When the coronavirus sequestered Americans at home and forced businesses to close, Hale Ryan braced himself for a financial winter. As the director of sales and marketing at Metroplex Piano in Dallas and a 30-year veteran of the piano business, he had seen other crises - like 9/11 and the 2008 recession - damage sales. When the lockdown began in March, Mr. Ryan said in a recent phone interview, "I thought this was going to be the final nail." Instead, he began to field a flood of requests for instruments. Even with his showroom closed, the economy nose-diving and the professional music world in tatters, he sold pianos. "It's actually been the best three months that I've seen in retail," he said. The piano market encompasses a wide range of instruments, from hand-built concert grands that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to factory-made uprights, digital pianos and keyboards designed for young learners. The high-water mark of piano sales in America was 1909, when 364,500 new acoustic pianos were sold in the country. Since then, radio, television, recordings and instrument technology transformed the way music is created and consumed. Only about 30,000 new acoustic pianos are now sold here each year, but the number surpasses a million when all digital varieties are included. Even a lower-end instrument represents a significant investment, and can seem like a luxury during a time of economic uncertainty. And with showrooms closed this spring, potential buyers could no longer test-drive the possibilities. A sale represented not just a splurge, but also a leap of faith. "It's actually been the best three months that I've seen in retail," said Hale Ryan of Metroplex Piano in Dallas.Credit...Metroplex Piano And yet interviews with nearly a dozen dealers across the country reveal surprisingly robust sales that suggest a resurgence of at-home music-making just as the live concert scene vanished. Most of the dealers noted a rise in demand for digital pianos, which allow players to channel the sound through headphones: a key feature in households where working-from-home parents share space with distance-learning children. The phenomenon seems to be part of a general pivot toward home-based recreation, along with increased demand for gym equipment and bicycles. Indeed, a significant portion of purchasers appears to be new to the market. Tom Sumner, the president of Yamaha Corporation of America, said in an interview that he had heard from retailers that between 20 and 25 percent of sales this spring were to first-time buyers. "A good chunk of customers are people they've never seen before," Mr. Sumner said. According to him, Yamaha sold 60 percent more digital pianos this April than in the same month last year. He added that the sales increase was especially significant because, in a typical spring, schools tend to make big purchases in preparation for fall band season. Because of the coronavirus, he said, that segment has dropped away, so the spike in sales likely comes from individual buyers. Brian Majeski, the co-owner of Music Trades, a company that analyzes data about the musical instruments industry, said in an interview that across America, sales of digital pianos rose by 30 percent this April and May, with the trend appearing to continue into June. He also noted an uptick for acoustic pianos, though it was smaller and mostly driven by used instruments. Still, Mr. Majeski said, "The question in our industry is: Will this stick? Are you creating a new generation of players, or is it a momentary spike with people who have time on their hands looking for things to do?" The Piano Guys, a crossover group that has clocked over a billion YouTube views with music videos of its arrangements of pop and classical standards, began selling digital pianos for $2,000 to $8,000 on its website last December, typically bundled with online learning materials alongside proprietary sheet music. Steven Sharp Nelson, a member of the group, said that in the first months it sold a piano every two or three days. In April and May demand rose steeply; some days the band sold six pianos in one day. He said it was the pandemic that had led many to learn to play the piano for the first time. "We're in a cadenza fermata," he said, referring to the moment in a classical concerto when the orchestra drops away and the soloist takes off on a flight of fancy. "People are improvising." Isaac Namias, who sells restored acoustic pianos in Brooklyn, said email inquiries shot up when the virus hit New York. Under lockdown, he said, he sold nearly twice as many units per month as during normal times, mostly instruments in the lower price range, about $2,500 to $6,500. About half his business was driven by piano teachers referring students. Notably absent from the client list were professional performing pianists. Mr. Namias said, "They want to touch the piano, they know exactly what they're looking for." But the reliance on hands-on, in-person sales seems to have lessened. Anthony Gilroy, a spokesman for Steinway, said in an email that although the company had seen a drop in sales when showrooms closed, the decline had been less than expected. In response to the pandemic, Steinway for the first time created an option to buy pianos directly from its website. And sales representatives using digital platforms were able to make big-ticket sales, including limited-edition Steinways costing upward of a quarter of a million dollars. Mr. Nelson of The Piano Guys likened the trend to car sales. "To my mind it's like when people started selling cars on eBay," he said. "At first people thought that was crazy. But now a significant portion of car sales is done online." Mr. Ryan, whose showroom in Dallas has since reopened, said he had organized virtual demonstrations of instruments on Zoom. "I never thought anybody would buy a $20,000 piano without playing it first," he said. But he sold several concert grand pianos this way, including a $200,000 Bösendorfer to a doctor who had been working on the front lines of the coronavirus. "He is a pathologist and a serious player and he's always wanted a Bösendorfer," Mr. Ryan said. "He's stressed beyond belief and he just wants to get back to playing piano."

The Piano Guys are touring in support of their new EP, "In Times of Distress." Leading up to tour, Jon Schmidt is a practicing fool. "You can't stink when the people are buying tickets and coming to the show," he says with a laugh. "That wouldn't be right to get out on stage and not be ready for the show." For the past month, Schmidt has spent hours in front the piano going over a stack of material. Schmidt is the pianist/composer of the group The Piano Guys. He is joined in the band by cellist Steven Sharp Nelson, videographer Paul Anderson and producer Al van der Beek. The quartet is back with the EP "In Times of Distress," released on Feb. 27. The EP was a follow-up to the 2018 album "Timeless." The Piano Guys set for Kiva Auditorium on Saturday May 4   p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} READ THE FULL Albuquerque Journal ARTICLE

The Piano Guys, famous for their mash-ups of classical and pop pieces and unusual self-made music videos, will be in concert with "Christmas Together" at 8 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts, 151 S. Santa Fe. Since their debut in 2011, The Piano Guys have released five studio albums, two Christmas albums and a live album, as well as garnered 2 billion-plus global streams and 1.6 billion YouTube views for their videos. They have been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and performed on the Today Show, Good Morning America and The Tonight Show. The quartet previously performed in Salina in August 2017. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} span.Apple-tab-span {white-space:pre} READ THE FULL Salina Journal ARTICLE

