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music it’s been a part of my life since
music it’s been a part of my life since I was born in fact even before I was
I was born in fact even before I was
I was born in fact even before I was born
born
born as my mom listened to music well as she
as my mom listened to music well as she
as my mom listened to music well as she was pregnant with me
was pregnant with me
was pregnant with me so naturally listening to music was one
so naturally listening to music was one
so naturally listening to music was one of the first things I did we can thank
of the first things I did we can thank
of the first things I did we can thank my mom for some of these pictures and
my mom for some of these pictures and
my mom for some of these pictures and later my life shifted from listening to
later my life shifted from listening to
later my life shifted from listening to music to playing music when at the age
music to playing music when at the age
music to playing music when at the age of six I started learning the piano then
of six I started learning the piano then
of six I started learning the piano then I wanted to join the school band so I
I wanted to join the school band so I
I wanted to join the school band so I started with the alto saxophone but I
started with the alto saxophone but I
started with the alto saxophone but I wanted to join the orchestra and the
wanted to join the orchestra and the
wanted to join the orchestra and the saxophone is not generally an orchestral
saxophone is not generally an orchestral
saxophone is not generally an orchestral instrument so I learned the bassoon at
instrument so I learned the bassoon at
instrument so I learned the bassoon at the age of 13 afterwards I was inspired
the age of 13 afterwards I was inspired
the age of 13 afterwards I was inspired by Kenny G who is one of the
by Kenny G who is one of the
by Kenny G who is one of the best-selling instrumentalists of all
best-selling instrumentalists of all
best-selling instrumentalists of all time and a soprano saxophone player
time and a soprano saxophone player
time and a soprano saxophone player himself so I started learning the
himself so I started learning the
himself so I started learning the soprano saxophone at fifteen which is
soprano saxophone at fifteen which is
soprano saxophone at fifteen which is the instrument you just heard me play
growing up my life revolved around music
growing up my life revolved around music before classes I would be seen for
before classes I would be seen for
before classes I would be seen for Herzing in the morning some new piano
Herzing in the morning some new piano
Herzing in the morning some new piano songs getting the scales arpeggios right
songs getting the scales arpeggios right
songs getting the scales arpeggios right to learn a new song after school I would
to learn a new song after school I would
to learn a new song after school I would stay with the school band or I would
stay with the school band or I would
stay with the school band or I would work with the orchestra and along the
work with the orchestra and along the
work with the orchestra and along the way to and from somewhere I was always
way to and from somewhere I was always
way to and from somewhere I was always listening to music trying to learn new
listening to music trying to learn new
listening to music trying to learn new songs and get basically try to imitate
songs and get basically try to imitate
songs and get basically try to imitate the greats at the age of 15 when I was
the greats at the age of 15 when I was
the greats at the age of 15 when I was in Guatemala I was playing around with
in Guatemala I was playing around with
in Guatemala I was playing around with my family we were all sitting around the
my family we were all sitting around the
my family we were all sitting around the table having a good time I was playing
table having a good time I was playing
table having a good time I was playing some fun songs with my younger cousins
some fun songs with my younger cousins
some fun songs with my younger cousins and uncles and aunts they were all
and uncles and aunts they were all
and uncles and aunts they were all listening it was so fun so afterwards my
listening it was so fun so afterwards my
listening it was so fun so afterwards my grandfather came up to me and asked me
grandfather came up to me and asked me
grandfather came up to me and asked me have you ever thought about recording a
have you ever thought about recording a
have you ever thought about recording a CD I said no I’m 15 I didn’t think I was
CD I said no I’m 15 I didn’t think I was
CD I said no I’m 15 I didn’t think I was good enough I didn’t think people would
good enough I didn’t think people would
good enough I didn’t think people would listen to my CD but he told me I have a
listen to my CD but he told me I have a
listen to my CD but he told me I have a friend who’s a director of an orchestra
friend who’s a director of an orchestra
friend who’s a director of an orchestra we can go talk to him and see if he’s
we can go talk to him and see if he’s
we can go talk to him and see if he’s interested in recording you so I said
