SURREY, UK – The talented Greek-born pianist from the UK, founder, and head of the Keys of Change charity, Panos Karan, discusses his vision for “changing lives through music” with The National Herald.
Panos Karan has always held a strong vision and philosophy surrounding music and has lived his life with goals to protect the spirit of music and continuously showcase why it matters around the world.
In an interview with The National Herald, he revealed what inspired his project, Keys of Change, in 2011, and how it is about “changing lives through music – not as a luxury, but as a necessity.”
“It involves building youth orchestras and educational programs in Ecuador, Ghana, India, Mexico, and Japan, offering music lessons, ensemble experiences, and live performances,” Karan told TNH.
“At its heart, it uses music as a tool for dignity, confidence, connection, and hope, allowing young people to discover their own voices while learning how to listen to one another.”
When asked how this charity began, Karan revealed it began with a journey called ‘Bach’ in the Amazon, where he travelled along the Amazon River to perform for those living in remote indigenous communities.
“That journey opened a door to a new audience, new horizons, and a new understanding of music’s power,” the founder of Keys of Change said.
“From those riverbanks grew a much larger vision – one where music education could become a bridge between worlds, and a catalyst for change across continents.”
Today, the charity is designed to cater to young people “living in extraordinary circumstances – places where opportunity is limited, but imagination is not,” Karan said.
“It exists for those whose talent might otherwise go unheard, and for communities where music can become a shared language of resilience, belonging, and possibility.”
Keys of Change is a charity that aims to create safe, inspiring spaces where young people learn instruments, rehearse together, and perform as part of an ensemble.
Karan however, said the deeper impact of the charity’s work goes far beyond musical technique. He explained how young people involved learn about discipline, teamwork, responsibility, and empathy.
“They experience what it means to belong to something larger than themselves – and often, for the first time, they feel truly seen and heard,” he said.
The charity, which works specifically with children, does so as Karan believes they are the “future” and “possess an extraordinary ability to adapt, to listen, and to grow.”
“Music speaks to them directly, it offers structure without rigidity, freedom without chaos,” Karan added.
“Through music, children rediscover trust: in themselves, in others, and in the world around them.”
When asked directly what inspired his charity, Karan expressed how the driving force behind it was the belief that “music belongs to everyone” and shouldn’t be something only available to those who can afford to access it.
“Making music together is one of the most underappreciated human activities we have,” Karan said.
He added how it is “a quiet revolution that teaches cooperation, empathy, discipline, and joy. When people play together, something shifts – within the individual, and within the community.”
As someone with a strong passion for music and working with children, the pianist expressed how he feels to be able to make a lasting impact in a child’s life through music.
“It is profoundly humbling. Music opens doors that words cannot, and witnessing a child’s transformation – confidence replacing doubt, curiosity replacing fear – is a reminder of why this work matters,” Karan added.
“It reinforces the belief that change does not need to be loud to be powerful; sometimes it begins with a single note, played together.”
In addition to operating Keys of Change, Karan also began an additional project, titled Chopin Around the World.
It first began as a personal newsletter shared with friends and family, and now, it has become a platform for sharing stories, journeys, and news from Keys of Change across the world, therefore becoming a bridge between music, place, and purpose.
When asked what Panos Karan hopes to achieve overall with his deep love for music, he said he hopes to “continue building a world where access to music is not defined by geography or wealth, but by curiosity and openness.”
“A world where young people grow up knowing that their voices matter, that collaboration is strength, and that beauty can exist even in the most challenging circumstances,” Karan added.
“If Keys of Change can plant even one seed of possibility in each place it touches, then its mission is already alive.”
To find out more about Panos Karan’s work with Keys of Change, visit www.panoskaran.com/keys-of-change.
