Jan Lisiecki in an interview

"Music should create happiness in the moment."

Jan Lisiecki was born to Polish parents and grew up in Canada. He skipped four grades in school. At the age of 16, he signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon. Today, at 20, he already performs in all the major concert halls.

Classicpoint.ch: You started playing the piano at the age of 5. By 9, you were already performing as a soloist with an orchestra. You were allowed to skip four grades in school. Did you have contact with peers as a child?
I think I always had good contact with both my peers and my classmates. Skipping four grades wasn't a big deal for me or the people around me. It felt very normal, and I integrated very quickly.

Have you ever considered studying something completely different?
Music was already a big part of my life when I had the choice of what to study. Since I was doing something I loved with music, I never thought about studying anything else. But I think I would definitely be happy in my life even without a career as a concert pianist. I have many interests, including politics, law, and economics.

Did you even have time to study piano? You were already touring at that time, weren't you?
I had already started my piano studies and performed many concerts while I was still in school. That was a challenge because I didn't receive any special treatment. I was always at a regular school and had to keep up with all the schoolwork.

Now you're 20 years old. Do you have any plans or goals for the next 10 years?
It's impossible to plan 10 years in advance, of course. I don't have any big plans at the moment and simply want to continue developing as a musician and enjoy this wonderful life every day.

How do you prepare for your performance on the day of the concert?
I try not to establish a ritual, because with over 100 concerts, there are many days when things don't go according to plan. The only thing I try to avoid is my cell phone and the internet on the day of the concert. The risk of getting distracted is too great.

What do you enjoy doing most immediately after a concert?
I always enjoy meeting the audience, for example at autograph sessions. It's one of the few opportunities to meet the people I want to reach with my concerts, hear their feedback, and thank them for their time.

How do you approach new pieces? What's your practice routine?
It really depends on the piece. Some pieces are so famous that I already have many ideas. Other pieces are still unfamiliar to me. In those cases, I try to learn the piece myself first before listening to recordings to understand the historical performance practices.
 
What do you believe in?
I believe in the incredible power of music and that it should create magical moments for the audience.

What is important to you besides music?
Happiness in the moment – ​​music should bring you exactly that.

Is there a funny anecdote you can share from your many travels?
There are several such stories every month. All those moments that initially seem impossible or make you unhappy. We can laugh about these moments months or years later. That's why I've learned to experience such moments as adventures and laugh immediately. In fact, as I answer these questions, I learn that my flight tomorrow after the concert has been canceled, and there's no alternative. The adventure awaits!

Interview by Florian Schär | Classicpoint.ch | January 4, 2016
© Photo: Mathias Bothor / DG

Next concerts

November 24, 2026 - Jan Lisiecki (piano)
January 22, 2027 - Jan Lisiecki (piano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko (conductor)
January 25, 2027 - Jan Lisiecki (piano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko (conductor)
January 26, 2027 - Jan Lisiecki (piano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko (conductor)
January 31, 2027 - Jan Lisiecki (piano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko (conductor)
February 1, 2027 - Jan Lisiecki (piano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko (conductor)
February 3, 2027 - Jan Lisiecki (piano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko (conductor)
February 28, 2027 - Jan Lisiecki (piano), Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Pablo Heras-Casado (conductor)
June 25, 2027 - Jan Lisiecki (piano), Bruckner Orchestra Linz, Markus Poschner (conductor)