Having amassed billions of views and millions of followers, The Piano Guys ( pianist Jon Schmidt, cellist Steven Sharp Nelson, video producer Paul Anderson and music producer Al van der Beek ) have become one of the most successful instrument music groups ever to grace the Internet, while capturing the hearts of music fans as they tour worldwide. The meteoric success of the "Guys" came about from more than 60 breathtaking videos. The talented group performs their unique brand of classical, contemporary and rock and roll music in locales where a piano has never gone before-from atop the Great Wall of China and a speeding train, to the edge of a 1,000-foot cliff in the Utah desert. Beginning July 1, six of The Piano Guys' most popular viral videos move out from the screen, to be experienced for the first time as simultaneous television and "live" piano performances in the homes of Yamaha Disklavier owners around the globe. The Disklavier is a remarkable high-tech reproducing piano that can transmit highly-nuanced performance data – the actual keystrokes and subtle gradations of pedal movement – between similarly equipped instruments over the Internet. As an artist performs, their precise note-for-note performance data is captured, then streamed to similarly equipped remote instruments anywhere in the world, where it is recreated exactly as the artist originally intended. READ THE FULL Virtual-Strategy Magazine ARTICLE

A YouTube sensation was born out of Paul Anderson's desire to promote pianos at his store in St. George, Utah. Anderson's fascination with viral videos inspired him to use his own skills as a videographer and producer to make promotional videos that would reach a large audience. He received help from three other men, Jon Schmidt (pianist and songwriter), Steven Sharp Nelson (cellist and songwriter) and Al van der Beek (music producer and songwriter) who as a group recorded their unique composition of classical and pop for the world to see. Now known as The Piano Guys, the group will perform on Thursday, May 3, at H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060; min-height: 14.0px} READ THE FULL Herald-Mail Media ARTICLE

You don't have to go to Hollywood or Las Vegas to find celebrities. Utah is filled with musicians, filmmakers and personalities who have found national and worldwide success on YouTube.  Take The Piano Guys. Formed in St. George, a pianist, cellist, videographer, and producer/writer, have had huge success with covers and mashups that combine classical and contemporary music. With almost 6 million youtube subscribers and more than a billion combined views, The Guys have also reached GOLD status amongst their 6 recordings out via Sony.  SEE THE FULL KSL.com PAGE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060; min-height: 14.0px}

The Piano Guys are using their brilliant music to Light The World. That's the name of the quartet's latest concert, which benefits a pro-Mormon initiative and will stream live from YouTube Space NY beginning at 5 PM ET on December 12. With their melodious covers and their sharply-produced music videos, The Piano Guys - consisting of Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson, Paul Anderson, and Al van der Beek - have attracted 5.8 million subscribers and received more than 1.3 billion total views. For their Light The World performance, they'll be joined by several of YouTube's top singing stars, including Peter Hollens, Taylor Davis, and Tiffany Alvord. The program includes several tracks from The Piano Guys' new album, titled Christmas Together. Released back in October, the holiday collection is currently available through retailers like Amazon. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica; min-height: 13.0px} Light The World shares its name with a campaign associated with the Mormon faith, which is aiming to spread the message of Christ ahead of December 25. The four members Piano Guys are all devout members of the LDS church. Their hometown, St. George, Utah, is 70% Mormon. "#LightTheWorld is a worldwide effort to share the light of Jesus Christ through serving, lifting, and helping others," The Piano Guys wrote on Facebook. Video attached READ THE FULL tubefilter ARTICLE

If you ever told me that a time would come when I would be jamming out at an arena show featuring a piano and a cello with over 10,000 equally enthusiastic concert attendees, I'd probably tell you that you were crazy. Especially since the nearly packed house Friday night at The Piano Guys concert brought the attendance number closer to 20,000 at the newly renovated Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #263e0f} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #263e0f; min-height: 14.0px} I've never particularly considered myself a big fan of classical music, but The Piano Guys, founded in 2010 and featuring the musical stylings of pianist Jon Schmidt and cellist Steven Sharp Nelson with help from producer and videographer Paul Anderson and producer, songwriter and vocalist Al van der Beek, quickly taught me that was simply because I hadn't heard the right kind of classical music, and more specifically, their unique brand of classical crossover, mixed with cello rock and orchestral pop. READ THE FULL Daily Herald ARTICLE

This year's bounty of holiday albums includes The Piano Guys, "Christmas Together" (Portrait). For anyone who finds the Mormon Tabernacle Choir too understated, the Piano Guys may just be your guys. They are musician-producers Al van der Beek, Paul Anderson, Steven Sharp Nelson and Jon Schmidt, and they leave no stop unpulled in this grandest-scale of Yuletide jam sessions. The orchestral and choral cast of thousands may cross the line into overkill often, but credit them for neatly pairing traditional carols and complementary works from the classical repertoire such as "Mary Did You Know" with Corelli's Christmas Concerto, and "Joy to the World" with Beethoven's Ode to Joy. Heavy-hitter guests include Placido Domingo, the King's Singers, Peter Hollens, David Archuleta and - well what do you know? - the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. SEE FULL LA Times PAGE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px}

The Piano Guys are coming to San Diego!  If you haven't heard of this youtube sensation, you definitely need to watch a couple of thier videos. Their recent Sony/Portrait release - Uncharted features all their recent hits, including "Fight Song/Amazing Grace" (video filmed in Scotland), "A Sky Full of Stars," "Hello/Lacrimosa," "Jungle Book/Sarabande" (video shot in Chichén Itzá, Mexico), and "Indiana Jones and the Arabian Nights" (video filmed in Petra, Jordan), all available for the first time on CD. The Deluxe Edition includes a DVD featuring all of those recent hit music videos. Sunny 98.1's Brooks O'Brian has become a major fan just from the videos only!  You can see The Piano Guys live in concert at Copley Symphony Hall, or join Brooks every morning in the 7am hour to win tix to the show! CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px}

With over a billion YouTube views of their more than 50 music videos,The Piano Guys have released their new album Uncharted(Sony - Portrait) which includes the upbeat new song "Okay" written by hit-makers Andy Grammer and Dave Bassett. Uncharted literally charts new territory for The Piano Guys. Continuing their "Wonders of the World" quest, they've shot three of their recent hit videos far afield – Scotland, Mexico, Jordan – while "Okay" shows them in the recording studio where they create their inspirational music, and in front of a cheering crowd of 20,000 at the USANA Amphitheatre in their home state of Utah. WATCH THE ABC - GMA VIDEO

