Chloe Flower, pianist & composer

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?

I’ve always wanted to be a musician since I can remember. I remember the first time touching
the piano and just feeling so connected to the instrument. It was really a natural connection that
I can’t totally explain. When I saw Yo-Yo Ma playing Swan in Harrisburg as a toddler, I was
touched in such a way that I think solidified my love for classical music and I knew I wouldn’t
pursue anything else. I think my first piano teacher – Mr. Fishbein at the Manhattan School of
Music Pre-College – was the biggest influence on me. He taught me so much about music and
life, and also he believed in me. When I started studying with him at 12 years old, I had never
had conservatory level training. But he still took me in and nurtured me and gave me the
confidence to pursue a career in music.

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

I think the biggest challenge has been stage fright. I am so locked in at home, even in piano
lessons I could get to that place where I’m totally enthralled in the music and almost transported
to another place. But on stage, I have had to really work on not letting my fear take over. I
often would strive for perfection, not excellence as a child and it’s really difficult to change those
patterns. I recently started seeing coaches to help with this, and it has definitely been helping.
Also, I can barely reach an octave which puts me at a disadvantage when it comes to certain
repertoire, but my piano teacher (Mr. Fishbein) never mentioned it or allowed it to enter my
mind. It wasn’t until I left college that I realized it was a problem!

Which performances/recordings are you most proud of?

I think I’m most proud of my current and latest album, She Composed: The Holidays. This
album means so much to me because I feel like I brought so many incredible women to light
that have been overlooked for centuries. Their music and stories deserve to be heard alongside
our classical brothers. So many people, both in the classical space and just passive listeners
have reached out telling me how much they love these songs that they’ve never heard before. I
love hearing that this music written by female composers is being enjoyed and I hope to hear
more works written by women in our concert halls and not just during the holiday season.

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

I think it depends on the scenario. For streaming, my music is so different it doesn’t always fit
into playlisting. But for live performances and commercial work, my edgier sounds do really
connect with people. I love the performance part, I use my hands a lot, I love to move my body
in ways that are non-traditional in my field. I think that is what makes me more “Popsical.” It’s
not just the music, but the way I perform. My body just takes over. I think in another life, I would
have been a cabaret dancer, haha!

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

I love so many different types of music so really, it’s about what mood I’m in. I absolutely adore
seasonal music – from the holidays to Valentine’s Day to the 4th of July. I wish I could play and
record them all! But one thing I always have to consider when picking repertoire is how it will
translate on the piano. It’s easy to take vocal pop songs or strong melodies and translate them
to the violin or cello because those instruments have vibrato and perform in a way similar to the
human voice. Because the piano is a percussive instrument without any vibrato, I have to not
only love the song, but I also have to find ways to translate it for an instrument that doesn’t
sound like the human voice. I think picking the repertoire is one of the hardest and lengthiest
parts of the recording process even when it comes to classical music because so much classical
and film music that I love has lush strings.

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

I love performing outside. Any opportunity to perform in nature I take! I once performed for
TOD’s overlooking the beach in the Hamptons and it was so magical. During soundcheck, I saw
whales and dolphins in the ocean. I think it’s so important to connect with nature as an artist
and human. So much of what I visualize when I close my eyes while performing is nature and it
reminds us of our humanity and how precious life is. I don’t think one can be spiritual or artistic
without truly valuing nature.

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

I love going to live performances, especially smaller, more intimate venues. And not just
musical concerts, I love going to the ballet, dance concerts, and I also get a lot of inspiration
from figure skating. I’m actually performing in 32 degrees next week at the skating rink in
Central Park with figure skaters. One of my dreams is to hear my original music at the Winter
Olympics in figure skating!

What is your most memorable concert experience?

Probably the Grammys. It was my first time performing on national television and in front of all
my peers with the biggest artist in the world. The response to my “Popsical” look and sound
was overwhelming. I had worked so hard my whole life crossing genres and trying to bring
classical music to a new audience and it was there on the grammy stage that it finally
happened. That was truly a huge moment for me as an artist and just for myself. I felt validation
and just pure joy. Performing with Cardi that night was also so empowering. It reminded me that
women in my industry, even at the highest level, do better when lifting up other women. Cardi
did that for me and inspired to want to do the same for other women in my field.

As a musician, what is your definition of success?

I think two things: for me I’ve had a lot of commercial success that I’m so grateful for, especially
as a classical musician. It’s still so shocking to me when people know who I am. But I think real
success to me is freedom. Freedom to write, perform and collaborate without thinking about the
financial ramifications or whether something is going to stream well. When you are truly free
from that, I think the true art comes out.

Another part of that success to me is seeing humans of all ages around the world in my
audience wanting to learn an instrument. I really want to share my love of music with as many
people as I can and show them how meaningful learning an instrument is. I think when classical
music, hopefully mine included, is on the pop charts and kids are lining up to learn in school the
way they line up for sports education, well I think that’s success for me and all classical
musicians past, present and future.

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

I think classical music needs to be in every school. We need to create a demand for the arts
and we need to create it in our youth first. Their voices are so powerful. You see what
happened with Baby Shark and K-Pop Demon Hunters. When kids are demanding classical
music on a massive scale, the world listens. We need to make sure our students have access
to the arts so that they too can grow up to appreciate it and they will be the next generation of
concert goers and musical geniuses.

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

Female composers. Still, less than 10% of music performed in our concert halls is music written
by women. And during the holidays, that number might be zero. Women writers, producers,
composers, engineers, orchestrators and conductors have been marginalized for centuries and I
think we need to continue to amplify the voices of women – past, present and future – in the
music industry.

What advice would you give to young or aspiring musicians?

Don’t be afraid of the word No. Ask for help, ask for opportunities, ask for advice. Reach out to
people who you want to work with. Now more than ever, people are accessible through social
media and other online outlets. Don’t be afraid that they might not respond or say no because
that is by no means the worst thing that could happen. The worst thing that could happen is you
NOT reaching out and asking a person who might have said yes. When I reached out to
Babyface COLD through his manager, Susan Markheim, I was expecting a NO. But instead, I
am here because he didn’t say no and that mentorship led me to where I am today.

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

I would love to have a world tour with an orchestra, dancers and lots of haute couture! That is
my ultimate dream!

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

I think my idea of perfect happiness doesn’t exist. But something that comes close is being with
my loved ones at home, eating amazing food and watching movies! Just time together with my
family and friends is my ultimate joy.

What is your most treasured possession?

My health.

What is your present state of mind?

Gratitude. I think when you come from a place of love and gratitude, you get much less worked
up over things. And for me, this applies to all areas of my life from stage fright to composing to
just existing in this world.

Website: www.chloeflower.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@chloeflower