Blind Notes is a podcast exploring how blind musicians learn, memorize, and interpret
music. Hosted by internationally acclaimed concert pianist Ignasi Cambra—who has
performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Concertgebouw—the series
features intimate conversations with blind musicians and the mentors who shaped their
artistry.
From classical to jazz, from Juilliard to community music schools, Blind Notes asks the
questions that matter: How do you learn music without sight? What unique challenges
shape a blind musician’s career? And what can sighted musicians learn from their blind
colleagues?
This series features conversations with:
David Lai – Blind pianist from Beijing, doctoral student at Indiana University’s Jacobs
School of Music, and 2025 Performance Today Young Artist in Residence
Julia LaGrand – Blind violinist and disability advocate who has performed on NPR’s
From the Top and collaborated with Itzhak Perlman
Terry Shimazu – Blind jazz pianist and organist based in Austin, Texas. Born in
Kyoto, Japan, Terry is a Berklee College of Music graduate who has performed with
Manhattan Transfer, Take Six, Kevin Mahogany, and Walter Beasley. Interviewed
during the 2025 Blind Travel Summit in Austin.
Jerome Lowenthal – Legendary pianist and longtime Juilliard professor who taught
Ignasi during his master’s studies
Jennifer Apsel – Piano teacher at the Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School
with over 30 years of experience
Students from the Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School – The
only community music school in the United States dedicated to serving blind and
visually impaired musicians, founded in 1913
Through immersive sound design and candid conversations, Blind Notes offers listeners
a new way of experiencing music—and a deeper understanding of what it means to
pursue art without sight.
Topics Explored in the Series
Throughout the podcast, Ignasi talks with his guests about how they learned music,
their experiences going on stage, the teachers and mentors who supported them, how
blindness has shaped their careers, and what advice they would offer to young blind
musicians just starting out.
Featured Quote
“I never chose to be a pianist. And I’m not really a pianist—I play
piano, but it’s scary to define yourself as something… If music feels
right, it’s probably for a reason. And if it’s really calling you, you
should probably do it.”
— Ignasi Cambra
Updates
1/26/2026: First podcast episode released! Episode 1: A Musician’s Sound Journey
10/21/2025: Blind Notes: Ignasi Cambra in Concert for the Blind Travel Foundation
8/11/2025: YouTube video about the 2025 grant winner’s projects.
Learn more about the other 2025 Grant Winners!
Emeline Lakrout and Daniel Gutz
Stay tuned to updates on this page to find out more about the activities of our 2025 grant winners! You can also sign up for the newsletter here!