Wanderings Brian Woods

• Frédéric Chopin (1810 - 1849): Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23:
• 1 Chopin: Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23 09:49
• Clara Wieck Schumann (1819 - 1896): Ballade in D Minor, Op. 6 No. 4:
• 2 Schumann: Ballade in D Minor, Op. 6 No. 4 06:56
• Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No. 2 in F, Op. 38:
• 3 Chopin: Ballade No. 2 in F, Op. 38 07:36
• Lili Boulanger (1893 - 1918): D’un Vieux Jardin from Trois Morceaux pour Piano:
• 4 Boulanger: D’un Vieux Jardin from Trois Morceaux pour Piano 02:42
• Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No. 3 in A-flat, Op. 47:
• 5 Chopin: Ballade No. 3 in A-flat, Op. 47 07:52
• Amy Beach (1867 - 1944): Dreaming, Op. 15 No. 3:
• 6 Beach: Dreaming, Op. 15 No. 3 05:32
• Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52:
• 7 Chopin: Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52 12:37
• Total Runtime 53:04

Info for Wanderings

WANDERINGS, the debut album from pianist Brian Woods, reflects the beauty that can emerge in dark times. Woods performs Chopin’s Ballades alongside pioneering compositions from Clara Schumann, Lili Boulanger, and Amy Beach. The album was born as an artistic response to the horror of the war in Ukraine; through these emotive and technically-demanding performances, Woods offers comfort and inspiration for people everywhere suffering displacement. Just as Chopin wrestled with what it meant to be Polish while living outside of Poland, Woods seeks identity and transformation through exile. In WANDERINGS, Woods leverages the power of music to bridge the gap between despair and hope.

Brian Woods, piano

Brian Woods
Celebrated for his stunning musicianship and dazzling stage presence, American pianist Brian Woods has emerged as an exciting performer of international acclaim. His 2023-2024 Season included concert tours across the United States, including performances for the L’ermitage Foundation (Los Angeles CA), the Dana Center for the Arts at Saint Anselm College (Manchester NH), Connect2Culture (Joplin MO), the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts (Madisonville KY), the Keokuk Concert Association (Keokuk IA), the Steinway Society of Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh PA), and more. Woods is also honored to serve as Music Director for Classical Programming at the World Chess Hall of Fame, one of the premier venues for chamber music in Missouri.

A native of St. Louis, Woods has enjoyed success in numerous distinguished competitions, including the Verona International Piano Competition, The American Prize, the Beverly Hills National Auditions, and the Artist Presentation Society Auditions. Following his debut concerto performance at age 18, he maintains an extensive concerto repertoire, from Liszt and Tchaikovsky’s First Concerti to Beethoven’s Fifth, Brahms’ Second, and Rachmaninoff’s Third. Woods has recently performed with such ensembles as the Gateway Festival Orchestra, the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, the Belleville Philharmonic, the Manassas Symphony Orchestra, the Southeast Missouri Symphony, the University City Symphony Orchestra, and the Southern Illinois Symphony.

Past seasons have included solo recitals in Toronto, Washington DC, Nashville, San Diego, St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, and Dublin, Ireland. Hailed as “representing the next generation of professional touring artists” (Robert Hart Baker), Woods’ performances continue to receive high acclaim, with audiences and critics alike praising his playing as “astonishing” (KDHX St. Louis), “inspiring” (Encinitas CA), and “taking the audience on a journey” (Watertown NY). Woods has collaborated with tenor Vinson Cole and cellist Julian Schwarz, among many other partners in the United States and Canada. His artistic partnership with Canadian violinist Daniel Dastoor as the Dastoor-Woods Duo has led to notable performances for Music Toronto and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

Past mentors include Craig Nies, Robert Weirich, Stanislav Ioudenitch, and Donna Vince. Woods holds degrees from Vanderbilt University, University of Missouri – Kansas City, Shenandoah University, and the Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School, where he completed the Artist Diploma Program on full scholarship with famed Irish pianist and Beethoven interpreter John O’Conor.

This album contains no booklet.