When The Piano Guys decide to cover a piece of popular music, cellist and songwriter Steven Sharp Nelson said, it has to pass a couple of important tests. The first is what they call "the Disney test," which is what they describe as a song that has themes and lyrics fit for all ages. "If the answer is no, it's completely ruled out, no questions asked," he said. The second test - a crucial part of the formula that has led to The Piano Guys' success - is what Nelson refers to as the "chills up test." "When you listen to the song, does it give you chills up your spine rather than down?" he asked. The Piano Guys' specialty certainly appears to have passed more than a few tests for listeners and viewers alike. This quartet of Mormon dads from Utah, comprised of Nelson, pianist and songwriter Jon Schmidt, producer and songwriter Al van der Beek, and videographer and producer Paul Anderson, formed in 2010 and started putting its unique classical spin on pop songs by the likes of Coldplay, Adele, One Direction and Christina Perri, to name a few. They do the same with famous movie themes, classical pieces and hymns, and they write original compositions. The songs are visually presented in the form of music videos that appear to spare no expense toincorporate special effects, incredible landscapes, or how-did-they-get-that-piano-up-there locations. READ THE FULL Lexington Herald Leader ARTICLE

Global music internet sensation The Piano Guys, announce the release of their new album Uncharted (Portrait). Available for preorder now, Uncharted comes out October 28 and includes their brand new song "Okay." Written by hit-makers Andy Grammer and Dave Bassett, the upbeat track features TPG's own Al van der Beek on vocals.  The music video for "Okay" just made its premiere on YouTube – check it out here.  The audio track is also available now via all download and streaming services. "We wanted to try something different for our new song, 'Okay,'' says Steven Sharp Nelson. "We sidestepped our standard classically-influenced instrumental niche and did something more pop-driven featuring Al's superb vocal talent! We felt as though this was the best way to spread the positive message behind this song. We hope our fans love it." READ THE FULL Yahoo Finance ARTICLE   WATCH THE VIDEO

The Piano Guys celebrate a monumental landmark, reaching 1 Billion views on YouTube for their innovative music videos. On Saturday night at their concert at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, YouTube honored them with a plaque commemorating this exciting achievement. According to YouTube – just over 100 artist channels, including some of the biggest icons in the world, have reached the 1 billion view mark. Of their latest landmark, Steven Sharp Nelson says: "A billion is a big number. Especially for a quartet of dads who just started making music videos for fun. Honestly, we are overwhelmed with gratitude. We feel like there have been so many miracles to make this possible that we are simply along for the ride. Behind every view is someone that has spent their time and sometimes their hard-earned money in support of us. We've built this on their shoulders. We also feel like there have been lots of answered prayers along the way too. No matter how big the number gets, we've promised ourselves that we'll never lose sight of this. We were in the middle of tour when the big billionth view boomed so we celebrated the best way we know how – by thanking our audience personally!" READ THE FULL Yahoo Finance ARTICLE READ billboard

The Piano Guys' newly released cover of Les Miserables' "Bring Him Home," has already been having over 9.9 million views. They purposely released the cover of the song for the Memorial Holiday. Bring Him Home is an original composition by Claude-Michel Schonberg. Jon Schmidt, Al van der Beek and Steven Sharp Nelson made a brilliant arrangement of the piece. The Piano Guys have always been releasing covers of popular songs on Youtube. According to CBS News, no genre quite fits in what they do. However, there is something special about their new release. It is to honor the brave man and women, who have been a part of something greater than themselves. Bring Him Home is one of those heartfelt, and heartwarming musical renditions ever made from the Broadway musical Les Miserables. The guys dedicated the song to the families of those who sacrificed themselves in order to preserve freedom. To the guys this cover of the song is brought about their recent experience where they were once asked by a mother of 5 kids whose husband was in the military. The simple request is if they could surprise the kids on one of their concerts. Since the lady's husband arrived early for Christmas which was a perfect timing during that time. READ THE FULL Parent Herald ARTICLE & WATCH THE VIDEO

"I think we could write a book on serendipity, I think we really can. Just all the way through: how we met, how we came together, the tunes we put out and the ideas that come." That's John Schmidt, a, well, piano guy, who, along with partner Steven Sharp Nelson (a cello guy …), recently visited Billboard's New York studios. Together the duo forms the backbone of the Piano Guys, a collective from Utah that's built an audience of more than 1.75 million on YouTube – a bigger following on the platform than Justin Timberlake or Jennifer Lopez. READ THE FULL billboard ARTICLE & WATCH VIDEO        

The Piano Guys - Steven Sharp Nelson, Jon Schmidt, are a miraculous meeting to make a positive impact in the lives of people all over the world through music videos. The phenomenally successful classical music duo have ticked another wonder of the world off their bucket list. And this time there are added parrots. READ THE FULL CLASSIC fm ARTICLE WATCH THE VIDEO

John Schmidt and Steven Sharp Nelson of the pop/classical collective THE PIANO GUYS perform and discuss mixing their careers with family life "I think we could write a book on serendipity, I think we really can. Just all the way through: how we met, how we came together, the tunes we put out and the ideas that come." That's John Schmidt, a, well, piano guy, who, along with partner Steven Sharp Nelson (a cello guy …), recently visited Billboard's New York studios. Together the duo forms the backbone of the Piano Guys, a collective from Utah that's built an audience of more than 1.75 million on YouTube – a bigger following on the platform than Justin Timberlake or Jennifer Lopez.   WATCH THE billboard VIDEO

Social media users (Facebook especially) have probably seen at least one video made by The Piano Guys. Maybe it was Star Wars music played on electric cello using 'light saber' bows. Or five guys playing a pop song using mainly the strings of one piano. white instruments in an ice-white landscape playing Vivaldi's Winter mixed with that song from Disney's Frozen. The group is spearheaded by pianist Jon Schmidt and cellist Steven Sharp, and they perform in Spokane on May 21. Spokane Public Radio will give away tickets to the concert with the April Membership drawing. Deadline for entering is Tuesday, April 19. Two lucky people will each receive a pair of tickets and a collection of Piano Guys items, including a T-Shirt and their CD/Video combination "Wonders."