interested in recording you so I said
interested in recording you so I said sure why not I mean what’s the worst
sure why not I mean what’s the worst
sure why not I mean what’s the worst that can happen so we got in the car and
that can happen so we got in the car and
that can happen so we got in the car and drove over to see this director and when
drove over to see this director and when
drove over to see this director and when we got there I played some songs for him
we got there I played some songs for him
we got there I played some songs for him showed him some my arrangements and you
showed him some my arrangements and you
showed him some my arrangements and you told me definitely
told me definitely
told me definitely we can record you I was so excited we
we can record you I was so excited we
we can record you I was so excited we started working with instrumentalists
started working with instrumentalists
started working with instrumentalists getting the songs right arranging the
getting the songs right arranging the
getting the songs right arranging the pieces getting the whole feel for the
pieces getting the whole feel for the
pieces getting the whole feel for the project and then it was starting to
project and then it was starting to
project and then it was starting to shape up here are some of the covers we
shape up here are some of the covers we
shape up here are some of the covers we were thinking about using as all this
were thinking about using as all this
were thinking about using as all this was coming together I started to dream I
was coming together I started to dream I
was coming together I started to dream I started to wonder what is my talent self
started to wonder what is my talent self
started to wonder what is my talent self what did people are willing to pay for
what did people are willing to pay for
what did people are willing to pay for the CD what would I do with the money so
the CD what would I do with the money so
the CD what would I do with the money so I thought I am a saxophone player I’ll
I thought I am a saxophone player I’ll
I thought I am a saxophone player I’ll buy another saxophone there was one in
buy another saxophone there was one in
buy another saxophone there was one in Paris that I wanted to get actually it’s
Paris that I wanted to get actually it’s
Paris that I wanted to get actually it’s the one all the greats played
the one all the greats played
the one all the greats played I thought if I to can learn to play the
I thought if I to can learn to play the
I thought if I to can learn to play the saxophone maybe I can sound more like
saxophone maybe I can sound more like
saxophone maybe I can sound more like them or at least I would feel more like
them or at least I would feel more like
them or at least I would feel more like them as a young boy wearing Messi same
them as a young boy wearing Messi same
them as a young boy wearing Messi same sneakers but all of these projects all
sneakers but all of these projects all
sneakers but all of these projects all these dreams took a very different
these dreams took a very different
these dreams took a very different direction when I met a young boy in
direction when I met a young boy in
direction when I met a young boy in Guatemala named Samuel I was playing in
Guatemala named Samuel I was playing in
Guatemala named Samuel I was playing in a clinic in Guatemala trying to have a
a clinic in Guatemala trying to have a
a clinic in Guatemala trying to have a good time and give some enjoyment to the
good time and give some enjoyment to the
good time and give some enjoyment to the patients there went out of the corner of
patients there went out of the corner of
patients there went out of the corner of my eye I noticed a mother and her young
my eye I noticed a mother and her young
my eye I noticed a mother and her young son it was a sight that I was not
son it was a sight that I was not
son it was a sight that I was not expecting the mom was holding her son
expecting the mom was holding her son
expecting the mom was holding her son clothes warmly to her tears were coming
clothes warmly to her tears were coming
clothes warmly to her tears were coming down her face concern was visible all
down her face concern was visible all
down her face concern was visible all around so I approached her after I
around so I approached her after I
around so I approached her after I played and I asked her what’s going on
played and I asked her what’s going on
played and I asked her what’s going on is there anything I can do to help you
is there anything I can do to help you
is there anything I can do to help you and she responded my son has just been
and she responded my son has just been
and she responded my son has just been diagnosed with cancer and we have no
diagnosed with cancer and we have no
diagnosed with cancer and we have no money to pay for the chemotherapy
money to pay for the chemotherapy
money to pay for the chemotherapy treatments so doctors have only given
treatments so doctors have only given
treatments so doctors have only given him a few months to live
that phrase struck with me and hit me to
that phrase struck with me and hit me to my core I thought there wasn’t really
