2026 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize winner Gaia Daniel

Gaia Daniel of Minneapolis is the winner of the 2026 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize in the Emerging Artist category. Her entry featuring her piano performance of "Dreaming" and "Fireflies" from Four Sketches opus 15 by Amy Beach was chosen by YourClassical listeners as the submission that best celebrated women in classical music. Daniel receives a cash prize and a recording session in MPR’s renowned Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio.

Gaia Daniel’s winning Karin Larson YourClassical Prize, Emerging Artist category, entry

Share your story of why you selected your piece and how it celebrates women in classical music.

I chose a piece by Amy Beach because I admire how she overcame tremendous hurdles in the male-dominated world of classical music. Throughout her life, her parents disapproved of a performing career and her husband banned her from playing in public more than once or twice a year. So, instead she turned to composition, where she was free to express herself. Performing this piece for a wide-reaching audience on the radio would be empowering for me as a woman because Beach was rarely able to perform her compositions under her confinement. By bringing this piece to light, I hope to encourage others to explore Beach's works and support female composers, past and present.

"Dreaming" holds a special place in my heart, as its sorrow and longing in this piece perhaps reflects the social and musical isolation Beach was subject to. I love how Beach creates a haunting melody with complex harmonies even though most of what she learned about music theory she taught herself from studying scores. "Fireflies," in contrast, demands virtuosity, and the light and fluttery yet brilliant atmosphere hints at the joy and optimism she found in composition. The brilliance of this piece is especially impressive considering her minimal formal piano instruction. Beach persevered, though, and her works still resonate despite having to face more obstacles than men to gain the same recognition. She was instrumental in supporting her fellow female musicians, such as co-founding and serving as the first president of the Society of American Women Composers.

Tell us what winning the prize would mean to you personally.

Both my mom and my grandma are classical musicians, but had to put their career aside for family. Like Amy Beach, they faced obstacles in their performing careers. Yet, they have supported me on my musical journey so much and are a big part of the reason I am where I am today. Winning this prize and getting formal recognition would support me continuing the lineage of female classical musicians in my family. Doing so by playing a woman composer I admire celebrates not only my family's heritage but helps elevate women composers out of obscurity.

The prize money would also support my growth as a performing artist by helping cover the cost of classes and enabling me to attend prestigious music festivals and international music competitions, where I get to perform on major stages and get masterclasses from groundbreaking, world-class artists who inspire and encourage me to continue my journey. By meeting these artists, I get the chance to experience what a professional performing career can look like, something musicians like Amy Beach didn't have the chance to until her husband died. Because many women in the past didn't have the means or support necessary to take part in these kinds of events, it would be especially meaningful to take part in them as a woman myself.