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This is the Legend Of...

This is the Legend Of...

By: Amos Vang
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 Have you ever wondered about what it takes to be a great investment banker? Or how you can be a broadcaster for the Olympics on national TV? What about becoming a famous world-renowned musician? Or how about making it to a pro sports league such as the NHL? Join Amos Vang, a Canadian lawyer, broadcaster, and podcaster, as he tells and features the untold real-life stories of professionals and people from all walks of life, as well as the lessons that they have learned from their careers. Real-life stories, timeless lessons, rising legends. Find them all here on "This is the Legend Of...".Amos Vang Career Success Economics
Episodes
  • HE SHOWED HIS BRAIN ON MUSIC | Ep. 24 - This is the Legend Of Nicolas Namoradze

    HE SHOWED HIS BRAIN ON MUSIC | Ep. 24 - This is the Legend Of Nicolas Namoradze
    Sep 26 2025
    The finest instrument is the mind. He showed exactly why, by recording his own brain on music! Meet Nicolas Namoradze (known as “Nico” to friends and colleagues), a pianist, award-winning neuroscientist, and 1st prize winner of the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition. In this episode of This is the Legend Of…, Amos features Nicolas’s unique career, pathway to Honens, and fascinating research after Honens. His most recent research, the “Neurorecital”, records the neural activity of a musician’s brain while the musician is performing music. Nicolas just debuted the “Neurorecital” at the world-renowned Verbier Festival in Switzerland, and by using the University of California – San Francisco’s revolutionary “Glass Brain” technology, Nicolas has broken new ground into musical performance’s musical, neurological, and psychological effects on both the performer and the audience! Looking forward to featuring Nicolas’s research updates in the future! Nicolas's Instagram: @nicolasnamoradze Nicolas’s website – https://nicolasnamoradze.com/ #honens#honens2025 #chopin #chopincompetition#nicolasnamoradze#cliburn #cliburncompetition#vancliburn #piano #janinafialkowska #fialkowska #carnegie #classicalmusicTomorrow by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.auOther music composed by: Amos Vang-- CHAPTERS --0:00 – Introduction4:16 – What inspired Nicolas Namoradze to pursue piano?6:58 – What is the music culture like in Tbilisi andBudapest?11:01 – North America has growing centres of rich pianoculture.11:25 – Nicolas made his solo debut at 10 yearsold and his orchestral debut at 12 years old!12:49 – How have the music cultures of Budapest, Vienna, andFlorence shaped Nicolas Namoradze’s musical style and philosophy?16:27 – It is important to consider both musical ANDnon-musical influences on a composer’s style!20:48 – Chinese music has A LOT of rich cultural references! Amos Vang explains the Cantonese and Mandarinlinguistic influences on music!24:04 – There are parallels between musicianship and acting! Tony Leung Chiu-wai is a great example of that.27:37 – Nicolas brings a scientific perspectiveinto piano performance!28:44 – Music teachers would benefit greatly fromunderstanding the scientific perspectives behind piano performance.35:47 – Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do can be applied into musicalperformance!36:55 – Is there a kinesiological explanation for good armmovement in piano performance?42:23 – Michael Phelps spent more time on mental practicethan on swimming! Could musicians learnfrom that?51:34 – What inspired Nicolas Namoradze to compete inHonens?57:48 – Honens has a unique scoring system.1:02:29 – Music does NOT operate in a vacuum. There must be dialogue and adaptation.1:05:41 – Justice Rosalie Abella, a former judge of theSupreme Court of Canada, was a performing pianist.1:14:52 – Music and law have one thing in common: theirstudents learn about THEORY and THEME!1:15:10 – Justice Rosalie Abella actually read Amos Vang’sfinal law school paper about her!1:15:47 – What is musicality to Nicolas Namoradze?1:19:32 – Can there be objectivity/universality in beauty(and by extension, in musicality)?1:24:28 – What is the Neurorecital? What are the most important research findingsthat Nicolas Namoradze has found in the Neurorecital?1:28:16 – How can the Neurorecital contribute to our current knowledge of effective musical performance?1:30:31 – Amos Vang describes his own experience withobserving musical therapy in senior patients with dementia.1:34:52 – The gradual decrease of music education in Canada’spublic education systems1:40:01 – Look at the brain on music! There are NO BAD SIDE EFFECTS!1:40:55 – What is the Complete Artist to Nicolas?1:42:36 – How do new audience members watch and enjoy Honens?1:45:48 – What are the most rewarding aspects of NicolasNamoradze’s career?
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    1 hr and 51 mins
  • At age 21, he won HONENS | Ep. 23: This is the Legend of Illia Ovcharenko

