Hi! How are you? Where are you?
Right this moment, I am at an airport waiting for a flight for a concert in Colorado. I live in New York City, where I attend the Mannes College of Music.


What’s on your schedule right now?
Schoolwork, and concerts and studying, and concerts. For a complete list of what is coming up, I invite you to check out my website at www.NatashaParemski.com.


If you hadn’t chosen for music, what do you think you would do right now?
I can not imagine a life without music.  Somehow, I would be involved in music, either as a performer or otherwise.


What or who was your biggest influence as an artist?
My teacher, Pavlina Dokovska, is my biggest influence as an artist. I have been studying with her at the Mannes College of Music in New York City for almost two years. And it has been an absolutely incredible experience. She has helped me become a better musician, and achieve all my goals as an artist.  I also adore the French pianist Helene Grimaud, who is a good friend and has been very kind to me as a person and an artist.


What’s the hardest part about being a musician and what’s the best?
I love performing, and everything about music-making.  But sometimes, it is hard to hear negative comments, especially after working so hard and giving so much of myself in a concert.


What’s your view on the classical music scene at present? Is there a crisis?
Yes, there are a lot of young people who have negative attitudes about classical music, and I hope to be part of new efforts and energy directed at changing these attitudes and reaching out to new audiences and younger audiences.


Some feel there is no need to record classical music any more, that it’s all been done before. What do you tell them?
I don’t agree. I think there are endless ways of interpretting and presenting the music. And there are some great new classical works being written all the time.


What constitutes a good live performance in your opinion? What’s your approach to performing on stage?
If the performance related to the audience in a personal way, then that is a successful performance. When I perform, I transform into the character and world of the piece that I am playing.


What does the word “interpretation” mean to you?
Interpretation to me means doing my best to understand what the piece meant to the composer, and bringing out its character through research, understanding, and one’s own, personal experiences.


True or false: It is the duty of an artist to put his personal emotions into the music he plays.
True. Music is all about connection and emotion and art and the human experience. Otherwise, why not let robots make music?


True or false: “Music is my first love”
True.


True or false: People need to be educated about classical music, before they can really appreciate it. 
False.  Music is a universal language and the language of the soul. Babies understand and love music. However, many people can deepen their appreciation of this art through study, but it is not mandatory.


You are given the position of artistic director of a concert hall. What would be on your program for this season? 
That is a very tough choice. I would program all the great pieces of the past, and lots of new outstanding compositions and artists.  I would present the concerts in a fun and accessible and intimate way, so that everyone would feel comfortable about attending classical music, instead of intimidated.


What’s your favourite classical CD at the moment? 
Too tough to answer, I have a lot of favorites. I am enjoying Helene Grimauds brand new CD of Chopin and Rachmaninoff.


Have you ever tried playing a different instrument? If yes, how good were you at it?
No, I have never tried playing any other instrument. I am thinking of the kazoo, however... that is a joke.


Discography:
Rubinstein/Rachmaninov (Bel Air) 2002
Chopin (Bel Air) 2003
Brahms Live (recorded 2002)

Homepage:
Natasha Paremski