watch the video         Musical Internet sensation, The Piano Guys, who have surpassed 800 million views on YouTube, release their latest music video, "Hello/Lacrimosa."  The video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/WZjFMj7OHTw In classic Piano Guys style, the video features a mashup of Adele's worldwide hit "Hello" and Mozart's beautiful requiem "Lacrimosa."  A blending of over 100 acoustic and electric cello tracks, the video was filmed at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Utah and incorporated many giant mirrors along with diffused light and cold fog to create the mysterious effects. Of the new video Steven Sharp Nelson explains: "Hello/Lacrimosa" (or "Chello," as it has affectionately been called in the studio) is a musical experiment bridging 18th century spiritualism and 21st century secularism. Imagine Mozart and Adele in the same room in an intense co-write session, quill and pen in hand, respectively. Picturing this hypothetical hangout helped to spark the creative combination of the two. Both "Hello" and Lacrimosa have divergent traits which presented challenges. One wallows in a wide, painstakingly minor 12/8 time and the other drives a poignant bi-polar major/minor common time. One draws its power from the fullness of a grand chorus and orchestra, the other from the isolation of a lone voice and piano. One conforms to age-old counterpart canon and musical theory, while the other is conveyed via verse/chorus pop song parlance. However, they share the same fundamental feeling -- "Lacrimosa" (meaning "weeping" or "tearful") mournfully bemoans spiritual death, while "Hello" gripes about relationship regrets. Different centuries. Different realms. Same emotion. Perhaps we aren't as far from our predecessors as we think we are." The Piano Guys – Steven Sharp Nelson, Jon Schmidt, Al Van der Beek and Paul Anderson – became an online sensation by way of their immensely successful series of strikingly original self-made music videos, which have surpassed 800 million views and garnered nearly 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube. They've made over 50 music videos since 2011, including their breakout hit, an innovative multi-handed version of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" and a gorgeous reinvention of the hit song "Let It Go" from Disney's Frozen. To date, the Utah-based classical-pop group have released five major label albums on Portrait/Sony Music Masterworks: Wonders, The Piano Guys, The Piano Guys 2, a holiday album called A Family Christmas, and most recently The Piano Guys – Live! featuring live music from their sold out Red Rocks and Carnegie Hall concerts. SEE THE CLASSICfm PAGE    WATCH THE VIDEO READ THE East Idaho News PAGE SEE THE Capital FM PAGE SEE Digital Spy PAGE

They're not your average musical group, but they're not your average rock stars, either. Four Utah dads became piano movers of sorts, and in the process exploded into global music video sensations known as The Piano Guys. TPG continue their fairytale story of turning a musical hobby and friendship into an extremely successful worldwide career. They have climbed the Great Wall of China for their craft, landed atop Billboard charts, sold out tour dates around the world, accrued a massive social media following and scored YouTube viewership at 730 million-plus views.  On November 13, they reach a new career milestone, releasing their first ever live album, The Piano Guys – Live!(Portrait/Sony Music Masterworks). The deluxe package features live audiofrom The Piano Guys' sold out performance at the world's most famous concert hall, Carnegie Hall in New York City, plus live video from their sold out concert at the stunning outdoor amphitheatre, Red Rocks in Colorado.  Plus, The Piano Guys latest video"When Stars and Salt Collide," their take on the Coldplay hit, "A Sky Full of Stars, is a heartfelt dedication to their fans. Lee Cowan of CBS - Sunday Morning introduces us to the men behind the YouTube hits. WATCH

The Piano Guys love highlighting the beauty of the Beehive State and their new video is no exception. In "When Stars and Salt collide," the band covers a Coldplay song called "Sky Full of Stars." They filmed the video at the  Salt Flats. According to the video description, they knew where they wanted to record the  video as soon as they finished writing the music. "What better venue than a place of our ‘roots' and where your names would be the ‘stars' of the film, starkly contrasted against the eternal white salt stretching as far as the eye can see?"  SEE FOX13 - Salt Lake City PAGE WATCH THE VIDEO

The Jurassic World sonatas may have originated as part of the soundtrack to the uber-dino action flick Jurassic Park, but in the skilled hands of internet sensation the Piano Guys, the scores are heart-wrenching and beautiful. The Piano Guys are part of that rare corner of the internet where truly talented performers become viral video stars. For the uninitiated, the Piano Guys are four Utah dads who started down the road of viral stardom with a series of self-made music videos that offered a virtuosic take on classical music for the internet generation. Fast forward and the Piano Guys' videos have a staggering 500 million views - their take on One Direction's "That's What Makes You Beautiful" alone has 41 million views - and 3.8 million subscribers to their YouTube channel, plus four chart-topping albums and IRL concerts that have sold-out around the world. Their timely take on the Jurassic World sonatas is just further proof that the Guys know how to tap into the internet zeitgeist. SEE THE TIME PAGE & WATCH THE VIDEO SEE THE Deseret News PIECE SEE THE Daily Herald PIECE SEE THE KSL Radio Piece SEE THE Herald Times PAGE SEE THE Washington Times PAGE SEE THE Aberdeen News PAGE

Following the release of their fifth album Wonders at the end of last year, and with a tuneful 3.7 million YouTube subscribers, The Piano Guys are now getting ready to show Hong Kong just why they are so popular as they perform at AsiaWorld-Expo, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and continue to embark on their global tour. We chat to The Piano Guys' pianist and songwriter extraordinaire Jon Schmidt about their upcoming performance on April 18, and the viral success that spawned from their first YouTube hit,Michael Meets Mozart back in 2011.    READ THE FULL Time Out Hong Kong - Q&A 

Speaking about her experience, the Indo-Canadian playback singer said, "It was a blessing to perform at The Carnegie Hall to a sold out audience with The Piano Guys. The feedback and accolades I've been receiving is tremendous. It feels great! I'm ecstatic and thrilled about receiving an esteemed honor of this nature at such a young age. It isn't easy to get an opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall and it still hasn't sunk in yet."   What do you get when you mix up a marketing genius that does video, a studio engineer that writes music, a pianist that had a successful solo career, and a cellist that does pretty much everything?  youtube populist sensation - The Piano Guys.  Born in Dubai and raised in Canada, Shweta Subram has maintained strong discipline and continues to learn Hindustani and Carnatic music. A rising global star in Urban and Bollywood music due in part to her debut song Jee Le Live Life, Subram has performed with Bollywood maestros Salim-Sulaiman at the prestigious IIFA awards, and has so far released 2 albums - Ajooba and Piya.  Watch Subram's unique version of Don't You Worry Child (Khushnuma) withThe Piano Guys. READ THE FULL Zee News ARTICLE

