Global Unity Virtual Concert

Music is a universal language, one of the most powerful forms of communication, capable of transcending borders and bringing people together. The Global Unity concert, which featured talented young artists from around the world, was a tribute to music’s ability to inspire hope and unity. I was deeply honored to be selected as one of the performers.

As a classically trained pianist, I’ve played a wide range of music, but it was Beethoven’s Sonata Pathétique that profoundly shaped my understanding of music’s capacity to heal and unite in the face of adversity. Few pieces echo the resilience and heroism needed in difficult times as powerfully as this one.

Taking a deep breath, I sat at the piano, carefully played the melancholy opening chord in C minor. The introduction was emotionally charged with shock and denial. Composed just as Beethoven was starting to lose his hearing, this piece evolves from pugnacious fight to pensive reflection to eventually accepting to fate. When my fingers came crashing down on the final keys with a furious fanfare (at 42:25), I delivered the composer’s plea for another chance to prevail.

The audience’s comments flooded in on my screen in real time, echoing the sentiment of unity and positivity. I was humbled by the profound sense of connection that music had invoked. We might be physically isolated from each other, with music, we are united. Through this concert, we, the young artists from around the world, epitomized the intense dedication, discipline, creativity, and quest for excellence that were so beautifully demonstrated in this concert.

Music Therapy

Music therapy has been proven to be an effective way to stimulate the minds of Alzheimer’s patients, making it easier for them to access memories that seem just out of reach. In my experience, music has a unique ability to stimulate emotions and cognitive function. The familiar tunes I played evoked elderly’s past memories and improved their mood. Seeing my music provide comfort and enhance connection as their verbal skills decline was the most rewarding moment of my years of training.