this was the opening of one of my songs that I compose in 2011 called what honey
that I compose in 2011 called what honey
that I compose in 2011 called what honey Anna which translate to am my homeland I
Anna which translate to am my homeland I
Anna which translate to am my homeland I am my homeland two days later two armed
am my homeland two days later two armed
am my homeland two days later two armed men kicked down the door to my parents
men kicked down the door to my parents
men kicked down the door to my parents house they walked in handcuffed my
house they walked in handcuffed my
house they walked in handcuffed my father 72 year-old physician from Vienna
father 72 year-old physician from Vienna
father 72 year-old physician from Vienna threw him on the floor and forced him to
threw him on the floor and forced him to
threw him on the floor and forced him to watch my mother where she’s being beaten
watch my mother where she’s being beaten
watch my mother where she’s being beaten and tortured my mother was screaming
and tortured my mother was screaming
and tortured my mother was screaming pleading with her assailants and asking
pleading with her assailants and asking
pleading with her assailants and asking them why are you doing this they reply
them why are you doing this they reply
them why are you doing this they reply we are hitting you because of your son’s
we are hitting you because of your son’s
we are hitting you because of your son’s music his music mocks us when I released
music his music mocks us when I released
music his music mocks us when I released this song in 2011 it spread like
this song in 2011 it spread like
this song in 2011 it spread like wildfire in the streets of my hometown
wildfire in the streets of my hometown
wildfire in the streets of my hometown Homs Homs is an ancient city where we
Homs Homs is an ancient city where we
Homs Homs is an ancient city where we had four Roman empires ruling the Roman
had four Roman empires ruling the Roman
had four Roman empires ruling the Roman Empire at one time the parents of the
Empire at one time the parents of the
Empire at one time the parents of the inventor of the iPhone are from Homs
inventor of the iPhone are from Homs
inventor of the iPhone are from Homs Syria Steve Jobs John Dalli the song was
Syria Steve Jobs John Dalli the song was
Syria Steve Jobs John Dalli the song was about hope optimism to the people of
about hope optimism to the people of
about hope optimism to the people of Syria especially the children they were
Syria especially the children they were
Syria especially the children they were asking for our values of American
asking for our values of American
asking for our values of American justice freedom equality it’s brought
justice freedom equality it’s brought
justice freedom equality it’s brought them hope and optimism but it’s brewed
them hope and optimism but it’s brewed
them hope and optimism but it’s brewed hatred to the dictator so much hatred
hatred to the dictator so much hatred
hatred to the dictator so much hatred and fear that my parents my mother my
and fear that my parents my mother my
and fear that my parents my mother my father were faced with that brutal cruel
beating when I saw their pictures blood
beating when I saw their pictures blood broken teeth black eyes I contacted the
broken teeth black eyes I contacted the
broken teeth black eyes I contacted the US State Department and within weeks we
US State Department and within weeks we
US State Department and within weeks we managed to fly them safely transport
managed to fly them safely transport
managed to fly them safely transport them to the United States leaving behind
them to the United States leaving behind
them to the United States leaving behind their memories their families their home
their memories their families their home
their memories their families their home they were uprooted from their lives
they were uprooted from their lives
they were uprooted from their lives before leaving however my father
before leaving however my father
before leaving however my father installed video cameras all over our
installed video cameras all over our
installed video cameras all over our house few days later we were checking
house few days later we were checking
house few days later we were checking whether men or the armed men had
whether men or the armed men had
whether men or the armed men had returned and they had this time they
returned and they had this time they
returned and they had this time they were carrying guns this time they were
were carrying guns this time they were
were carrying guns this time they were looking for a different ending before I
looking for a different ending before I
looking for a different ending before I continue I want everybody to breathe
continue I want everybody to breathe
continue I want everybody to breathe relax my message is a positive one I’m
relax my message is a positive one I’m
relax my message is a positive one I’m not trying here to frighten you or raise
not trying here to frighten you or raise
not trying here to frighten you or raise a political issue I’m just here to share
a political issue I’m just here to share
a political issue I’m just here to share with you the story my story of the soft