Perched high atop the Great Wall of China, decked out in black-and-white Karate uniforms, two middle-aged dads from Utah -- one on piano, one on cello -- are jamming out to a musical mashup of Chopin and a cut from the Kung Fu Panda soundtrack. Banging their instruments blissfully as an ethereal fog descends around them, the performance, which is part hokey, part magical, has been viewed on YouTube more than 10 million times. And it's just one of many stunning stagings to be found on the channel of YouTube supergroup The Piano Guys -- four Mormon dads from Utah who quit their day jobs three years ago in pursuit of an online career that has already netted them millions. READ THE FULL Entrepreneur ARTICLE  

We all know by now that The Piano Guys love to add a healthy dose of pop culture into their videos to draw in, for lack of a better phrase, a traditionally unconventional audience into the classical music world. They've battled good and evil with a "Star Wars" theme, jumped on the "Let It Go" bandwagon, and even nodded to British boy band One Direction, among many other things. The premise of their latest video, "I Want You Bach," asks what would happen if the 1770s and the 1970s traveled through space and time, colliding into an unlikely jam session. The answer, of course, is in the video, which includes Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" mashed with several Bach pieces-Brandenburg Concertos No. 3 and 5, Two Part Invention No. 8, Minuet in G, Bourrée, and Gavotte from the French Suite No. 5, according to the video description. READ THE FULL KSL.com ARTICLE & WATCH THE VIDEO

What started in a St. George piano store five years ago has gone global. "How are we selling out concerts halls and even arenas in places like Singapore, Istanbul, Mexico and Vienna?" asked Steven Sharp Nelson, cellist for the Utah quartet known as The Piano Guys. "How have these videos worked out despite the challenges we've faced? We can't take credit. It's all been a string of answers to a trail of prayers." The Piano Guys, who became a YouTube sensation with high-energy videos and a musical style that blends pop and classical, will wrap up a European tour this week with a show Tuesday in Budapest. In December, The Piano Guys will embark on a nine-city holiday tour - which culminates back home, in Salt Lake City, with a show Dec. 20th at EnergySolutions Arena.READ THE FULL Salt Lake Tribune INTERVIEW.

The Piano Guys started out as YouTube sensations and have become immensely popular for their. mashup of popular and classical music. They should be called "The Piano and Cello Guys," really, since the actual musicians are Steven Sharp Nelson on electric cello and Jon Schmidt on piano. But I guess that had an unwieldy ring to it. The rest of the team consists of producer and videographer Paul Anderson and producer/songwriter Al Van Der Beek. Recently, The Piano Guys released a new CD and DVD package, Wonders, which includes popular single/video releases from the past year as well as new songs and new interpretations of old songs as in "Batman Evolution," which celebrates Batman themes through the years.  READ THE FULL Blogcritics REVIEW

The Piano Guys are a quartet from the US state of Utah whose performances show that there are more than ways to "play" than hitting the keys and stepping on the pedals. They will show their unusual techniques when they arrive in Hungary on November 25 to play the Papp László Budapest Sportaréna. TPG's latest Sony Masterworks releases: Wonders, is a nod to the "Wonders of the World," at which they intend to film music videos, features successful single/video releases from the past year such as, "Let It Go," "Kung Fu Piano: Cello Ascends," "Don't You Worry Child," and "Story of my Life." It also includes new songs with strong familiarity – "Batman Evolution" (The Piano Guys' take on various Batman themes over the years), a mash-up that incorporates melodies from Dave Matthews Band's huge hit "Ants Marching / Beethoven Ode to Joy," and Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" – as well as some original compositions by ThePianoGuys.  Their previous albums – The Piano Guys and The Piano Guys 2 – continue to claim the top positions on Billboard's Classical and New Age album charts since their release. READ THE FULL Budapest Times ARTICLE

Music is a phenomenal creature. The power of harmonic sound provides an ever-present soundtrack to our lives. Through the greatest of joys and even the times of challenge, music - through song and sound - has the capability to unite us, define us, and undoubtedly, move us. There is no group that personifies this more at the moment than The Piano Guys. The vibrant ensemble includes pianist Jon Schmidt, cellist Steven Sharp Nelson, producer/videographer Paul Anderson, music producer Al van der Beek, and others who contribute heartily behind the scenes. This group, who began producing innovative videos together in 2011 and were signed to Sony Masterworks in 2012, has taken the online world by storm. They have done this thanks to their ability to remind us that music is much more than sound to a beat - it is an experience. Through their reimagining of classical and modern tunes, inventive mashups that challenge the perception of what music can be, and original songs, The Piano Guys have garnered the adoration of fans around the world while earning critical acclaim that grows by the day. Wonders, released Oct. 7th, is the latest offering from The Piano Guys. With the new album in tow, and their latest tour in full swing, The Piano Guys took some time to tell me more about what drives their music, and what has driven their success. Here are some words from the group who says that they're just a "bunch of ordinary guys" whose story is "a miracle." READ THE FULL Huffington Post INTERVIEW.

Who would've thought it? One of the biggest stars on YouTube is a group of four dads, from Utah, playing classical music. Yep. They have 3.3 million subscribers. Justin Timberlake YouTube channel: 72,000. Even more impressive is how The Piano Guys turned web stardom into being legitimate music stars, selling out concerts around the world. How'd they do it? Mike Galanos finds out on HLN's - Daily Share.

The Piano Guys are about to hit a very high note - 500 million views on YouTube. So how did four dads from Utah collect over 3.3 million subscribers and debut their fourth studio album, Wonders, at the twelfth spot on the Billboard Top 200 earlier this month - their highest debut and biggest opening sales week to date? With a little help from Batman, One Direction and Swedish House Mafia. READ THE FULL Hollywood Reporter INTERVIEW.

Holy hemiola, Batman! 50 years of music and film all rolled together in front of the cars that have become icons of super hero history. The Piano Guys love super heroes, the dramatic music that has brought them to life, and the vivid films that have made them legends. They have released a new video, Batman Evolution, which is featured on their newest release, Wonders. They used piano, cello, handheld cameras, a radio controlled helicopter, and some scrappy special effect techniques in the most creative ways possible to emulate the three epic eras of one of the greatest super heroes ever created: BATMAN! Read the full description and watch the new video from the Piano Guys: Batman Evolution.

The Piano Guys have released a new video: a cover of One Direction's 'Story of My Life.' They pulled inspiration from Saint-Saëns' "Aquarium" from his Suite "Carnival of the Animals," an incredibly beautiful and transportive piece. The Piano Guys, determined to do something they'd never done before, also made this video into a short story and let the music be its soundtrack. Watch the video and read more about their concept here.