    At age 21, he won HONENS | Ep. 23: This is the Legend of Illia Ovcharenko
    Aug 29 2025

    In 2022, at age 21, he became the first Ukrainian pianist and the youngest person to win Honens, aka Canada’s Grand Slam of international piano competitions, in the most cathartic year of recent history.But it almost did not happen.This is the Legend of Illia Ovcharenko.Join Amos Vang as he features the legendary path of Illia Ovcharenko’s piano career, Ukraine’s rich music traditions, Ukraine’s strong educational foundations in music and culture, Illia’s path to winning the Busoni International Piano Competition and the Honens International Piano Competition, and the impact that all of Illia’s cultural influences had on him.Illia’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCU7_grgiVXQeNV4C8aNG2EQ Illia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illiaovcharenko_pianist/?hl=enTomorrow by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.auOther music composed by: Amos Vang-- CHAPTERS --0:00 – Introduction3:18 – What inspired Illia Ovcharenko to pursue piano?6:56 – What were Illia Ovcharenko’s early musical stylistic influences?10:13 – What were the greatest challenges that Illia Ovcharenko faced early on in his life?13:15 – What is the curriculum at the Kyiv Lysenko State Music Lyceum?16:52 – Unlike Canada, Ukraine builds a strong musical foundation into its educational programs, regardless of whether one chooses to pursue a musical career.18:36 – Ukraine has central music academies across the country. Canada has hockey academies across the country.20:33 – Practising…so important, but it can get monotonous…21:05 – This is what Illia Ovcharenko does BEFORE he starts practising.21:48 – Illia Ovcharenko’s practise strategy is very community-oriented, which is different from many pianists’ individualistic practising routine.25:19 – Music is supposed to be FUN! Life experience defines the musical performance.27:10 – Illia Ovcharenko made his performing debut at 12 years old!29:01 – Arie Vardi is Illia’s teacher, mentor, and inspiration.37:10 – What was Illia Ovcharenko’s preparation experiences for the 2021 Busoni International Piano Competition?42:12 – What inspired Illia Ovcharenko to HONE IN ON HONENS?!45:36 – Illia Ovcharenko ALMOST DID NOT COMPETE IN HONENS!!!!!47:33 – Illia Ovcharenko went from almost not making the competition to WINNING HONENS, in the most CATHARTIC YEAR OF 2022!!!!!53:16 – Amos Vang and Illia Ovcharenko discuss Illia’s Honens performance of Liszt’s Sonata in B minor.59:03 – Amos Vang describes his experience performing Liszt’s Dante Sonata.1:00:28 – How do Illia’s performative work and educational work with Honens influence each other?1:03:13 – What is musicality to Illia Ovcharenko?1:06:49 – What is the Complete Artist to Illia Ovcharenko?1:10:52 – How do new audiences watch and enjoy piano competitions such as Honens?1:15:23 – Amos Vang calls Honens the “Canadian Grand Slam of International Piano Competitions”!!!!!1:16:44 – What are the greatest misconceptions that Illia Ovcharenko has seen about classical music?1:20:05 – Did O Canada copy Mozart?

    #honens #chopin #chopincompetition #illiaovcharenko#cliburn#cliburncompetition#vancliburn#piano#janinafialkowska#fialkowska#carnegie #classicalmusic
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • He won the Leeds International Piano Competition - Ep. 22: This is the Legend Of Jon Kimura Parker

    He won the Leeds International Piano Competition - Ep. 22: This is the Legend Of Jon Kimura Parker
    Aug 2 2025

    In 1984, he was the first Canadian to win the LeedsInternational Piano Competition. That same year, he performed for Queen Elizabeth II.

