On Tuesday, May 6, internationally renowned pianist, educator, and artistic director Idith Meshulam Korman returns to her roots at the Â鶹ĘÓƵ for a powerful evening of performance and reflection. Taking place at the USF School of Music’s Barness Recital Hall, The Road Not Taken will spotlight underperformed and historically overlooked works in a program that blends intimacy, virtuosity, and vision. Following the performance, WSMR’s Bethany Cagle, of West Central Florida’s only classical music station, will moderate a conversation with the artist.
Meshulam Korman’s career has spanned continents and disciplines, marked by a fearless commitment to musical innovation. As the founder and artistic director of Ensemble Pi, she has curated bold programs that champion all voices and challenge the traditional boundaries of classical performance. Her work has brought her to venues including Lincoln Center and major international festivals, and her collaborations with composers such as John Cage, Elliott Carter, and George Crumb have solidified her standing as a vital force in contemporary music.
Her journey, however, began at USF. She describes her time at the university as “a feeling of liberation,” recalling a less institutionalized and more emotionally supportive environment that allowed her to explore her own artistic inclinations freely. Having arrived in Tampa from the Rubin Academy in Tel Aviv, she remembers being welcomed with warmth and encouragement—even as she was still learning English. It was at USF that she studied under two influential mentors, Professors Jacque Abrams and Robert Helps, who helped shape her path forward.
The impact of those mentors ran deep. With Abrams' guidance, Meshulam Korman made her New York City debut. Through Helps, she was introduced to a network of pivotal figures in American music, laying the groundwork for what would become a multifaceted, international career. Those formative relationships, and the freedom she felt at USF, gave her the confidence and foundation to pursue bold, unconventional ideas like founding Ensemble Pi and leading the American Composers Alliance festivals.
For her return performance, Meshulam Korman has curated a wide-ranging program that spans genres, centuries, and geographies. Selections include Mozart’s Fantasie in C minor, Marianna Martines’ Sonata in G major, and Fanny Hensel-Mendelssohn’s September, alongside experimental works like Henry Cowell’s Aeolian Harp and contemporary pieces by Courtney Bryan. The choices reflect her ongoing artistic mission: to spotlight voices often left out of the canon and to present music as a vehicle for dialogue and depth.
Her latest project, a recording of works by Marianna Martines, is just one example of how her work continues to be driven by a desire to highlight authenticity and challenge historical imbalance. Authenticity, she says, has always been at the heart of what inspires her.
Returning to USF, forty years after earning her master’s degree, feels like a full-circle moment. Meshulam Korman hopes the evening offers not just performance, but also perspective—an invitation for students and community members to consider what it means to carve a life in music on one’s own terms.
She leaves current students with this advice:
Being an artist is incredibly difficult—both financially and emotionally. I’ve had my share of serious breakdowns. But if you feel this is your calling, it can be as much a blessing as a curse. Think outside the box. Connect with other art forms like design, theater, and visual arts. Accept your weaknesses. Build a strong community of fellow artists.
The Road Not Taken: An Evening with Idith Meshulam Korman takes place Tuesday, May 6 at 6:00 p.m. in Barness Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public. Visit the USF College of Design, Art & Performance events calendar for more details.