As we plan a program and prepare to walk on stage, our primary responsibility is to serve our audience. A musician without an audience is like a restaurant without customers.

If you have spoken with me for any length of time, you know that I strongly support rarely performed repertoire and new works. Discovering forgotten music and expanding the repertoire is an important part of what we do as performers. But audiences, like diners, also have favorite dishes. When people come to a concert, they often hope to hear something familiar, something that first made them fall in love with music.

This is why even the most celebrated performers continue to include certain beloved works in their programs. Pieces such as the Prelude from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1, Beethoven’s Für Elise, Debussy’s Clair de lune, Pachelbel’s Canon in D, or Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs have become part of the shared musical memory of audiences across generations. They are recognizable, emotionally direct, and immediately engaging.

For cellists, these works also offer an opportunity that is sometimes overlooked. Many of these famous pieces exist in beautiful cello arrangements, allowing us to bring well-loved music into our own repertoire in creative and engaging ways. Exploring these arrangements can be both musically rewarding and entertaining for audiences.

Programming familiar works does not mean abandoning artistic depth or curiosity. On the contrary, it can create a bridge between listeners and less familiar repertoire. A program that combines beloved music with new discoveries invites audiences into the experience rather than asking them to meet us halfway.

In other words, just as a good restaurant balances signature dishes with new creations, a thoughtful concert program can balance exploration with familiarity.

When audiences leave the hall feeling that they have experienced something both meaningful and enjoyable, they are far more likely to return. And in the end, cultivating that relationship with listeners is one of the most important parts of a musician’s work.