The Piano Guys - Volume 2 features imaginative mash-ups and arrangements that made their last album so successful, plus a few original recordings including the previously unreleased song "Berlin" as well as "Waterfall," creating an incomparable style that appeals to audiences from all walks of life and across generations. Volume 2 also includes violin sensation Lindsey Stirling on the iconic movie theme "Mission Impossible." Of the collaboration with Stirling, Steve Sharp Nelson says "This has been on The Piano Guys' list for a long time -- and many fans have been clamoring for the combo too. On the videowe had to pull out all the stops -- special effects, stunts, and a little slapstick! Working with Lindsey was so much fun. She is super talented and enjoys what she does just like we do!" This album makes the Billboard Top Selling New Age albums for this week.

The Piano Guys have set an ambitious goal to film in front of all Seven Wonders of the World. For their second World Wonder video they played "How Great Thou Art" and "The Mission." Watch the video.

With millions of followers on YouTube and Facebook, Internet sensations The Piano Guys perform their imaginative mash-ups and covers of classical and pop music that wow audiences across generations. From ingenious covers of Taylor Swift and Coldplay to mash-up arrangements of Michael Jackson with Mozart and One Republic with Beethoven, The Piano Guys deliver an eclectic mix of original arrangements and inventive cinematography you won't want to miss! The Piano Guys fresh approach to the fusion of classical and pop music secured the success of their 2012 major label debut, "The Piano Guys," which hit number one on the Billboard New Age and Classical Albums charts. Since then, the group released a second successful album that earned critical acclaim and broad fan appeal. The Piano Guys play at the Parker Playhouse in Ft. Lauderdale, FL TONIGHT!! Saturday November 9

The Piano Guys initially became an internet sensation by way of their immensely successful series of strikingly original self-made music videos, including their hit video, an innovative 10-handed version of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful." But it's the Guys' highly original blend of classical and pop music that brought them to their major label debut album. The Piano Guys play at the Louis Lykes Ferguson Hall in Tampa, FL TONIGHT!! Friday November 8.

Hailing from Utah, The Piano Guys became an Internet sensation by way of their immensely successful series of strikingly original self-made music videos. They've made over 35 since joining forces in early 2011, including their hit video, an innovative 10-handed version of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful." But it's the Guys' highly original blend of classical music with pop that has really been the cause of an Internet phenomenon that has brought them to their major label debut album, The Piano Guys, released on Sony Masterworks. The Piano Guys play at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, FL TONIGHT!! Thursday November 7

Hailing from Utah, The Piano Guys became an Internet sensation by way of their immensely successful series of strikingly original self-made music videos. They've made over 35 since joining forces in early 2011, including their hit video, an innovative 10-handed version of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful." But it's the Guys' highly original blend of classical music with pop that has really been the cause of an Internet phenomenon that has brought them to their major label debut album, The Piano Guys, released on Sony Masterworks on October 2nd, 2012. The Piano Guys play at the Atlanta Symphony Hall in Atlanta, GA TONIGHT!! Wednesday November 6

Hailing from Utah, The Piano Guys became an Internet sensation by way of their immensely successful series of striking self-made music videos; their YouTube channel boasts 1.6 million subscribers. But it's their highly original blend of classical music with pop that brought them to their major label debut album, The Piano Guys, released on Sony Masterworks in 2012. The album topped Billboard's New Age and Classical charts. The album features the imaginative mash-up arrangements that The Piano Guys are already famous for, including sources ranging from Michael Jackson to Mozart, The Bourne Identity to David Guetta. It also includes an original song and innovative takes on hits by One Direction, Adele and Christina Perri. The Piano Guys 2is set for release on Sony Masterworks May 7, 2013. The Piano Guys play at the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, NC TONIGHT!! Tuesday November 5

They are a one-of-a-kind blend of classical and pop music and create sophisticated new arrangements of everything from Beethoven's 5th Symphony to Coldplay's "Paradise." Experience firsthand the visual and musical drama that comes from the way this classically-trained group weaves seemingly disparate pieces together to create something totally new. The Piano Guys play at The Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick, MD TONIGHT!! Saturday November 2.

Hailing from Utah, The Piano Guys became an Internet sensation by way of their immensely successful series of strikingly original self-made music videos. They've made over 35 since joining forces in early 2011, including their hit video, an innovative 10-handed version of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful." But it's the Guys' highly original blend of classical music with pop that has really been the cause of an Internet phenomenon that has brought them to their major label debut album, The Piano Guys, released on Sony Masterworks on October 2nd, 2012. The Piano Guys play at the Attucks Theatre in Norfolk, VA TONIGHT!! Friday November 1

The Piano Guys, the YouTube sensation from Utah, packed UB's Center For the Arts on Thursday night. It was a night of entertaining and crazy sensual overload, as well as a lot of laughs. For anyone who has followed these two on YouTube, they are practically family. My eyes grew wide as they walked out on stage. It was like seeing characters from a TV show come to life. The two lead Piano Guys – pianist Jon Schmidt and cellist Steven Sharp Nelson – make a lot of self-deprecating jokes about their unassuming looks. But their faces are tremendously expressive. READ THE FULL Buffalo News REVIEW.

Hailing from Utah, The Piano Guys became an Internet sensation by way of their immensely successful series of strikingly original self-made music videos. They've made 35 since joining forces a little more than a year ago, including their most recent hit video, an innovative 10-handed version of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful." But it's the Guys' highly original blend of classical music with pop that has really been the cause of an Internet phenomenon that brought them to their major label debut album, The Piano Guys, released on Sony Masterworks on October 2012. The Piano Guys play at the Jefferson Center in Roanoke, VA TONIGHT!! Wednesday October 30.

Hailing from Utah, The Piano Guys became an Internet sensation by way of their immensely successful series of strikingly original self-made music videos. They've made over 35 since joining forces in early 2011, including their hit video, an innovative 10-handed version of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful." But it's the Guys' highly original blend of classical music with pop that has really been the cause of an Internet phenomenon that has brought them to their major label debut album, The Piano Guys, released on Sony Masterworks on October 2nd, 2012. The Piano Guys play at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA TONIGHT!! Tuesday October 29

youtube sensation The Piano Guys: Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson, Tel Stewart, Paul Anderson and Al van der Beek are masters of the mashups. Their unique video shots and musical style have landed the group millions of viewers, a Sony Masterworks record deal and a busy touring schedule. TPG plays The Bushnell Theater TONIGHT!! October 24@7:30 pm.

