2025 Pianist in Residence: Daniel Inamorato — Celebrating His Residency
With his final performance at the 2026 Festival of Contemporary Artists in Music (FOCAM) — presented by the WSU School of Music — our inaugural Pianist in Residence, Daniel Inamorato, has brought his residency to a close. As we reflect on everything we created together, we're moved by the generosity he extended to this partnership and deeply grateful for the meaningful impact he left on this program. Here's a look at the moments and milestones that defined his time with us.
March 2025
In-Depth Interview
To introduce Daniel to our community, we sent him a series of questions on performing, creating, and teaching — and his responses turned into a richly layered portrait of his journey as an artist. The resulting interview is one that will resonate with piano learners, teachers, composers, and anyone who believes in the power of art to connect and transform.
August 2025
Live Stream Practice Session
Just before heading to Montpelier, Vermont for our in-person festival, Daniel invited our community into his practice room with a live stream of his preparation for the headline concert. It was a rare and inspiring window into how he approaches each piece — his thought process, his interpretive choices, and the architecture of a practice session itself.
In-Person Workshop
- Monteverdi Music School, Montpelier, Vermont
Daniel's workshop, History/Demonstration of Toy Piano, opened participants' minds and bodies to new possibilities of expression, weaving together the history of toy piano, his work at Toy Piano Sanctuary, and Butoh — a form of dance that emerged in post-WWII Japan — with toy piano playing, movement, and improvisation. It was a joyful, expansive session that helped shape our attendees, including fellow faculty members, into a true community of creative pianists, and it contributed so much to the distinctive spirit of our festival.
Pianist in Residence Concert
- Montpelier Performing Arts Hub, Montpelier, Vermont
We had a packed house for Daniel's headline concert. The evening's program was carefully segmented into three parts — World Premiere, Inner Absurdity, and Quilt of Etudes. Featured composers were Daniel Rofer, Aaron Travers, Che Buford, Andrew List, João Octaviano, Moritz Moszkowski, and Ayumi Okada. The concert was also live-streamed by ORCA Media, and both in-person and online attendees witnessed Daniel's extraordinary versatility, depth of expression, and gift for curation. It was an unforgettable night and a true highlight of the festival.
Linked composers are among our Abundant Silence composers.
Matinee Tribute Community Concert
- Unitarian Church of Montpelier, Montpelier, Vermont
This powerful program brought together works for solo piano and toy pianos in a Social Justice Recital. The concert opened with Lament by Emerson Eads, a moving tribute to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, followed by I Can't Breathe by Jean Louis-Haguenauer, composed in response to the murder of George Floyd. The centerpiece, The Pulse Suite, was composed by nine composers in honor of the 49 lives lost in the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando on June 12, 2016. The program closed with two reflective works by Ayumi Okada, offering space to breathe and honoring the strength it takes to choose healing in the face of grief.
October 2025 onwards
Collaborative Commission
A key component of Daniel's residency was the collaborative commissioning of a new work from an Abundant Silence composer. Having immersed himself in our catalog while preparing his headline concert, Daniel chose to partner with the exceptionally talented Che Buford.
The result was something truly special. Completed in December, Like Eyes explores the interaction with, and glorification of, everyday objects, creating ritual through sound, gesture, and attention. Born from the chemistry between Che and Daniel, the piece is a solo piano work that incorporates fixed media, movement, and poetry within an open-ended concept that invites the performer to bring their own embellishments, variations, and interpretive decisions. For the premiere performance in February, Daniel chose immigration as his theme — a subject that resonates deeply with him.
February 2026
The Final Gala Concert at FOCAM
- Bryan Hall (Washington State University), Pullman, Washington
Daniel's final concert as our Pianist in Residence was a celebration of new music from our catalog — the premiere of his collaborative commission with Che Buford, one of the winning pieces from our newly revived composition contest, a newly commissioned work, and selections from our catalog chosen by Daniel himself. The concert unfolded in two halves: the first exploring works that incorporate movement and voice, and the second venturing into the full range of timbre, texture, and emotion available on the piano. It was a fitting close to his remarkable residency. Works featured were by Che Buford, Andrew List, Alex Burtzos, and Aaryn S. Ricucci-Hill.
What an extraordinary journey it has been! We are deeply grateful to Daniel for everything he brought as our inaugural Pianist in Residence — shaping this program and navigating this changing landscape together. We wish him all the best in his artistic endeavors, and we hope it won't be too long before we get to collaborate again.