my core I thought there wasn’t really
my core I thought there wasn’t really too much separating these natural
too much separating these natural
too much separating these natural motherly emotions from some my mom had
motherly emotions from some my mom had
motherly emotions from some my mom had felt with me growing up if I sometimes I
felt with me growing up if I sometimes I
felt with me growing up if I sometimes I would get hurt in school sometimes I
would get hurt in school sometimes I
would get hurt in school sometimes I would not get chosen for a sports team
would not get chosen for a sports team
would not get chosen for a sports team maybe I did bad on an exam or had a
maybe I did bad on an exam or had a
maybe I did bad on an exam or had a tough day my mom too was there to cry my
tough day my mom too was there to cry my
tough day my mom too was there to cry my tears to share my concern and to hold me
tears to share my concern and to hold me
tears to share my concern and to hold me close to her
close to her
close to her however there were huge differences my
however there were huge differences my
however there were huge differences my pains and my troubles were temporary
pains and my troubles were temporary
pains and my troubles were temporary Samuels were potentially final this is
Samuels were potentially final this is
Samuels were potentially final this is Samuel he was 8 years old at the time I
Samuel he was 8 years old at the time I
Samuel he was 8 years old at the time I thought how could it be that a boy that
thought how could it be that a boy that
thought how could it be that a boy that was born only a few miles away from me
was born only a few miles away from me
was born only a few miles away from me could have such a different opportunity
could have such a different opportunity
could have such a different opportunity I knew I had to do something I thought
I knew I had to do something I thought
I knew I had to do something I thought I’m a musician maybe I can use my music
I’m a musician maybe I can use my music
I’m a musician maybe I can use my music so I told the mother I’m recording a CD
so I told the mother I’m recording a CD
so I told the mother I’m recording a CD right now and I’m gonna go back to the
right now and I’m gonna go back to the
right now and I’m gonna go back to the US where I’m living
US where I’m living
US where I’m living I will try sell it and all the money we
I will try sell it and all the money we
I will try sell it and all the money we make from the CD will go to trying to
make from the CD will go to trying to
make from the CD will go to trying to give your son a chance and that’s what I
give your son a chance and that’s what I
give your son a chance and that’s what I did so I went back to the US and I
did so I went back to the US and I
did so I went back to the US and I started telling people about Samuel and
started telling people about Samuel and
started telling people about Samuel and telling people about this project I told
telling people about this project I told
telling people about this project I told people about I told my friends about how
people about I told my friends about how
people about I told my friends about how this boy is struggling to survive I
this boy is struggling to survive I
this boy is struggling to survive I spoke at businesses I spoke at Civic
spoke at businesses I spoke at Civic
spoke at businesses I spoke at Civic Center’s I performed but also as I had
Center’s I performed but also as I had
Center’s I performed but also as I had done so much growing up to learn about
done so much growing up to learn about
done so much growing up to learn about music I listened I listened to my
music I listened I listened to my
music I listened I listened to my friends who told me they wanted to come
friends who told me they wanted to come
friends who told me they wanted to come and help out in my house after school
and help out in my house after school
and help out in my house after school helping assembling the CDs getting the
helping assembling the CDs getting the
helping assembling the CDs getting the packages ready even though they had
packages ready even though they had
packages ready even though they had already completed all the community
already completed all the community
already completed all the community service hours required by my school I
service hours required by my school I
service hours required by my school I listened to how they wanted to keep
listened to how they wanted to keep
listened to how they wanted to keep helping because this was not about
helping because this was not about
helping because this was not about checking a box this is about saving a
checking a box this is about saving a
checking a box this is about saving a life I listened to businessman tell me
life I listened to businessman tell me
life I listened to businessman tell me the whole concept of short term goals
the whole concept of short term goals
the whole concept of short term goals and urgent needs took a very different
and urgent needs took a very different
and urgent needs took a very different tone when hearing about a young boy
tone when hearing about a young boy
tone when hearing about a young boy trying to survive cancer and I listened