A Family Christmas releases TODAY!! through Sony Masterworks and will also be available as a deluxe set that includes a bonus DVD of TPG's hit holiday music videos, plus a classic Yule Log video featuring all of the songs on the album.

Produced by the group's Steven Sharp Nelson, Jon Schmidt, Al Van der Beek and Paul Anderson, A Family Christmas puts The Piano Guys' signature twist to such Christmas classics as "Silent Night," "Good King Wenceslas," and "Angels We Have Heard On High."     Here's the full Press Release: With the success of The Piano Guys' first two major label releases, The Piano Guys and The Piano Guys 2, Portrait/Sony Masterworks will release the Utah-based classical-pop group's new holiday album, A Family Christmas on October 22.  Just in time for the holiday season, A Family Christmas will also be available as a deluxe setthat includes a bonus DVD of their hit holiday music videos, plus a classic Yule Log video featuring all of the songs on the album. Produced by the group's Steven Sharp Nelson, Jon Schmidt, Al Van der Beek and Paul Anderson, A Family Christmas puts The Piano Guys' signature twist to such Christmas classics as "Silent Night," "Good King Wenceslas," and "Angels We Have Heard On High," which will be supported by a new YouTube video.    The Piano Guys' video take on One Direction's hit "What Makes You Beautiful"took YouTube by storm when it was posted in July 2012. It featured all five* Piano Guys playing the same piano at the same time. Thanks to its ingeniously intricate concept, the video helped sky rocket The Piano Guys to stardom and has received over 25 million views to date. Already a YouTube phenomenon from their focus on self-made innovative videos in stunning locations, the Piano Guys have amassed over 1.9 million YouTube subscribers-and more than a quarter-billion views. A Family Christmaswill now be The Piano Guys' third album in the year that the group signed to Portrait/Sony Masterworks. Their self-titled debut album was released last October, and mixed originals sourced from both classical and pop music standards. It topped Billboard's New Age Chart for months while garnering rave reviews and leading to performances on major programs including The Today Show, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Katie, CBS This Morning and Fox & Friends. The Piano Guys 2followed suit in May, and likewise mashed up the classics with pop. So, now, does A Family Christmas. "It's the Piano Guys' signature sound," says Van der Beek, who heads up the group's studio operations and also assists in co-writing and arranging, as well as percussion and vocal texturing. "We just don't take the songs and cover them exactly, but apply the ‘TPG Twist' on them. I think it will result in one of those traditional Christmas albums that people put on while they put up their Christmas trees." "We're really thrilled with the variety of material," adds Schmidt, ironically the group's sole piano player. Nelson, an enormously creative cellist who joins Schmidt as the Piano Guys' two key composer/instrumentalists, adds: "We have this really fun mix of proven YouTube hits: ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,' ‘We Three Kings,' ‘Carol Of The Bells,' and ‘Where Are You Christmas.'  We also have several new tunes the fans have never heard before and are very excited to share." It's become a tried-and-true formula for Piano Guys success: Taking songs that first gained favor via YouTube videos. But A Family Christmas, as Nelson notes, will be embellished by new songs including "Winter Wind" and "Christmas Morning," an original that evokes the amazing experience of Christmas morning in the eyes of young children. Speaking of small kids, Schmidt's daughter Sara, who's now nine, sings on "Where Are You, Christmas?," which was co-written by Mariah Carey and recorded by Faith Hill for the 2000 film Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The album also includes "Silent Night," which actually ends with the Guys themselves singing, and the "Carol of the Bells/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" mash-up: "It's like if Pirates of the Caribbean were to write a Christmas song! I call it ‘Jack Sparrow of the Bells'." Schmidt stresses that A Family Christmas is filled with the diverse classical, traditional pop, rock, jazz and film score components that have typified the TPG Twist-the "fun speed bumps and variety moments that people find refreshing." "You'll hear a Michael Buble flavor, a Doobie Brothers flavor, a Sara Bareilles flavor-and a worshipful feel when it's needed," Schmidt notes. "We spent a lot of time crafting the album so that there's something for everybody, and an opportunity to jam and dance around the house while decorating the tree as well as the chance to sit back with somebody you love and look at the fireplace." The Piano Guys, incidentally, got their name from a piano store in St. George, Utah owned by Paul Anderson, the video producer of the group, whose vision has led them to become one of the top YouTube channels. Paul's dream of creating videos and placing pianos in crazy locations has taken the group across the world. Currently, the Piano Guys are looking forward to kicking off a Fall tour in October. Their dedicated TV special, Live At Red Butte Garden, continues to air on PBS.  For more information, check out ThePianoGuys.com. *Tel Stewart, the Guys' resident editing genius, has since launched his own production company while retaining a collaborative role in the group. Sony Masterworks comprises the Masterworks, Sony Classical, OKeh, Portrait, Masterworks Broadway and Flying Buddha imprints. For email updates and information please visit www.SonyMasterworks.com

Hailing from Utah, The Piano Guys became an Internet sensation with their highly original blend of classical music with pop which has now brought them to their major label debut album and a PBS television special. Presented in cooperation with WMHT Public Broadcasting The Piano Guys play the Hart Theater@The Egg Saturday, October 19 • 7:30p.

The Piano Guys, release: 'Kung Fu Piano: Cello Ascends.' In so doing, the group fulfills a long time dream receiving unprecedented special permission from the Chinese government to shoot the video on The Great Wall, and with just 12 hours to finish, TPG had very little time to capture the 5000 miles long Wall. Even getting the piano hoisted required over 60 bare handed locals. TPG used 'Oogway Ascends' from the the Kung Fu Panda soundtrack and arranged the piece using electric cello, synth Ehru, a Chinese fiddle, and second plucked instrument called: Guqin. With over 30 million piano students in China, Steven Sharp Nelson also used Chopin's 'Prelude No. 20' as a counter to the 'Oogway' theme. btw, The Piano Guys have over 276 million yt views to date, and will release a new holiday album on October 22 called: A Family Christmas.  READ THE Sacramento Bee PIECE.

