Blind Notes

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? Produced with support from the Blind Travel Foundation, 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 masters 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.