Compositions from nine major contemporary composers, all with the theme of the challenges and excitement of soccer. Remember the joys of the 2026 soccer World Cup forever!

Released worldwide on Reference Recordings on July 17, 2026.

“Gifted and versatile pianist” (San Francisco Chronicle) and GRAMMY® Award winner Nadia Shpachenko is known for bringing innovative and unconventional musical projects to life, often featuring distinctive sonic qualities and unusual instrumentation. Her concert appearances have included performances at the Concertgebouw, Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Piano Spheres series, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Green Umbrella and Chamber Music Series, as well as engagements with numerous orchestras throughout Europe and the Americas.

A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Shpachenko has premiered more than 150 new works by many of today’s leading composers. The composers featured on Keys to the Beautiful Game are TOM FLAHERTY, PAMELA Z, IAN DICKE, DAVID SANFORD, DANA KAUFMAN, HAROLD MELTZER, CHRISTOPHER CERRONE, OLIVER DUBON and ADAM SCHOENBERG.

Nadia’s 2019 Reference Recordings album The Poetry of Places, featuring world premieres of architecture-inspired works, won the Best Classical Compendium GRAMMY® Award. Nadia’s last Reference Recordings album Invasion: Music and Art for Ukraine (with 100% of CD proceeds being donated to Ukraine humanitarian aid) featured music by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lewis Spratlan, and art by Ukrainian artists.

Born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, she is a Steinway Artist, Schoenhut Toy Piano Artist, and professor of music at Cal Poly Pomona University.

PART 1: Introduction

[1] Tom Flaherty Goal Mining for piano and electronics (2022)

[2] Pamela Z Balón for solo piano, tape, voice, and electronics (2021) 

[3-5] Ian Dicke Telestar Loops for piano and electronics (2021)

PART 2: Earn Your Place

[6] David Sanford La Pulga Variations for solo piano (2021)

[7-9] Dana Kaufman Honeyball for speaking pianist and soccer cleats (2021/2023)

PART 3: Hero’s Journey

[10] Harold Meltzer Dribble for solo piano (2022)

[11] Christopher Cerrone Corridor of Uncertainty for piano and electronics (2022)

[12] Oliver Dubon The Hand of God for solo piano (2022)

[13] Adam Schoenberg Last Dance for solo piano (2021)