Vocalist Shweta Subram makes her first foray into western music with the Piano Guys collaboration on Sweedish House Mafia: 'Don't You Worry Child,' video and draws a million hits in less than two weeks. The vocalist's Indianfluence is evidently having an affect. Subram whio is now Toronto based was born and raised in Ottawa but is well know in South Asia. She won the Shankar Mahadevan's global singing competition and has worked with: Salim-Sulaiman, Shankar Tucker, Karthik and Pravin Mani.   READ The Vancouver Desi STORY

What happens when you fuse a creative American musical group with a dynamic Indian vocalist? Musical nirvanva, as presented by The Piano Guys and Shweta Subram in their latest single Khushnuma. Shweta Subram, an accomplished vocalist from Canada, is well-known in the South Asian music scene. Besides performing with Salim-Sulaiman at the IIFA Awards, Shweta has also won Shankar Mahadevan's global singing competition and has worked with renowned artists like Shankar Tucker, Karthik, and Pravin Man. READ THE FULL ARTICLE

There's nothing like a Jorgensen Cabaret Series(UCONN) event for sheer enjoyment and relaxation. It's the best entertainment around in a cozy nightclub setting with candlelit tables on the floor. Voted Best Cabaret' By Connecticut Magazine For 2012, the Jorgensen Arts Center is happy to present: The Piano Guys. Doors open one hour prior to 8p start. Selling out theaters everywhere, TPG became a YouTube sensation (over 1.6 million yt views and 500,000 new views per day) With 545,000 Facebook fans, TPG's highly original blend of classical pop, imaginative mash-ups of music from Michael Jackson to Mozart, and The Bourne Identity to David Guetta the group is creating creative hybrids that the music loving public is eating up.

YouTube moguls The Piano Guys are giving pop music a Beethoven-approved facelift with their classical renditions of chart-topping hits. READ MORE

The Piano Guys 2 is the new album from The Piano Guys. Not very creative this name, but the music is. I am impressed how these guys combine different elements into one new mighty thing. Awesome arrangements with a lot of feeling. Especially their videos are huge masterpieces.

Utah's favorite dads, The Piano Guys just released their new video ‘Home' covering the hit song from 2012 American Idol winner Phillip Phillips. Shot in their home state of Utah near Zion National Park, Steven Sharp Nelson commented on the impetus to make the video. "We love being on tour and meeting our fans! However, as we travel along with our equipment, cellos and baggage one thing never gets checked away - we miss home. We miss our family. When we first heard ‘Home' we couldn't help but be emotionally drawn to it."

The video is being released in conjunction with the group's new album The Piano Guys 2, which features more imaginative mash-ups and arrangements on music from Pachelbel to The Turtles to Bruno Mars

The Piano Guys started making music videos together for fun, a hobby which turned into a worldwide phenomenon when their self-made YouTube videos amassed 220 million views to date.

The Piano Guys are back with a new album, The Piano Guys - Volume 2, with their unique take on music from Pachelbel to The Turtles to Bruno Mars, available from Portrait, Sony Masterworks' new adult contemporary imprint.  Also available is the Deluxe version which includes the CD plus the 12 corresponding music videos – available for the first time on DVD! The recording features imaginative mash-ups and arrangements that made their last album so successful, plus a few original recordings including the previously unreleased song "Berlin" as well as "Waterfall," creating an incomparable style that appeals to audiences from all walks of life and across generations.

Piano Guys stop by the Billboard studio in May 2013 to discuss their latest album, 2

They came together under the most serendipitous of circumstances, yet The Piano Guys will tell you it was all meant to be. And with over 750,000 subscribers to their YouTube channel - greater than most of today's major artists, and growing at the rate of 50,000 fans per month! - who's to disagree? These 5 dads from Utah began making music videos together for fun and their "hobby" turned into a worldwide phenomenon when their self-made YouTube videos amassed over 130,000,000 views collectively. Newly signed to Sony Masterworks, The Piano Guys release their self-titled major label debut recording on October 2nd, 2012. Their album features highly original classical/pop music mash-ups that brings classical music to legions of new listeners, including "Michael Meets Mozart," Michael being Michael Jackson; "Cello Wars," which was brought to life by a Star Wars-inspired light saber/cello bow video battle; "Peponi (Paradise)," an African styled version of Coldplay's "Paradise" which was depicted in a video whereby a grand piano was helicoptered to a 1,000-foot cliff; and "Code Name Vivaldi," which blends a The Bourne Identity soundtrack riff with a similarly intense Vivaldi cello, its breathless video culminating on a flatcar on a high-speed train. The lead track, "Titanium/Pavane" mashes up French classical composer Gabriel Faure ?'s "Pavane" with David Guetta's "Titanium" ? The Piano Guys having previously lensed a lovely take on Guetta's "Without You." The Piano Guys will also showcase an original tune called "Arwen's Vigil." Of course the CD wouldn't be complete without the song that catalyzed The Piano Guys' international fame ? their unique 10-handed version of the One Direction hit "What Makes You Beautiful." The video for this song was covered by media around the world including The Hollywood Reporter, CBS News, Perez Hilton, Mashable and many others. It has over 7 million YouTube hits to date. The guys will perform it for the first time on National TV on Katie Couric's new daytime show "Katie" on September 17th. The group credits their loyal fans with helping to spread the word...and have they ever! Every day the YouTube views for their 35 plus original videos increases by 500,000 and their YouTube channel, which has over 750,000 subscribers, grows daily to the tune of 2,500 members per day. Ironically, The Piano Guys, who got their name from a piano store in St. George, Utah, are a quintet featuring only two musicians - only one being a pianist. Store owner Paul Anderson devised a Facebook promotional page and a YouTube channel featuring well- established, self-described "New Age Classical" pianist Jon Schmidt, who teamed up musically with Steven Sharp Nelson, an innovative cellist. Together, Schmidt and Nelson form the musical core of The Piano Guys, with Anderson - who has since closed the store - joining forces with genius co-videographer Tel Stewart in creating The Piano Guys' videos. Al van der Beek, the fifth "Guy," heads up the group's studio operations, and also assists in co-writing and arranging, as well as percussion and vocal texturing. As seen in their One Direction video, in performance, all five of The Piano Guys frequently appear together. The Piano Guys are spurred by their desire to broaden the audience for classical music while inspiring young musicians. "Lots of parents are using our music to show their kids how fun classical music can be and motivate them to learn instruments," says Schmidt. Adds Nelson: "We want to show people that it's not at all about fame or money, but trying to be good dads, husbands, examples-and we hope they see that in our videos." PBS will air a dedicated TV special, filmed at the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre in Utah, in early 2013.