Shostakovich was a kind and thoughtful person. To people close to him, he’s remembered for that - for his wit and friendships and his warm personality. And yet he came to a time in his life where he either could write music to please a dictator… or watch those close to him condemned to labor camps and, of course, die. And he most certainly wrote music to make Stalin happy.

Still, his music has changed lives all over the world. What’s hidden in its notes that enchants an audience to tears and prompted the Soviet administration to ban his work?

Book in Progress

I’m in the process of designing and illustrating the book. The writing is finished, but there’s still some work to go.