A week with Joshua Bell, Steven Isserlis, Jeremy Denk.
I worked as Jeremy Denk’s personal page turner for a week. From Tuesday to Saturday, I had the surreal experience of living and breathing the music of the Joshua Bell—Steven Isserlis—Jeremy Denk trio, with Irène Duval and Blythe Teh Engstroem, for their Fauré Project.
“I didn’t name my son Gabriel without a reason,” Steven Isserlis quipped. This incredible week consisted of multiple recording sessions and two concerts at 92NY (my on-stage page-turning debut), featuring only the works of Gabriel Fauré. The musicians’ reverence for the composer and his music was palpable through their passionate playing.
On Tuesday (7/8), I arrived at the studio* without any serious background in page-turning, and by the end of the day, left with a high compliment—“Amazing page turns!”—from Jeremy Denk himself, prompting Steven Isserlis to remark how rare that praise is. The speed at which I improved my page-turning skills is all thanks to Mr. Denk’s expressive head tilts, short but effective advice, and patience. I learned to adapt, internalizing his rhythm and the shifting tempi across movements.
That day, they were tackling Fauré’s Piano Quintet No. 2—impressively completing the recording of the entire 35-minute work in just one day. Though densely written, their interpretation brought clarity, leaning into contrasting characters and textures that reshaped my understanding of the piece.
While I would normally let myself get lost in the music and allow it to transport me into different worlds, this was the precise thing I braced myself to avoid, permitting only brief moments at the ends of movements that required no page turn for my eyes and ears to wander away from the score. I must admit, this took discipline, considering that my long-time violin idol was only a few feet away from me! Joshua Bell’s ethereal sound pierces through the air, with every note full of intention, care, and musical identity. I am lucky that I got to take it in for multiple days.
Through this listening style—hyper-focused on the piano part—I became proficient at latching onto primary melodic lines in arpeggio-heavy sections, picking up intricate dialogues between the piano and the other instruments, and experiencing how a composer’s score can be translated into stories, characters, and emotions by the performer. These were truly valuable insights for my growth as a composer.
Then, as a performer, this week was a great lesson in what a successful working dynamic looks like. I appreciated how they welcomed disagreement, never shy to call each other out through playful banter and honest feedback, united in a mutual pursuit of excellence and a pure love for music. It’s evident that their professional, world-class level of chamber playing is enriched by their close friendship.
At one point, Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis fell into a geeky discussion about bowings and fingerings that I fully understood and was equally invested in as a violinist. Then Denk turned to me and sarcastically pantomimed a rapidly talking mouth with his hand, paired with a slight eye roll. He is hilarious; every interaction with him was a joy.
Steven Isserlis, also a Comedian:
To Joshua Bell: “I know you don’t speak Italian, but ‘p’ for piano means soft.”
In response to producer Silas Brown’s, “Are you happy with that take?”: “Happy? I’m Jewish!!”
It was a sweet full-circle moment to close the final concert of this dream-like week on Saturday (7/12) with the Second Piano Quintet, which has now earned a spot on my top 10 list of favorite pieces. At the end of the concert, all the musicians, not just Jeremy Denk, took time to thank me for my assistance, which I was incredibly grateful for.
What an unbelievably inspirational experience. I had the privilege of observing these musical giants up close—their dedication, humor, generosity, and artistic mastery. In the studio, they debated articulation and phrasing with vivid language and expressive playing, unafraid to disagree and always finding beautiful compromises. On stage, they wove in and out of each other’s sounds, rich with color and character.
Watching them make decisions, amidst playful banter and thoughtful discussion, showed me how alive classical music becomes in the hands of people who care this deeply. It is insufficient to describe the piano’s sound production purely in terms of kinetic energy or the mechanics of hammers striking strings. Jeremy Denk’s emotional intent and expressive nuance shape the sound in ways that transcend scientific explanation. Watching Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis’s profound understanding of the repertoire and Irène Duval and Blythe Teh Engstroem’s beautiful connection with their instruments was equally inspiring. I returned home at midnight and, still buzzing with energy, practiced the violin briefly—giddy to discover that my sense of performance had already grown.
🌟 One direct comment from Steven Isserlis particularly stood out to me: “They told me I should learn to smile from you.” (Jeremy Denk and Joshua Bell never misses an opportunity to tease him, I’m sure.) Not only was I touched to hear that I had contributed to a more joyful atmosphere and to learn that one can make a difference, even in the background, it especially struck a chord because I often think about how, in gender studies, warmth and competence are placed on opposite ends of the spectrum for women in professional or leadership roles. Why do I have to choose between being respected or being liked? But here, something as simple as smiling—being open, joyful, and fully present—was interpreted not as a lack of seriousness, but as an asset. That brief moment reminded me that joy and excellence don’t cancel each other out. 🌟
Joshua Bell extra pickles,
Jeremy Denk no onions,
Steven Isserlis a cup of milk on the side with his double espresso.
Special thank you’s to Broadway musician and wonderful string teacher Mr. Charles duChateau and David Lai for this opportunity, and the duChateau family for hosting me during this special week.
*Grammy-Award winning producer Adam Abeshouse built this beautiful dream studio of his in his home in South Salem, NY, before passing away last year. Beautiful music continues to be performed and recorded there in his memory.
Tuesday, July 8th. An audience outside the window.
Music recs 🎵 — Gems of Gabriel Fauré recorded and performed this week:
Berceuse
Élégie
Piano Trio
Piano Quintet no. 1
Piano Quintet no. 2
Romance
Sicilienne
String Quartet in E minor
Violin Sonata No. 1
Violin Sonata No. 2