Lara Downes

Lara Downes is an American classical pianist recognized for her work as a performer, recording artist, producer, curator, activist, and arts advocate. Downes has developed original programming concepts in both concert and recording settings, blending classical and vernacular materials to tell broader stories and cross musical boundaries. Her approach to piano performance and music curation draws on the legacies of history, family, and collective memory, exploring the landscape of American music through a series of performance and recording projects.

Downes' discography includes her Sony Classical debut release, "For Lenny," which debuted in the Billboard Top 20 and received the Classical Recording Foundation Award. Her album "America Again" was selected by NPR as one of "10 Albums that Saved 2016" and was described by the Boston Globe as "a balm for a country riven by disunion." Her Sony Masterworks recording, "Holes in the Sky," celebrates the contributions of women to American music and debuted at the top of the Billboard charts. "Rhapsody in Blue Reimagined" has been featured on NPR's Morning Edition, in the Wall Street Journal, and Downbeat Magazine, while "Love at Last" was highlighted as an NPR Tiny Desk Concert.

Downes is known for championing underrepresented voices in classical music. Her album "Florence Price: Piano Discoveries" features world-premiere recordings of newly discovered works by Florence Price, and "Some of These Days" is a collection of freedom songs and spirituals reflecting on social justice and equality. She has collaborated with composers such as Michael Abels, Clarice Assad, John Corigliano, Jennifer Higdon, Paola Prestini, and Stephen Schwartz. As a piano soloist, Downes has performed with the orchestras of Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit, Dallas, Louisville, and Indianapolis, and has appeared at venues including Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Disney Hall, Ravinia, Tanglewood, the Gilmore Festival, and Cal Performances.

Downes is the creator and host of "AMPLIFY with Lara Downes," an NPR Music series featuring conversations with artists and cultural leaders. She also hosts "Evening Music" on KUSC radio in Los Angeles. Her radio programs reach more than 100,000 weekly listeners nationwide.

Downes was named Classical Woman of the Year by a poll of listeners to the radio program Performance Today. Her work has received support from organizations such as the Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Sphinx Venture Fund, and the Center for Cultural Innovation. She serves as an Artist Ambassador for Headcount, a non-partisan organization that uses music to promote voter registration and civic participation.