Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in music and who or what have been the most important influences on your musical life and career?
What inspired me to pursue a career in music is communication with people of every demographic. I come from a family who loves people, and who always wanted to spread that love to anyone they are in contact with. This is what I always want to be mindful of whenever I perform or record music.
Listening, watching, and reading Leonard Bernstein was my most important influence on my musical life. He was an example of someone who did it all: he performed, composed, interpreted, analyzed, and taught.
What have been the greatest challenges of your career so far?
Making sure that I balance and prioritize time to do it all.
Which performances/recordings are you most proud of?
I am proud of all my recordings, and each project means a great deal to me, and the sessions were postcards to that particular day and time.
Which particular works/composers do you think you perform best?
I hope to do justice to every composer I perform, because I believe they are worth it.
What do you do off stage that provides inspiration on stage?
Meditation.
How do you make your repertoire choices from season to season?
Gut feeling and collaboration.
Do you have a favourite concert venue to perform in and why?
I love venues that allow me to perform as softly and intimately, and as loudly and declamatory, as demanded by the work I perform. I never want any emotion to be forced, but to convey everything organically.
What do you feel needs to be done to grow classical music’s audiences?
Inclusion of everyone.
What is your most memorable concert experience?
The feeling I had the first time I performed with an orchestra at age 11, and my first standing ovation that night. It pushed me to always strive for that same feeling and excitement, and to create a performance that people remember and cherish.
What advice would you give to young/aspiring musicians?
Do everything with the mindset of what life means to you in your heart.
Stewart Goodyear performs works by Clara Schumann on NAC Orchestra’s forthcoming recording ‘Clara-Robert-Johannes: Romance and Counterpoint’, available on the Analekta label from 22 September
Photo credit: Anita Zvonar
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