The Piano Guys

The Piano Guys are an American instrumental ensemble known for piano–cello arrangements and cinematic YouTube videos. They mix classical and pop, gained viral fame, and released chart-topping crossover albums.

Author: Leandro Alegsa Creation date: November 13, 2022 Last updated: June 19, 2026

The Piano Guys are an American musical ensemble that blends piano and cello with modern pop and classical repertoire. Best known for visually striking videos and inventive arrangements, the group helped popularize instrumental crossover music in the digital age. Their work often pairs virtuosic playing with location-based cinematography to create short concert films intended for a wide online audience.

Members and roles

The ensemble consists of pianist Jon Schmidt and cellist Steven Sharp Nelson, together with a small creative team: Paul Anderson, who conceived and produced many of their early video projects; Al van der Beek, who contributes arranging and production; and Tel Stewart, who works on cinematography and editing. Each member brings musical, technical, or visual skills that shape the group's polished presentations.

Origins and rise to prominence

The Piano Guys rose to public attention through videos posted on YouTube, where high-quality recordings and striking locations helped several clips go viral. Their first collection, released in December 2011 as Hits Volume 1, compiled early songs and arrangements that had attracted online audiences. A subsequent self-titled album achieved significant chart success in 2012, reaching number one on Billboard's New Age Albums and Classical Albums charts.

Style, technique and production

Musically, the group operates in the classical-crossover and instrumental-pop spaces. Their arrangements frequently meld contemporary songs with classical themes or film music to produce mashups and reinterpretations. Visually, their videos emphasize wide scenic shots, narrative miniatures, and careful editing; this cinematic approach is a deliberate part of their appeal and distinguishes them from traditional concert recordings.

Notable works and discography

Albums: Hits Volume 1 (2011); The Piano Guys (self-titled, 2012) among later releases.
Popular videos and arrangements include "Beethoven's 5 Secrets" (a mashup blending pop and classical motifs), "Cello Wars" (a playful Star Wars–inspired piece), and piano/cello interpretations of contemporary ballads.

The Piano Guys have translated online popularity into touring, recorded releases, and wider exposure for instrumental arrangements. Their combination of musical craftsmanship and filmic presentation has influenced other performers who use video platforms to reach broad audiences and has helped bring classical instrumentation into mainstream listening contexts.

History

Paul Anderson, the owner of "The Piano Guys" piano store in St. George, Utah, meets musician Jon Schmidt when he enters the store and asks if he can practice for an upcoming concert. The two begin recording music and producing videos together. Video artist Tel Stewart and Al van der Beek, responsible for the group's studio work, support the formation. But it wasn't until cellist Steven Sharp Nelson joined the group that they had their breakthrough with a cover of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful", in which the five members played the same piano at the same time. The Piano Guys publish their videos, produced in Al van der Beek's music studio, on the video portal YouTube. Some of their videos now have over 50 million views, the "cover" of Christina Perry's "A Thousand Years" has over 187 million views. The Piano Guys have played in many unusual places: on the Great Wall of China, in the middle of the desert, or in front of the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro. Their goal is to produce music videos of all the locations of the Seven Wonders of the World.

On January 25, 2013, their debut album was released as a CD/DVD via Sony Classical. In 2014 they held their first European tour through Germany, Austria and Switzerland, which also took them to Hamburg, the birthplace of Jon Schmidt's parents.

On January 20, 2017, The Piano Guys performed at Donald Trump's inauguration at the "Make America Great Again Welcome Celebration." On their blog, they defended themselves in the face of protests from their fans.

Music

Jon Schmidt plays the grand piano, Steven Sharp Nelson the cello, both classical, i.e. acoustic, and e-cello. In most of their music pieces, several (up to 100) separately recorded audio tracks are compiled.