William Chapman Nyaho, pianist

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?

My earliest memories have to do with being surrounded by music at home. My eldest sister Nyamafo was playing the piano, I wanted to imitate her.  She taught me few things before I started formal lessons. The record player would be going with music by Handel, Bach, Beethoven, Ghanaian highlife, pop music and my mother singing along. My siblings also played instruments or sang. It was a wonderful atmosphere to grow up in. 

Later in secondary school in Ghana (Achimota School), I had the most wonderful teacher called John Barham who gave me piano lessons. I learned music history, analysis, harmony under him. He prepared me so well for my O and A levels, I was able to study music at St. Peters’ College, Oxford.… it eventually became evident I had to be a musician.  

Other very important influences in my musical career were Dr. Maya Angelou who took me under her wing and encouraged me, pianist and composer Oswald Russell who was so kind an patient and saw my potential and my piano professor at the University of Texas at Austin, David Renner. They gave me strength and courage to navigate this career.

What have been the greatest challenges of your career so far?

Even though this has improved tremendously, I would say opportunities to perform a diversity of repertoire in concert halls.  As a professor, the lack of access to repertoire by composers from the African continent has been terrible. It has been very challenging to teach students the amazing music that is out there. That is just the tip of the iceberg. 

Which performances/recordings are you most proud of?

I am very proud of my recordings of piano music of composers of African descent, Senku, Asa, Kete, and my duo piano recordings of all Aaron Copland’s music for two pianos and most recently Five by Four, featuring composers such as Eleanor Alberga, Stella Sung and a premiere recording of Thomas Kerr.  I am particularly proud as the recordings are increasingly broadcast worldwide.

Which particular works/composers do you think you perform best?

This is a hard one but I love a whole range of composers but Bach is definitely high on the list as well as composers of African descent .

 

What do you do off stage that provides inspiration on stage?

I like to high five the backstage managers, pump myself up, get really excited about going to share the phenomenal music with my audience.

How do you make your repertoire choices from season to season?

I am on a mission to bring equitable exposure of composes of African descent to the concert hall. Hence, my repertoire has increasingly focused on composers that have been under-represented. However, I love the idea of including music by Western classical composers, so that they can be heard in a different context. My repertoire choices usually tailored to the series, venue, or audience.

Do you have a favourite concert venue to perform in and why?

I have played quite a few concert halls from small to large.  I always try to experience and find what beauty each venue brings to what I have to play.  So I have lots of favourite concert venues but I suspect playing at Wigmore Hall is going to rise to the top.  I am very excited and honoured to play a whole recital of piano music by Ghanaian, Nigerian, Jamaican, African American and African British composers in the African Concert Series at London’s Wigmore Hall on February 17, 2024. It is a dream come true and a testament to the openness of audiences to exprience new repertoire influenced by cultures of Africa and its diaspora.

What is your most memorable concert experience?

That is very hard to say. I have had memorable concerts in different countries and cultures where the overall experience between me and the audience has been incredibly inspiring and moving for me. I have also had wonderful collaborations with dance companies such as Garth Fagan Dance Company where I am playing  live to work from my CD thathe has choreographed.  I have had wonderful concert experiences with my duo piano partner Susanna Garcia.

As a musician, what is your definition of success?

Bringing joy to my audience.  Feeling I have inspired someone to pursue their dream through my work.

What advice would you give to young/aspiring musicians?

Dream Big. Keep plugging away at your goals and dreams. Your path does not have to look like anyone else’s.  There is room for you to shine in whatever you do. 

What do you feel needs to be done to grow classical music’s audiences?

Invite all people to feel they belong in experiencing classical music! Dispense with conservative programming. Do away with the ‘gatekeepers’ determining what is acceptable to programme in concert series. Creating more diversity and equity of repertoire, on programming. Create more diverse ways of actually experiencing classical music.

What’s the one thing in the music industry we’re not talking about which you think we should be?

 It is also my hope that music institutions will open up options for auditions to include more diverse repertoire from different continents instead of the standard Bach prelude and fugue, the classical sonata, the romantic work and a twentieth century European composer . 

What’s next? Where would you like to be in 10 years?

Playing more often in Europe and the African continent.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Being in the present moment. Being at peace.

What is your present state of mind?

Excited. Trying to stay in the present moment.

William Chapman Nyaho performs piano music from Africa and the African Diaspora as part of the African Concert Series at Wigmore Hall on Saturday 17 February. Info / tickets

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William Chapman Nyaho earned his degrees from St. Peter’s College, Oxford University, the Eastman School of Music and the University of Texas at Austin. He also studied at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, Switzerland. Chapman Nyaho currently serves as Vice-President for DEI at Music Teachers National Association. He is on the faculty at Pacific Lutheran University and runs his private piano studio in Seattle. Washington. He is also on the summer faculty of Interlochen Center for the Arts. As an active solo recitalist, a member of the Nyaho/Garcia Duo, a chamber musician and lecturer, his passion is advocating music by composers of African descent.

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