Humans of: Music

Every article here - each a story of a musician - embodies a melody in your mind, whether fragmented or complete, optimistic or yearning, majestic or gentle.

Before the Bow

The Shanghai International Youth Orchestra is warming up. The sound is a familiar chaos to Ms. Liu—a cacophony of scales, the thump of a bass line, the lyrical sigh of a flute finding its pitch. She moves through it all not as a performer, but as a force of calm. Her hands, adorned only with a simple silver ring, are constantly in motion: straightening a stack of sheet music, typing a last-minute email, gently guiding a nervous cellist towards their seat. Ms. Liu is the orche

The Door | дверь

“My teacher couldn’t give it to me. Only my students could.” Vitalii Kuzovkov grew up in Chelyabinsk, Russia - in his words, a “working...

Chapter Introduction

“If they cut off both hands, I will compose music anyway, holding the pen in my teeth…” said Shostakovich. Minneapolis, MN, United States...

Humans of: Art

We hope every story in this chapter, insight from a student, an artist, a curator, or a passer-by, could leave a stroke of color in your mind, connect a string to your own identity.

For in every art, a human voice speaks.

Chapter Intro

What is art? Ancient Philosophers believed it’s “the imitation or representation of nature and human life.” Andy Warhol said it’s “producing things that people don't need to have”. I believe it’s anything created to indirectly communicate ideas, emotions, and shared human experience. The definition of art is not eternal, yet it can become eternal. Every new piece of work, every existence of an artist builds up the river of art and history. We are taught to appreciate art, to