When pianist and instructor Dr. Michael Coonrod retired from Interlochen Arts Academy after 46 years of teaching in 2022, he had played a recital every year for 46 years.
This Sunday, he will again perform solo in a piano recital for St. Andrews Presbyterian Church's first concert of 2026.
Dr. Coonrod spoke to IPR's Nancy Deneen about the pieces on his upcoming recital and the musical adventures he has embarked on since retiring.
Hear the full interview by clicking "Listen" below.
The program features some of Dr. Coonrod's favorite pieces, featuring Schubert, Brahms, Liszt and Chopin.
"If people ask me who my favorite composer is, [I say,] well, the one I'm performing," said Coonrod. "But secretly, I seem to return to Schubert's music. I have an affinity for that style."
He has also long been drawn to Liszt's transcriptions of Schubert's works.
"Franz Liszt was a genius at capturing the mood of whatever he's transcribing, whether it's opera or songs or other pieces," he added.
Dr. Coonrod's musical career had been uniquely transformed following an accident that caused him to lose a finger in 2015 — an event that did not stop him from performing at a virtuosic level. Even over a decade later, he continues stating the importance of adaptation in his life.
"Nine fingers out of ten isn't bad. Turtles — when they get their legs chewed off by a coyote, they adapt," he reflected. "Music is just part of my soul, and so I had to keep going."
Dr. Coonrod's piano recital will be held this Sunday, January 11 at 3 p.m. in St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Beulah. More information available here.