trying to survive cancer and I listened
trying to survive cancer and I listened to an old lady tell me after a
to an old lady tell me after a
to an old lady tell me after a performance
performance
performance that she want to do more than just give
that she want to do more than just give
that she want to do more than just give money and she wrote a letter to Samuel
money and she wrote a letter to Samuel
money and she wrote a letter to Samuel which I let her later read to him and it
which I let her later read to him and it
which I let her later read to him and it brought a smile to his face after a few
brought a smile to his face after a few
brought a smile to his face after a few months of working on this project and
months of working on this project and
months of working on this project and much help from all around we were able
much help from all around we were able
much help from all around we were able to raise all the money for Samos
to raise all the money for Samos
to raise all the money for Samos chemotherapy treatments and he is still
chemotherapy treatments and he is still
chemotherapy treatments and he is still alive today I knew I could do more
alive today I knew I could do more
alive today I knew I could do more though so I recorded another CD later
though so I recorded another CD later
though so I recorded another CD later and the purpose of the CD was to help
and the purpose of the CD was to help
and the purpose of the CD was to help other Samuels in Guatemala and I helped
other Samuels in Guatemala and I helped
other Samuels in Guatemala and I helped this program called Ayutthaya Vida which
this program called Ayutthaya Vida which
this program called Ayutthaya Vida which means help me to live in Spanish help
means help me to live in Spanish help
means help me to live in Spanish help provide chemotherapy treatments for
provide chemotherapy treatments for
provide chemotherapy treatments for children who are unable to pay for them
children who are unable to pay for them
children who are unable to pay for them through the proceeds from my music I
through the proceeds from my music I
through the proceeds from my music I thought maybe this is giving all of my
thought maybe this is giving all of my
thought maybe this is giving all of my music a purpose all the scales I’ve been
music a purpose all the scales I’ve been
music a purpose all the scales I’ve been rehearsing from a young age could become
rehearsing from a young age could become
rehearsing from a young age could become skills of warmth the arpeggio as I had
skills of warmth the arpeggio as I had
skills of warmth the arpeggio as I had rehearsed to join an orchestra could
rehearsed to join an orchestra could
rehearsed to join an orchestra could become our page years of love and the
become our page years of love and the
become our page years of love and the songs I was recording and arranging and
songs I was recording and arranging and
songs I was recording and arranging and writing could become songs of life and
writing could become songs of life and
writing could become songs of life and this showed me that maybe my talents had
this showed me that maybe my talents had
this showed me that maybe my talents had a deeper purpose than just trying to win
a deeper purpose than just trying to win
a deeper purpose than just trying to win an orchestra competition or get in a
an orchestra competition or get in a
an orchestra competition or get in a specific band or school I realized that
specific band or school I realized that
specific band or school I realized that some of the things I’ve been chasing
some of the things I’ve been chasing
some of the things I’ve been chasing were so little compared to the problems
were so little compared to the problems
were so little compared to the problems of others some of these ideas were
of others some of these ideas were
of others some of these ideas were reinforced after a conversation with my
reinforced after a conversation with my
reinforced after a conversation with my greatest inspiration Kenny G at the age
greatest inspiration Kenny G at the age
greatest inspiration Kenny G at the age of 17 I’ve heard that Kenny G was going
of 17 I’ve heard that Kenny G was going
of 17 I’ve heard that Kenny G was going to be performing very close to me so I
to be performing very close to me so I
to be performing very close to me so I thought this is my chance if somebody
thought this is my chance if somebody
thought this is my chance if somebody can think about think of who you admire
can think about think of who you admire
can think about think of who you admire who you respect who you would love to
who you respect who you would love to
who you respect who you would love to meet what it would be like to see them
meet what it would be like to see them
meet what it would be like to see them in person I was there and I remember
in person I was there and I remember
in person I was there and I remember when Kenny G walked into the auditorium
when Kenny G walked into the auditorium
when Kenny G walked into the auditorium where he was performing
where he was performing
where he was performing I just turned over to my mom and said
