In 2024, I had the unique opportunity to be selected by Boston University to participate in a National Geographic Live neuroscience research project, where my role was to perform live classical music while researchers studied brain activity. We presented Beethoven’s Septet in E flat major, Op. 20—a richly textured, chamber piece blending strings and winds, renowned for its balance of lyrical melodies and classical structure. Interestingly, while I’m still drafting this post, the performance has yet to be broadcast on television—so I’m writing with anticipation and a fair bit of curiosity about how it will appear once it reaches a wider audience.
Behind the Scenes & Personal Reflections
This project was truly fascinating, but also exhausting—we filmed from early morning until evening. What’s more, many of us had minimal rehearsal time; we were all chosen for our excellence, which meant we could quickly elevate the performance to a polished level despite limited prep. At the very end of filming, each musician recorded a short personal segment. Gathering everyone for this felt like a heartfelt “closing chapter” after a long, intense day in the studio.