A journey through 15 self-composed pieces, performed on piano and accompanied by orchestra
For the launch of Armin van Buuren’s first acoustic and classical album, Piano, Apple Music Classical, Apple Music and van Buuren are coming together to offer exclusive access to the album from Friday 31 October for one week.
The renowned DJ and Grammy nominated producer is widely recognized as one of the leading figures in the electronic dance music (EDM) scene. Van Buuren has been ranked the number one DJ by DJ Mag a record of five times, has 10 million social media followers and in the United States he holds the record for most entries, twenty-one, on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart. His weekly radio program A State of Trance is broadcast to 44 million listeners in over 80 countries.
Van Buuren has often cited classical music as a significant influence on his work. From his piano playing father he was exposed growing up to classical composers whose compositions instilled in him a deep appreciation for melody, harmony and structure. This classical foundation is evident in his trance productions, characterized by emotive melodies, intricate harmonies and cinematic build-ups.
While van Buuren has always composed phrases that later became full scores, in recent years he has increasingly collaborated with orchestras, incorporating classical elements more explicitly into his projects, such as having live orchestra at his shows, helping to bridge the gap between electronic and classical music worlds.
Piano features van Buuren playing the piano, both solo and with other musicians including a cellist and a chamber orchestra. The album grew out of his learning to play the piano at the age of 43. Quickly getting bored following a score he started to compose his own melodies and the first song he composed, Fathers and Sons, inspired him to continue composing in a similar vein.
Apple Music Classical is the world’s leading classical music app. Launched in March 2023, Apple Music Classical makes it easier to find any recording in the world’s largest classical music catalog of over 6 million tracks with fully optimized search built specifically for classical, while offering the highest audio quality available. With high-resolution lossless and immersive Spatial Audio, listeners can experience classical favorites in a whole new way. Expertly curated playlists and insightful composer biographies as well as the addition of over 50 thousand booklets featuring in-depth liner notes, translations, plus the only global classical music chart and more, make Apple Music Classical the best place for classical music lovers. Apple Music subscribers can enjoy Apple Music Classical at no additional cost.
Armin van Buuren commented:
“Creating melodies behind the piano has always been the foundation of my music. Together with my teacher Geronimo, sketches grew into fifteen pure pieces, free from beats. This project shows another side of me: intimate, honest, direct. My roots lie in a home filled with classical, rock and electronic music. After decades of trance and festivals, I longed for music without pressure — just fingers on keys. In 2025, I recorded everything in one take at ConcertLab. This album is my most personal work: from heart, to keys, to ears.”
Anjali Malhotra, Global Director for Apple Music Classical, said:
“Classical music’s DNA is traceable in every type of music and its influence on Armin throughout his career has been profound. Apple Music Classical is delighted to be his exclusive partner on his first classical album. Artists like Armin ensure that classical music is always evolving and engaging with new audiences, which is at the heart of everything Apple Music Classical and Apple Music strive for.”
Piano will be available on Apple Music and Apple Music Classical exclusively from Friday 31 October.
https://apple.co/PianoAvB
Armin van Buuren has been a global ambassador for electronic music for over thirty years, with a Grammy nomination, five #1 spots in the DJ Mag Top 100, and nine full-length artist albums to his name. Through his exemplary productions, groundbreaking live shows (e.g. his new ‘THE ORB’ world tour) and his weekly A State of Trance radio show (44 million listeners from over 80 different countries), event series and album series, he cultivates a massive global following.
Armin van Buuren headlines tens to hundreds of shows per year at leading festivals and venues around the world, including Electric Daisy Carnival (Las Vegas, New York), Ultra Music Festival (Miami), Lollapalooza (Chicago. Berlin) and Tomorrowland (Belgium, Brazil), plus residencies on Ibiza and in Las Vegas, and his own A State of Trance events in Rotterdam, London, Mexico and beyond. As a producer, Armin van Buuren has joined forces with the biggest artists in dance music and beyond, from Hardwell, David Guetta and Martin Garrix, to Moby and Jon Bon Jovi. In June 2025, he released his ninth studio album, ‘Breathe’. Armin van Buuren is also the co-founder of Armada Music, the world’s biggest independent dance music label.
Armada Music Group is the parent company of Armada Music, the world’s biggest independent dance music label; BEAT Music Fund, the first-ever dance investment fund; and Armada Music Publishing, a dedicated publishing division. Established to seamlessly offer label, publishing and catalog acquisition services under one roof to bolster creativity for current and prospective artists, Armada Music Group is driven by an ongoing mission to amplify the success of today’s artists in the dance genre. With offices in Amsterdam (HQ), New York, London and Laren (NL), Armada Music Group offers a global appeal to its growing roster. For more information, visit www.armadamusic.com, @armadamusic on Instagram and @armada on X.