with you the story my story of the soft
with you the story my story of the soft power and the amazing power of music you
power and the amazing power of music you
power and the amazing power of music you know that song just literally a
know that song just literally a
know that song just literally a collection of notes black dots letters
collection of notes black dots letters
collection of notes black dots letters and words on a piece of paper you
and words on a piece of paper you
and words on a piece of paper you couldn’t see music you couldn’t touch it
couldn’t see music you couldn’t touch it
couldn’t see music you couldn’t touch it it’s in the air it’s the epoch of
it’s in the air it’s the epoch of
it’s in the air it’s the epoch of freedom
freedom
freedom imagine if I’m like drawing on a white
imagine if I’m like drawing on a white
imagine if I’m like drawing on a white space and that space is silence I’m
space and that space is silence I’m
space and that space is silence I’m drawing on silence that’s music you know
drawing on silence that’s music you know
drawing on silence that’s music you know you see their Mona Lisa or the amazing
you see their Mona Lisa or the amazing
you see their Mona Lisa or the amazing Statue of David you can transport it
Statue of David you can transport it
Statue of David you can transport it between museum but music it always takes
between museum but music it always takes
between museum but music it always takes a human being to recreate it every time
a human being to recreate it every time
a human being to recreate it every time you don’t see music you see the musician
you don’t see music you see the musician
you don’t see music you see the musician music is my life is my passion however I
music is my life is my passion however I
music is my life is my passion however I never
never
never realized the soft power that it
realized the soft power that it
realized the soft power that it possessed s– until that horrible day
possessed s– until that horrible day
possessed s– until that horrible day when i saw my mother and my father
beaten because of my music so music at
beaten because of my music so music at mrs. entertainment it’s powerful it
mrs. entertainment it’s powerful it
mrs. entertainment it’s powerful it transits through fix through the
transits through fix through the
transits through fix through the boundaries to space through time it
boundaries to space through time it
boundaries to space through time it reaches everywhere I truly believe that
reaches everywhere I truly believe that
reaches everywhere I truly believe that what I just played reached those
what I just played reached those
what I just played reached those children and the refugee camps or that
children and the refugee camps or that
children and the refugee camps or that shed was now drowning in the
shed was now drowning in the
shed was now drowning in the Mediterranean and I call them Holocaust
Mediterranean and I call them Holocaust
Mediterranean and I call them Holocaust survivors not migrants I went to Oxford
survivors not migrants I went to Oxford
survivors not migrants I went to Oxford they have this huge migrant conference I
they have this huge migrant conference I
they have this huge migrant conference I said ladies and gentlemen let me quote
said ladies and gentlemen let me quote
said ladies and gentlemen let me quote the Oxford Dictionary about the word
the Oxford Dictionary about the word
the Oxford Dictionary about the word migrant number one an animal migrating
migrant number one an animal migrating
migrant number one an animal migrating usually a bird number two a seasonal
usually a bird number two a seasonal
usually a bird number two a seasonal worker looking for a job ladies and
worker looking for a job ladies and
worker looking for a job ladies and gentlemen those children those babies
gentlemen those children those babies
gentlemen those children those babies are not animals nor seasonal workers
are not animals nor seasonal workers
are not animals nor seasonal workers looking for a job those are humans
looking for a job those are humans
looking for a job those are humans drowning and fleeing all kinds of
drowning and fleeing all kinds of
drowning and fleeing all kinds of atrocities and war crimes against all
atrocities and war crimes against all
atrocities and war crimes against all humanity music to me is my
humanity music to me is my
humanity music to me is my self-expression as a human when I fail
self-expression as a human when I fail
self-expression as a human when I fail expressing myself in a speech and
expressing myself in a speech and
expressing myself in a speech and usually I do I go to my music and I pour
usually I do I go to my music and I pour
usually I do I go to my music and I pour my soul and my heart into it and after
my soul and my heart into it and after
my soul and my heart into it and after that horrible attack to my parents I
that horrible attack to my parents I
that horrible attack to my parents I started wondering did music cause that
started wondering did music cause that
started wondering did music cause that is it that powerful that an executive
is it that powerful that an executive
