On March 30th, the final performer in the CMC Richmond Branch Adult Recital was the twenty-four year-old Ryan Rusali, a long-time student of CMC Faculty Lilia Zheltova. Ryan’s powerful rendition of Chopin’s Scherzo No. 1 was met with thunderous applause, echoing the response he received for his performance at CMC’s Field Day.
Today, Ryan’s skill and sensitivity as a pianist are easy to recognize, but it results from a long and ongoing musical journey.
Ryan began lessons with Lilia at CMC Richmond Branch at age 5. “When I was younger, I didn’t really think about the feeling behind the music,” Ryan says. “It was more about playing the right notes and going to lessons.” Even in high school, music was always in his life, but he didn’t focus on it as much. “I listened to a lot of music, not just classical, but I didn’t play as often.”
That changed when Ryan went to college. Without weekly piano lessons, he realized how important music had been in his life. He joined his college’s concert and marching bands, played percussion, and worked in the theater club as a sound engineer. He kept playing piano whenever he came home, trying out jazz and pop songs.
After college, Ryan moved back home. One day, he saw Lilia at a San Francisco Symphony concert. He restarted their lessons at CMC, and his love for classical piano quickly reignited. (Read more from Lilia and the CMC’s piano faculty here!)
“I started to hear the music differently,” he says. “It wasn’t just notes anymore, it was something meaningful.”
Performing again as an adult felt different to Ryan. “It’s hard, but also really rewarding,” he says. “Most adults don’t do things like perform music in front of people. It’s kind of scary, but also really special.” Ryan notes that each time he performs, he grows more confident: “It’s starting to feel more fun than stressful.”
He especially enjoys it when audience members tell him what part of the piece they loved most. “Everyone has a different favorite part, and that helps me remember to treat every note like it matters—because it might be someone’s favorite.”
After one of his recent recitals, Ryan remembers a moment with Lilia that changed his thoughts about performing. “She told me not to be afraid to be myself on stage,” he says. “She could tell I was holding back, worried about playing perfectly.”
That advice helped him open up. In his next performance, he took risks and played with more feeling. “People really responded to it,” he says. “They came up to me afterward to say how much they enjoyed it.”
Now, Ryan tries to carry that lesson with him, not just in music, but in life. “I can’t control how people react,” he says, “but I can be my full, honest self and play in a way I feel proud of.”
Ryan hopes to keep playing piano for the rest of his life. “I’m always amazed by how much one instrument can do,” he says. “There’s so much emotion in music, and I’ll never stop learning from it.”
Even though there are many pieces he still wants to play, Ryan says the journey is what matters most. “There’s always something new to discover—about the music and about myself.”
Ryan has some simple advice for students just starting out at CMC: “Don’t play music that doesn’t move you. Try to find something beautiful in every note. And most of all, don’t be afraid to share your love for music with others.”
Ryan’s story is a great example of how music can grow with you through all stages of life. From a shy five-year-old beginner to a thoughtful, confident performer, Ryan’s journey shows just how powerful music, and community, can be.
Inspired by Ryan’s journey? You can be part of the magic! Sign up to perform at Field Day, support fellow musicians, or join the celebration as we come together to raise funds for CMC’s scholarships and tuition assistance programs. Whether you’re on stage or in the crowd, your presence helps keep music thriving in our community.