When 24-year-old Pianist Janice Carissa was younger, her instructors cautioned her not to “play faster than the music.” She took their advice to heart, as students do, but never really understood what they meant until recently. After studying music for almost two decades and learning countless pieces for performances and recitals around the world, she’s letting go and listening to her heart.

“I’m letting go of expectations and seeing what happens on stage, while still staying grounded,” Carissa said. “Sometimes when you’re playing, the heart will feel a different way, and if you are in-tune you’ll catch that. It happens when you open your heart and your ears and close your eyes.”

Carissa will be performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17. with the Battle Creek Symphony on May 6, in the WK Kellogg Auditorium. The performance includes Brahms’ Symphony No. 2, and the entire concert is reflection of airy springtime optimism.

Mozart is one of Carissa’s favorite composers, and his Piano Concerto No. 17 is one of her favorite pieces. It matches her personality – sunny and joyful – but there’s more to both Mozart and Carissa than first meet the eye.

Carissa, born in Indonesia, came to the U.S. to study music at Curtis in Philadelphia when she was 15. She remembers that audition well – Bach, Chopin, Mozart – they were all pieces she knew by heart. Now when she visits those same compositions, she sees something different. She’s grown in her appreciation and gained perspective that only comes with maturity.

Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 is one piece that’s evolved with Carissa. She loved it as a teen as she confidently and freely let loose on the keys. Now, she’s more reflective, less hurried, and more curious than ever. She can’t help but think of Mozart’s ability to capture human emotion, even as he dealt with life’s challenges.

“With Mozart there’s always an underlying sadness, especially with his music at the end of his life,” Carissa said. “It makes it interesting to play.”

Now, Carissa is at Julliard School of Music pursuing a graduate degree, which she will receive in 2024. She’s earned a reputation as an up-and-coming virtuoso, and Carissa was chosen as one of two pianists to be honored as a 2022 Gilmore Young Artist. She already has a busy touring schedule, and in her practice, she’s digging deeper than ever and finding her voice.

“I want to tell a more vivid story and really become a poet on the piano,” she said.

Whether Carissa is practicing or performing, she plays to capture the heart of the audience. It is the audience that informs her music and interpretation of each piece. The people in attendance become part of the music.

“A story is not a story if there’s no one there to listen,” she said.

Carissa’s mother was a music teacher, and classical music was the soundtrack of her childhood. From her earliest memories, she wanted to play the piano, and remembers her first piano lesson with her mother at 5 years old. On most days, Carissa’s mother didn’t stop teaching until 8 pm, so Carissa often practiced late into the night.

“It never felt like a chore,” she remembers. “There was always space for making music in my family.”

At age 9, she won the IBLA International Competition, which took her to the U.S. to perform. She felt like a world traveler, and indeed, she was.

“I decided after that, that I wanted to pursue music full time,” Carissa said. “Now, I just can’t imagine life without it.”

Carissa knows she’s the exception. Most children are not exposed to classical music, and even adults without an appreciation for classical music often don’t know what they are missing. It’s a barrier that Carissa hopes to break down one classical recital at a time.

“Attending classical concerts is like going to a museum,” Carissa said. “You have to go with an open mind and let the art tell the story – not what you think the story should be.”

“There’s always something for everyone,” she added.

Carissa was chosen as one of two pianists to be honored as a 2022 Gilmore Young Artist, and is appreciative of the Gilmore Foundation, which provides opportunities for young musicians to pursue their studies.

A Gilmore Concert Bonus will be held on Saturday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the WK Kellogg Auditorium.

Click here for more information on the concert.