I just turned over to my mom and said
I just turned over to my mom and said he’s really here I was in complete awe
he’s really here I was in complete awe
he’s really here I was in complete awe because on one hand inspired me to learn
because on one hand inspired me to learn
because on one hand inspired me to learn the soprano saxophone and he inspires me
the soprano saxophone and he inspires me
the soprano saxophone and he inspires me by his music but also he doesn’t have
by his music but also he doesn’t have
by his music but also he doesn’t have charity work he works with many
charity work he works with many
charity work he works with many organizations providing money
organizations providing money
organizations providing money but also instruments to kids and he’s
but also instruments to kids and he’s
but also instruments to kids and he’s one of the founders of Starbucks so he
one of the founders of Starbucks so he
one of the founders of Starbucks so he inspires him in business too so after
inspires him in business too so after
inspires him in business too so after the concert Kenny G was there to meet
the concert Kenny G was there to meet
the concert Kenny G was there to meet all the people who were attending so I
all the people who were attending so I
all the people who were attending so I waited in line I didn’t care the line
waited in line I didn’t care the line
waited in line I didn’t care the line was very long I was going to wait and I
was very long I was going to wait and I
was very long I was going to wait and I could already see him and I was so
could already see him and I was so
could already see him and I was so excited like here I come one person at a
excited like here I come one person at a
excited like here I come one person at a time getting closer to my dream when I
time getting closer to my dream when I
time getting closer to my dream when I saw him I told him about some of the how
saw him I told him about some of the how
saw him I told him about some of the how he inspired me with saxophone told about
he inspired me with saxophone told about
he inspired me with saxophone told about some of this stuff I had done in music
some of this stuff I had done in music
some of this stuff I had done in music but I also told him about Samuel and
but I also told him about Samuel and
but I also told him about Samuel and then I listened to his response Kendu
then I listened to his response Kendu
then I listened to his response Kendu told me the following words he told me
told me the following words he told me
told me the following words he told me that’s what it’s all about your talents
that’s what it’s all about your talents
that’s what it’s all about your talents are not just for yourself they are to
are not just for yourself they are to
are not just for yourself they are to bring joy and happiness to others joy
bring joy and happiness to others joy
bring joy and happiness to others joy and happiness to others I thought this
and happiness to others I thought this
and happiness to others I thought this is a very natural fit for music in fact
is a very natural fit for music in fact
is a very natural fit for music in fact for arts in general the arts are about
for arts in general the arts are about
for arts in general the arts are about sharing your emotions on a stage showing
sharing your emotions on a stage showing
sharing your emotions on a stage showing others how to feel a certain emotion and
others how to feel a certain emotion and
others how to feel a certain emotion and identify with it but I wondered could
identify with it but I wondered could
identify with it but I wondered could this idea of sharing joint happiness
this idea of sharing joint happiness
this idea of sharing joint happiness with others resonate in other parts of
with others resonate in other parts of
with others resonate in other parts of your life in other parts of my life for
your life in other parts of my life for
your life in other parts of my life for example right now I’m a student at ESA
example right now I’m a student at ESA
example right now I’m a student at ESA in the first year I’m getting a Masters
in the first year I’m getting a Masters
in the first year I’m getting a Masters of Business Administration I wonder if
of Business Administration I wonder if
of Business Administration I wonder if we and some of you too and I’m thankful
we and some of you too and I’m thankful
we and some of you too and I’m thankful you are all here I wonder if we have
you are all here I wonder if we have
you are all here I wonder if we have talents here I wonder if we have chances
talents here I wonder if we have chances
talents here I wonder if we have chances to serve and I think we do and both
to serve and I think we do and both
to serve and I think we do and both perhaps our talents are not musical
perhaps our talents are not musical
perhaps our talents are not musical though for some of you they are here
though for some of you they are here
though for some of you they are here we’re learning how to analyze businesses
we’re learning how to analyze businesses
we’re learning how to analyze businesses but we’re really learning how to make
but we’re really learning how to make
