new listeners to our art form.
Upcoming blogs will feature the PianoArts competition’s Audience Communication Award
and PianoArts fellowships.
