Interview with Piano Maestro Rufus Choi

I have been a longtime admirer of piano maestro Rufus Choi ever since attending a Sarah Compinsky Master Class many years ago. His memorable insights were shared with those who performed in that class, after which he gave a riveting performance. Hearing the power Rufus harnessed on that piano, I became a die-hard fan, attending as many of his concerts as I could, both in person and live-streamed.

Rufus took a sabbatical from his concertizing to establish his very own music school in Burbank, California – the Salit Conservatory of Music. There, I had the privilege of attending concerts by his students and distinguished music professors on staff. Last year, after performing a riveting solo at the end of a recital by the Salit teachers, I eagerly invited Rufus to consider performing at an Athena concert in 2026. I was ecstatic when he accepted.

Here we are, a month from Rufus Choi’s solo concert marking his triumphant return to piano performance after his hiatus. It’s an honor to host his return.

For those who haven’t yet heard of Rufus Choi, I’m pleased to introduce you. Award-winning Steinway Artist, pianist Rufus Choi has performed at major venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the Salzburg Festival, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and more. He is also a dedicated educator, mentoring pianists of all ages, many of whom have gone on to prestigious conservatories and achieved success in competitions. I’ve found Rufus to be as warm and kind as he is accomplished at the piano. But don’t take my word for it. See for yourself in this enjoyable candid interview with the maestro himself!

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LRW: Rufus Choi, it is an honor to have you perform in The Athena Foundation for the Arts’ 2026 Concert Season! Thank you for speaking with us about your fantastic Bach to Rach program. For our readers, may I ask how you selected the pieces and composers for the concert?

RC: If I had to choose one favorite composer, it would be Johann Sebastian Bach—especially his music as transcribed for the piano. There is something uniquely beautiful about bringing his music to life at the keyboard, whether it comes from unaccompanied violin, the organ, or his great choral works. One of my favorite pieces is Bach’s Chaconne in D minor, and I’m grateful to Busoni—one of the great masters of transcription—for bringing this powerful work to the piano.

LRW: Bach was the master composer, indeed. His Chaconne in D minor is hauntingly beautiful. Busoni’s transcriptions saved Bach’s works from obscurity. What about the other pieces you’ve selected?

RC: I have long dreamed of performing with my sons, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to do so in this recital. To provide contrast and a sense of dialogue within the program, we’ve included Beethoven’s “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen” Variations—a delightful set based on Mozart’s The Magic Flute—along with Elgar’s Romance for violin and piano.

LRW: It’s an honor to have your sons grace the stage with cameo performances with you. My audience will be delighted to hear these beautiful works. Please go on.

RC: The Rachmaninoff Sonata is another work very close to me. It has been part of my repertoire for many years, though I haven’t performed it recently, so this felt like the right moment to return to it. It is an extraordinary piece that spans a wide range of emotions and states of mind, lending the program as a whole a sense of breadth and unity.

LRW: A perfect way to conclude the program. We’re delighted to have your sons perform with you. Please remind me of their names and ages. Thank you.

RC: Noah is my oldest son, and he is 17. Micah, my second son, is 14. I also have a third son, who is 10, though he won’t be part of this program.

LRW: It’s so nice to see teens passionate about classical music and their instruments. I remember when they were much younger, taking a few music theory lessons at my studio. I almost didn’t recognize them in their new headshots. How did you decide which pieces you’ll collaborate on with your sons? Is this their first time performing onstage with you?
RC: In selecting the repertoire, we chose Beethoven and Elgar to provide contrast to the rest of the program, both musically and in character. These works allow us to share a different side of music-making—more intimate and collaborative.
It has always been a dream of mine to perform with my sons, and I’ve always looked forward to making music together. While this is not our first time performing together on stage, we are just beginning our journey as a musical family.

LRW: A nice contrast to the program, indeed. It’s a privilege to help fulfill your dream of performing with your wonderful, dedicated sons and to be part of your family’s musical journey. May I ask how you decided on the imagery and which image to pair with each piece?

RC: I chose the imagery based on the feeling and narrative I aim to evoke in each piece. Each work has its own atmosphere, color, and sense of time, and I was drawn to images that reflect those qualities.
There’s a lot that goes into shaping those emotions, but in the end, my goal is simply to bring the music and the artwork together into a single experience—something the audience can both hear and see, where each deepens the other.

LRW: That’s wonderful. Combining high art with beautiful music not only deepens the experience but also makes classical music more accessible to newcomers. I meant to ask whether you have plans to record your stunning solos. If you have already recorded them, could you please share the album titles and the recording studios? Thanks.

RC: Some of the pieces I’ll be performing were recorded years ago for the Cambria label. At the moment, I don’t have plans to make a new studio recording.
That said, I find myself increasingly drawn to capturing live performances rather than recording in a studio. There’s something about the energy and spontaneity of a live setting that feels truer to the music.

LRW: Thanks for letting us know. I’ll look for those recordings and share them with my piano students. I completely agree, which is why Athena hires a top videographer to capture these exhilarating live performances. We look forward to sharing them with you after your concert. Before we end this engaging interview, it’s tradition to ask our musicians if they have a favorite quote from a composer or musician to share with our readers.

RC: A quote by the great composer, Rachmaninoff.
Interview with Piano Maestro Rufus Choi Share on X

LRW: Perfect! Thanks for the inspo and this terrific interview. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege. Thank you for your time, and we’re looking forward to your fantastic concert!

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To learn more about this piano maestro, visit his website and follow him on social media.

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Join us at the concert and meet them in person. Here are the concert details. Hope to see you then!

CONCERT DETAILS:
Program Link
Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026
Time:
Doors Open: 3:30 PM
Concert: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM PDT

Delicious Complimentary Refreshments courtesy of Pete’s Sweets and the M Street Coffee

Place:
Community Auditorium
Church of Scientology of the Valley
11455 Burbank Boulevard
North Hollywood, CA 91601

Disclaimers:
•This concert is hosted exclusively by The Athena Foundation for the Arts.
•It is not a church-sponsored event.
•The Community Auditorium is made available to nonprofits and charitable organizations.
•Please feel free to email us if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you.

FREE Parking: Farmdale Avenue lot and Burbank Boulevard lot across the street, and street parking

Tickets:
Purchase tickets on Eventbrite or scan the QR code at the door. Cash or Credit card payments are also available.

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