but we’re really learning how to make decisions through the various aspects of
decisions through the various aspects of
decisions through the various aspects of a company whether it’s marketing
a company whether it’s marketing
a company whether it’s marketing accounting operations finance and the
accounting operations finance and the
accounting operations finance and the list keeps going these are a talents
list keeps going these are a talents
list keeps going these are a talents these are opportunities we have to learn
these are opportunities we have to learn
these are opportunities we have to learn how to understand a business that many
how to understand a business that many
how to understand a business that many don’t have and also how can we serve
don’t have and also how can we serve
don’t have and also how can we serve after we graduate we too will be in the
after we graduate we too will be in the
after we graduate we too will be in the business world we will have an impact in
business world we will have an impact in
business world we will have an impact in many ways we will have clients we’ll
many ways we will have clients we’ll
many ways we will have clients we’ll have co-workers we will have employees
have co-workers we will have employees
have co-workers we will have employees who work with us we will have investors
who work with us we will have investors
who work with us we will have investors or shareholders
or shareholders
or shareholders the business the way we treat each of
the business the way we treat each of
the business the way we treat each of these stakeholders well determine how we
these stakeholders well determine how we
these stakeholders well determine how we live and how we serve others so in fact
live and how we serve others so in fact
live and how we serve others so in fact the talents were acquiring through this
the talents were acquiring through this
the talents were acquiring through this program and through many similar
program and through many similar
program and through many similar programs or ways that we can use them to
programs or ways that we can use them to
programs or ways that we can use them to then serve others after we finish
then serve others after we finish
then serve others after we finish through our business I thought about all
through our business I thought about all
through our business I thought about all this like as I admire Kenny G I may
this like as I admire Kenny G I may
this like as I admire Kenny G I may never be a Kenny G I may never be as
never be a Kenny G I may never be as
never be a Kenny G I may never be as successful as him in music or business
successful as him in music or business
successful as him in music or business or charity I may not help thousands of
or charity I may not help thousands of
or charity I may not help thousands of people inspire millions to learn the
people inspire millions to learn the
people inspire millions to learn the saxophone but I helped one person in
saxophone but I helped one person in
saxophone but I helped one person in much the same way we too are inspired by
much the same way we too are inspired by
much the same way we too are inspired by business leaders by the many things they
business leaders by the many things they
business leaders by the many things they have done we can dream of being a Bill
have done we can dream of being a Bill
have done we can dream of being a Bill Gates but maybe we don’t need to be a
Gates but maybe we don’t need to be a
Gates but maybe we don’t need to be a Bill Gates maybe we can have a deep
Bill Gates maybe we can have a deep
Bill Gates maybe we can have a deep impact on one person and that’s enough
impact on one person and that’s enough
impact on one person and that’s enough and by doing so we too can bring joy and
and by doing so we too can bring joy and
and by doing so we too can bring joy and happiness to others so I encourage each
happiness to others so I encourage each
happiness to others so I encourage each of you to go out there and think of what
of you to go out there and think of what
of you to go out there and think of what are the things you’re currently doing
are the things you’re currently doing
are the things you’re currently doing and how these two can become your
and how these two can become your
and how these two can become your talents and then how use those to serve
talents and then how use those to serve
talents and then how use those to serve those around you to help your community
those around you to help your community
those around you to help your community and by doing so you too will find your
and by doing so you too will find your
and by doing so you too will find your greatness and realize that some of the
greatness and realize that some of the
greatness and realize that some of the things you may have been chasing are not
things you may have been chasing are not
things you may have been chasing are not as important as the person who needs you
as important as the person who needs you
as important as the person who needs you next door thank you very much
next door thank you very much
next door thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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