When did you start to get interested in music?

We are both trained as professional musicians starting at a very early age. The idea of collaboration started when we were doing our Master’s degree in Music Performance at New York University. We both studied and lived in an inclusive environment and realized music is a universal language to embrace cultural diversity.

If you were an advertisement, which would your slogan be?

Make your voice heard, make each voice heard.

Which is the part you enjoy the most about music?

We enjoy the process of curating a new project. For us, each project has a unique theme. We choose repertoire, venue, and even the performance time to align well with the theme. Every detail is well thought by us and being combined, almost like baking. We enjoy the process of brainstorming and innovating in music.

Most artists say that through their art they learn more about themselves, heal injuries… In which aspects has music helped you?

Hanyi: The journey music is simply eye-opening. While personally, it brings me so much comfort when playing, it also helps me see the world outside my comfort zone.

Cho: Making music, for me, is like therapy or even yoga. It’s not only physical, but also mental. When I play the piano, I can hear the voice from my heart and breathe with it.

What does music mean to you?

Music is a way to approach composers’ emotions and stories. Unlike paintings in the museum that you can only appreciate with distance and observation, music is a unique form of art that artists can get involved: touch the score, make notes, feel it and recreate it.

We tend to present different types of music in other cultures, but it really is our music that presents us. Each performance of our work is concluded with our stories, emotions, ideas, and appreciations.

Who are your idols?

Hanyi: Martha Argerich has always been my favorite pianist at all times. Her passion, dedication, and immeasurable talents are something any musicians are dreamed of having.

Cho: Radu Lupu, Horowitz, Maurizio Pollini, Daniil Trifonov, Yuja Wang and more.

If you didn’t like music, what would you like to do?

Hanyi: I will become a listener and an observer to other artists’ works.

Cho: I’m really passionate about life and willing to explore different kinds of life styles. If I didn’t choose to become a musician, I want to be a designer.

Do you consider that nowadays there are more or less opportunities for new artists? Why?

There are more opportunities for new artists with more public exposure (thanks to social media), but it is also more competitive than ever as people are encouraged to show their talents. I’m sure there are a lot of talented people out there! As we always tell our musicians friends, the space is super competitive, and opportunities won’t just come and knock at your door. What matters is to take initiatives, put yourself out there and make your voice heard.

What would your idyllic life as an artist be like?

To play in front of our live audience, especially during a special time like now. We communicate with our audience through music, and it is simply gold to see their reaction in person.