Pianist Greg Anderson — one half of the internationally acclaimed Anderson & Roe Piano Duo — has built a career bringing energy and storytelling to classical music. A Steinway Artist, who performs around the world, Anderson is passionate about connecting audiences to the music he loves.
You’re a Steinway Artist. What does that designation mean to you personally and professionally?
“I remember the first time I played on a Steinway, and it was like going from black and white to technicolor.”
“The sound coming out of the piano itself is inspiring and beautiful, but then the control you have—it’s…you know, you have all these new colors at your disposal, these different sound effects, you could call them.”
Classical music can sometimes feel intimidating to new audiences. How do you and the Anderson & Roe Piano Duo make it more approachable and fun?
“I mean, we do… we have a mission, yes, to make classical music a relevant and powerful force in society, and we use that mission with every choice we make. If I’m going to play a piece at a concert, just choosing that piece, I have to find a way to be able to connect it to my audience.”
What’s the difference between performing as a soloist and performing as part of a duo?
“Performing as a duo is like theater. You have multiple characters, and they engage with one another, and you’re responding to them in the moment, a bit like improv, and reacting to that partner. And performing as a soloist feels more like poetry. You can really get carried away performing as a soloist, because you aren’t responding to much besides the music.”
You and your husband have attended events like Miami Pride and Pensacola Pride. What does Pride mean to you as a family?
“Pride… I’m the kind of guy who gets really emotional at them. I remember the Miami Pride watching the parade go by, and then whenever PFLAG steps out onto the… those parades, I just lose my mind. I can’t stop crying. Because when I came out to my parents, it was an adjustment for them. And they ultimately found PFLAG, and it changed my whole family’s life.”
For someone who’s never attended a classical piano concert, what should they listen for or pay attention to?
“I think the most important thing is to enter with an open mind, and to allow yourself the freedom to drift, to go where your mind goes, to go where the music takes you. A piano recital is this incredible opportunity to come together as a community, and put away our devices, and share in something.”