    8 years later, he judged the inaugural edition of the Honens International Piano Competition, Canada’s Grand Slam of international piano competitions.

    Meet Jon Kimura Parker (known as “Jackie” to friends new and old), an award-winning pianist who also serves as the Artistic Director of Honens.

    In this episode, Jackie and Amos discuss Jackie’s trailblazing career throughout Juilliard, throughout the 1984 Leeds Competition, Britain’s Grand Slam of international piano competitions, and beyond.

    2025 is also a special year, as the newest edition of the Honens International Piano Competition will take place in October. Jackie explains the philosophy of the “Complete Artist” at Honens, as well as the innovations that have come out of such a philosophy in judging, in competition organisation, and in music education.

    Jackie’s website: https://www.jonkimuraparker.com/

    Honens’ website: https://www.honens.com/


    Tomorrow by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.auOther music composed by: Amos Vang


    - CHAPTERS -

    0:00 – Introduction

    3:28 – HONE IN ON HONENS!

    3:43 – What inspired Jon Kimura Parker to pursue piano?

    6:31 – What were the most profound lessons that Jon KimuraParker learned from each of his piano teachers?

    17:19 – When did Jon Kimura Parker feel that he was readyfor Leeds?

    21:08 – How did Jon Kimura Parker prepare for Leeds?

    24:12 – Many musicians still work regularly with coacheseven after going professional. Pianists, on the other hand, do not really do this.

    25:29 – A pianist’s mindset tends to be very independent andeven isolated.

    29:01 – Jon Kimura Parker describes every single round ofthe Leeds International Piano Competition!

    33:41 – Jon Kimura Parker actually had a MEMORY SLIP at Leeds!

    35:15 – Jon Kimura Parker performed the Barber Sonata atLeeds, with a BROKEN SOSTENUTO PEDAL!

    38:35 – Jon Kimura Parker performed the Brahms PianoConcerto No. 1 at the finals of Leeds.

    41:13 – Jon Kimura Parker won 1st prize, but something HILARIOUS happened!

    44:10 – Queen Elizabeth II commissioned Jon Kimura Parker toperform for her. This was her reaction.

    47:08 – Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were genuinelykind, caring people.

    49:16 – Amos performed Liszt’s Dante Sonata in thepast. This is how he handled the difficult technical parts.

    50:23 – Liszt, Beethoven, and Romantic era composers hadSIGNIFICANTLY lighter pianos. Modern pianos are very heavy.

    53:17 – Heavier pianos actually give good experience forpianists by training up the stability of their technique.

    55:23 – Jon Kimura Parker appeared on a children’s TV show,“Under the Umbrella Tree”.

    1:02:16 – Amos Vang uses sports analogies and terminologiesto explain classical music competitions and festivals.

    1:03:33 – Jon Kimura Parker has the difficult job of deciding who wins Honens.

    1:04:05 – What is musicality to Jon Kimura Parker?

    1:07:39 – Who is Esther Honens? This is her legend.

    1:13:46 – A day in the life of Honens Artistic Director JonKimura Parker

    1:17:02 – In 2018, one of the jury members cancelled!

    1:20:00 – Curation of Honens content during the pandemic

    1:22:34 – Managing Nicolas Namoradze’s and Illia Ovcharenko’s careers during the pandemic

    1:24:14 – What is the Complete Artist to Jon Kimura Parker?

    1:34:27 – Nicolas Namoradze got a degree in neuroscienceduring the pandemic.

    1:36:09 – How does Honens define the CompleteArtist?

    1:42:37 – Honens’s approach challenges many misconceptionsof classical music

    1:43:04 – How can new audiences watch and enjoy Honens andother piano competitions?

    1:44:50 – Jon Kimura Parker explains Honens’s judgingprocess in FULL DETAIL.

    1:50:57 – Canada has the potential to become a majorclassical music centre on the world stage!

    1:54:52 – What is Jon Kimura Parker’s advice to those whowant to pursue a career in classical music, especially piano?
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    2 hrs and 1 min
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