Pianist Pallavi Mahidhara on Importance of Mental Health in the Competitions

A previous prize-winner of the Concours de Genève, Pallavi dives into why we should prioritize mental health while competing on international stages

Pianist Pallavi Mahidhara is the Executive Producer, Writer, and Host of “The Conscious Artist," a podcast designed to promote mental health awareness for performing artists.

She is the Second Prize winner and Young Audience Award winner of the 69th Geneva International Piano Competition and the VI International Prokofiev Competition in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Ahead of the 78th Concours de Genève, which is dedicated to Voice and Composition and held until October 22, 2024, we talked with Pallavi to see her take on mental health, especially within the competition landscape.

Have a listen to an episode of "The Conscious Artist" with Secretary General of the Geneva International Music Competition, Didier Schnorhk:

Can you tell us about your podcast “The Conscious Artist”?

The Conscious Artist is a safe space for conversations around mental health awareness for musicians, artists, and all human beings. My aim for the podcast is to give all of us a sense of solidarity and knowledge that we are not alone, and together, through collective conversations, we can create more awareness and change for a healthier future.

What prompted you to start it?

It came both out of the pandemic and some big personal life changes, as well as years of consciously taking care of my students’ wellbeing. We all suffered through many things individually and globally through the isolation of the pandemic, and I wanted to bring our community together in some way.

Why do you think it is so important for classical musicians to talk more openly about mental health?

Because we all go through hardships at some point in life, no matter where we come from or what our field is. And the more we speak about and share these experiences, the less alone we feel in our struggles. The life of many classical musicians can be very lonely, and we are constantly facing high-pressure situations, whether in the concert hall or on competition stages. To know that we are not alone makes a huge difference. There is healing in community.

How else do you think we can promote better mental health in our industry?

By working on removing the stigmas around both physical and mental health issues and illnesses. There is still a huge pressure to play through injuries or pain for fear of being blacklisted if one has to cancel. Many of us have played through injuries, illnesses, etc. There is so much pressure to be “on” and “perfect” all the time and that leaves very little room for the act of simply being human. Transparency, compassion, and understanding are tools that we have to start using in healthier ways. Every musician, from Beethoven to Schumann to Rachmaninov, has experienced physical and/or mental health issues. That is part of our humanity and what fuels us as artists, and it should not be taboo or looked down upon.

You competed and won multiple prizes in 69th Geneva International Piano Competition. Why is it important to talk about mental health in regard to competing, especially at younger ages?

It’s important because how we feel mentally and physically directly affects how we feel with our instruments and the music we play. How we feel within ourselves and as a human directly affects how we feel as artists. Art and music are subjective, and so understanding that we shouldn’t try to compare ourselves to others is essential. Competitions are, for better or for worse, about comparison, but remember that the competition experience is unique for each person, and using it as a learning tool rather than a judgment on our abilities helps to keep us in a hopefully healthier mental state, amidst an inherently competitive environment.

Competitions historically don’t focus on the mental well-being of their competitors. It can sometimes even be a situation of “survival of the fittest.” That being said, the Concours de Geneve was by far the best competition I have ever experienced. From the moment we arrived, we were so well taken care of, from host families to the environment created by the staff. It was nurturing, inspiring, and most of all geared toward our well-being. Of course, my own memory of the competition might be biased since I was in the finals and won a prize! But truthfully, I know it made a difference in how I felt throughout the competition.

Do you have a favorite memory from the competition?

Yes! Ironically, the first notes that I played in the first round. We weren’t able to try the beautiful Steinway D from Hamburg ahead of time because the flute competition was happening simultaneously. So my first contact with the instrument was the first notes of my opening round - Haydn F minor variations. Immediately upon playing the first few notes, I felt a sense of calm wash over me, because that piano was so beautifully maintained and balanced, every note had a sparkling resonance that sang out, and it felt like the piano responded to my thoughts. It is, to this day, the best instrument I’ve ever performed on.

What advice would you give to this year’s, and future competitors of the competition to prioritize feeling well, both mentally and physically?

Remember that while important, a competition is not a life or death situation, nor is any performance. While important, our instrument is also not a life or death situation. It is a means through which we can enrich society, culture, lives, and hopefully add beauty and value to this world. Despite the high pressure of competitions, try to remember why you play music in the first place. What you love about the composers or pieces you’re playing. And why you love sharing your music with others. When we connect with an intentional purpose when we perform, it helps very much to lessen the nerves and keep us present in the moment. Because ultimately, we spend so long working and preparing for such fleeting moments onstage, so staying present and remembering our love for music helps us make the most out of those experiences.