What is the best thing that I love about my work? 

I always say that being a musician is the biggest privilege of my life. I would say that the best part of being a musician is to be able to become a channel to express emotions through music and connect with people’s hearts.

What is my idea of happiness? 

From my perspective, Happiness is something internal… It has less to do with pleasures and more to do with private victories. Private victories come by means of challenging myself and accomplishing things that I thought I could not do. This promotes a feeling of confidence and contributes to happiness. 

I also think that it is important to cultivate a feeling of gratitude: being thankful helps me to keep perspective and therefore making “happiness” an internal element.

What is my greatest fear? 

It is to lose someone that I love very much and I care about.  My greatest fear is to lose my parents.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?

I am very demanding of myself. I do not allow much space for useless actions. I do not indulge in things that do not serve a higher purpose or are not goal oriented. I tend to be extremely perfectionist which leads to having some difficulty in accepting my mistakes. 

Which living persons in my profession do I most admire?

There are wonderful musicians that I admire  and love very much: András Schiff, Martha Argerich, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Maria João Pires,  Grigory  Sokolov, Evgeny Kissin, Michael Lewin. These pianists have become one with music. They have a very unique way to express the music itself. Their love and devotion to music inspire me to become a better musician and human being.

What is my greatest extravagance? 

One of my biggest passions is writing. I love writing about life, feelings, etc. I collect and buy many notebooks so I can write personal thoughts and quotes from wonderful poets. I am quite obsessed with notebooks.

On what occasion would I lie?

I consider myself a very honest and frank person. However, I would lie to protect myself and to protect people that I love and care about.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?

I love music more than anything. However,  the Classical music environment can be very toxic. We are literally trained to seek external validation for whether or not we are good enough. We are not taught to listen to what we want, and to have our own voices. It is very difficult  to step outside of that and think about what we actually want and need.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work?

I was the happiest when I performed in a recital and I felt completely connected with the music in a way that I was less nervous than usual. 

If I could, what would I change about myself?

I would be less self critical.

What is my greatest achievement in work?

I think every single achievement is important. I would highlight the fact of serving as a judge in some Piano competitions in the Ukraine, such as: Lviv Kawai Quarantine, Yula International Festival in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Where would I most like to live?

I would love to live on the East Coast of the USA because of the culture and better job opportunities and also I would love to live in Iceland. I had the chance to visit Iceland in 2021 and I felt extremely impressed with the unique landscape, warm people and marvelous food.

What is my most treasured possession?

Letters from people who are really important to me. I am an old fashioned person.

What is my most marked characteristic?

Being a very genuine and authentic person. I usually connect easily with other people.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city?

I am from Brazil and I currently live in Phoenix (Arizona).  There is a city in Arizona called Sedona. Sedona is an Arizona desert town close to Flagstaff that is surrounded by red- rock buttes, canyons and pine forests. It is a very unique place with a mystical and special energy. Sedona is a perfect place to reconnect with oneself.

What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city?

I love the restaurant Maisen Katsu in Mesa. The food is delicious and fresh. My favorite dish is “tan tan ramen”.

What books influenced my life and how?

The Diary of Anne Frank impacted me very much. I read when I was a teenager. The diary was kept by Anne Frank while she was in hiding for two years  with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The book gave me a bigger perspective about the War and life.

I have a deep love for the poetry of Lord Byron, Emily Dickinson, Victor Hugo, Cecília Meirelles. These poets and their works have a huge influence on how I see life and my perception about beauty.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?

I would listen Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?

I do not have a hero or heroine in fiction.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?

My parents. They are wonderful people who inspire me everyday! 

Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime?

I love the movie “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” with Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio. It is a very touching movie! Johnny Depp plays Gilbert and  he has to take care of his mentally disabled brother, Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his mother. 

What role play stories in my life and work?

Stories that are based on perseverance, discipline, hard work and passion.

What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ to me?

I have the responsibility to create the life that I want through my choices, attitude, persistence and discipline.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?

I would say that my father and my mother did everything they could  to provide for me and my sister. They became parents at a very young age and worked very hard to provide a good education for me and my sister. I think they are my greatest fans. 

Which people or companies would I like to work with in 2023?

I would love  to collaborate with artists from different fields: painters, poets, dancers.  

What project, in 2023, am I looking forward to working on?

I am looking forward to performing at Phoenix Art Museum on June 10th in an event called “Creative Saturday”, where I will be performing in the exhibition of the Cuban artist Juan Francisco Elso. I will be performing Latin American pieces for piano. It will be a very special day!

Where can you see me or my work in 2023?

I will be performing along with great musicians in the Concert Series at Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church also at Phoenix Art Museum. There will be recordings on Spotify, SoundCloud.

You can check the dates on my website: alineboyd.com

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?

Never give up!

Which creative professionals should Peter invite to tell their story?

Evelina Vorontsova, Jelena Kovacevic.

How can you contact me?

Website: https://www.alineboyd.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alineboyd_piano/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YMyK7DQ8OQ