Meet James Palmer | Classical Pianist, Collaborator, Educator, Presenter

We had the good fortune of connecting with James Palmer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James, why did you pursue a creative career?
I think there was never really much of a choice — from my earliest memory, I’ve always been naturally inclined toward the arts. My parents are both very musically gifted, even if they didn’t pursue it professionally to the extent that I have. As a child, I was very much into drawing and visual art, but I also adored music; I sang in choirs, acted in musicals, and eventually began to play the piano. Once I got started on the piano, it pretty much eclipsed all other major interests. I remember first being fascinated just by the shape and physical elegance of the piano as a very young child. As I got older and began playing, the piano started to feel like an extension of myself, body and soul. It was and has remained a very addictive relationship. What is most special to me about this relationship is that, like a personal relationship, it grows and develops through various stages of life and technique and frustration and jubilation.

Throughout my teenage years, I became more and more serious about the piano under the guidance of my first teacher, Sandrine Erdely-Sayo. By the time college applications rolled around, it really just seemed like the logical next step to pursue a degree in piano performance, which I did at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

That being said, I had no idea what kind of lifestyle I was getting myself into! Now that I’m nearing the end of a doctorate in music, I can confirm that a career in the arts is certainly something you get up and choose each day. Classical pianists often need to practice many hours a day in preparation for performances. On top of the normal stresses of trying to find performances (and stay afloat financially), it is often a challenge to find creative ways to present classical music to modern audiences. But that is also one of my favorite parts of this lifestyle; I enjoy engaging with audiences to show them why they should care, why the music I love enough to have practiced for hours and hours can be meaningful to them. As much as I love music and the piano, I think connecting with other people through these media is really what keeps me going artistically.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It’s so common for classical pianists to play the same pieces over and over. Of course, the canon exists for a reason, and nothing will ever replace the Chopin Études or Beethoven sonatas, as they’re foundational to the art of playing the piano.

I always try to find a way to honor that canon while presenting works in a thoughtful way. For example, I love pairing pieces one wouldn’t normally associate with each other that may touch on similar subject matter or philosophical topic. Last year, I performed a recital program dedicated to the German Romantic concept of “Waldeinsamkeit,” or “solitude of the woods,” which paired pieces from the German Romantic musical period with a 20th century piece by Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu.

I am also very into new music by living composers. Most recently, I commissioned six award-winning composers in the Rice University community to each write a solo piano piece as an exploration of the “piano prelude” genre. It was so rewarding to work with these composers to bring these pieces to life, as well as to see how differently composers can respond to the same prompt — “What is a Piano Prelude?” I am looking forward to releasing a YouTube series on this project, featuring interviews with the composers and fancy multi-angle video recordings of their pieces, in December 2022.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live near Brays Bayou and just love walking there almost every day. I’ve made friends with a duck down there (at least I think we’re friends …) and it’s so fun to admire the wildlife there and their interesting ways of adapting to life in a concrete aqueduct! Same with Buffalo Bayou, even if that’s a bit further from me.

I have to eat gluten-free for health reasons, and while that limits my options somewhat, I’m happy to report that Houston is an amazing city to have this dietary restriction in! Bellagreen on Alabama has been a godsend for reasonably priced, delicious upscale food of all kinds. I stop by Lúa Viet Kitchen for pho at least twice a month and at this point I’m going to Pepper Twins on Kirby about once a week. Best margaritas in Houston are right next door at Lupe Tortilla! And best GF pizza at Candelari’s on Holcombe.

One of my favorite things that I don’t get to do often is go down to the beach for a day trip; my favorite beach day is going to Surfside for the afternoon and then driving up to Galveston for dinner afterward before coming home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Many, many people. It’s common for classical musicians to list only their major teachers in their biographies, when in truth most of us have probably learned just as much from our peers, parents, YouTube commenters, and random audience members that we’ll never meet again. That being said …

Firstly, my mom. She is a classically trained soprano, and my childhood experience of watching her take voice lessons, practice at home, and sing in various choirs generated my early interest in classical music and left me with a lasting love for vocal music. I watched her sing in the chorus of the Verdi Requiem when I was about ten, and I view that experience as my most important early experience with music (what an impression that piece makes on a ten-year-old!)

Secondly, my first piano teacher, Sandrine Erdely-Sayo. What an amazing influence to have as a young person! She really got me interested in the piano specifically, as opposed to general interest in music. There was always something to discover on the piano with her; a special sound, a special way to shape a phrase, a special way to use the pedal. But she exposed me to so much more — literature, food, art, language … she really opened up an artistic way of viewing the world for me.

My undergrad professor, the extraordinary Emile Naoumoff — who challenged me to progress quickly from the moment I started my undergrad. While he was technically only my piano professor, he really taught me how to understand music, which was probably reflective of his musical upbringing under Nadia Boulanger. He has a way of teaching the student to question the music they play, to try to penetrate the composer’s mind and really understand why certain compositional choices were made (if there was a reason at all!). He gives his students a scaffolding by which to understand the music they play.

Menahem Pressler, the legendary pianist … while I only had a brief period of lessons with him, he left an indelible mark on my development as a performer. What an incredible opportunity just to be around such a legend as he is (he was 96 when I studied with him!).

And finally, my current teacher, Dr. Robert Roux, who has helped my playing and musicianship mature in ways I would have thought impossible even just two years ago. He has really given me a technical framework to achieve artistically what I want to achieve at the piano.

Website: jamespalmerpiano.com

Instagram: @jamespalmerpiano

Facebook: @jamespalmerpiano

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPQ_KxfwFYOdWeuCqm9PHUw

Image Credits
Marc Sofia Laura Cahalan Photography Full Media Jacket LLC