is it that powerful that an executive decision has been made to beat my father
decision has been made to beat my father
decision has been made to beat my father and my mother at my home Wow
and my mother at my home Wow
and my mother at my home Wow nobody taught me this at school now I
nobody taught me this at school now I
nobody taught me this at school now I realized why Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
realized why Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
realized why Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony when he was calling all humanity in his
when he was calling all humanity in his
when he was calling all humanity in his Symphony to come together is so powerful
Symphony to come together is so powerful
Symphony to come together is so powerful even to 300
even to 300
even to 300 years after his death mr. Mozart
years after his death mr. Mozart
years after his death mr. Mozart whenever we went to Georgia Tech his
whenever we went to Georgia Tech his
whenever we went to Georgia Tech his last four symphonies were never
last four symphonies were never
last four symphonies were never performed in his lifetime but he kept
performed in his lifetime but he kept
performed in his lifetime but he kept writing for us today
[Music]
[Music] everybody knows that’s right he never
everybody knows that’s right he never
everybody knows that’s right he never heard it it was rejected so I start
heard it it was rejected so I start
heard it it was rejected so I start wondering how music affects us in our
wondering how music affects us in our
wondering how music affects us in our daily lives I have so many songs that
daily lives I have so many songs that
daily lives I have so many songs that makes me cry I need another TED talk to
makes me cry I need another TED talk to
makes me cry I need another TED talk to list them all but you know sometimes
list them all but you know sometimes
list them all but you know sometimes when you have music that is commanding
when you have music that is commanding
when you have music that is commanding powerful it actually changes you
powerful it actually changes you
powerful it actually changes you physically and emotionally you can stand
physically and emotionally you can stand
physically and emotionally you can stand taller for example
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
people with space I’ve never understood
people with space I’ve never understood dancing in my life bunch of people in
dancing in my life bunch of people in
dancing in my life bunch of people in space crowded together jiggling their
space crowded together jiggling their
space crowded together jiggling their bodies I don’t like dancing but you know
bodies I don’t like dancing but you know
bodies I don’t like dancing but you know what the only reason we dance it’s music
what the only reason we dance it’s music
what the only reason we dance it’s music you know all of sudden it’s okay to
you know all of sudden it’s okay to
you know all of sudden it’s okay to dance the only reason we dance because
dance the only reason we dance because
dance the only reason we dance because of music you know another example I have
is this clay tablet this is the first
is this clay tablet this is the first tablet before the invention of the Mac
tablet before the invention of the Mac
tablet before the invention of the Mac or the tablets my ancestors in Syria
or the tablets my ancestors in Syria
or the tablets my ancestors in Syria 1400 BC invented the alphabets the ABCs
1400 BC invented the alphabets the ABCs
1400 BC invented the alphabets the ABCs not to the people of Mesopotamia but to
not to the people of Mesopotamia but to
not to the people of Mesopotamia but to humanity we went from our preservation
humanity we went from our preservation
humanity we went from our preservation into in writing they also invented the
into in writing they also invented the
into in writing they also invented the alphabet of music music was so important
alphabet of music music was so important
alphabet of music music was so important to them in over eight of the coast of
to them in over eight of the coast of
to them in over eight of the coast of Syria where they invented the alphabet
Syria where they invented the alphabet
Syria where they invented the alphabet of music it was about a woman who
of music it was about a woman who
of music it was about a woman who couldn’t bear a child asking God at the
couldn’t bear a child asking God at the
couldn’t bear a child asking God at the time almost 3,000 years ago people who
time almost 3,000 years ago people who
time almost 3,000 years ago people who are like you and me different clothes
are like you and me different clothes
are like you and me different clothes different Academy of Medicine but they
different Academy of Medicine but they
different Academy of Medicine but they had music it was a lament a prayer about
had music it was a lament a prayer about
had music it was a lament a prayer about this woman to have a child 1400 BC I
this woman to have a child 1400 BC I
this woman to have a child 1400 BC I always assumed people for 1400 BC were
always assumed people for 1400 BC were
always assumed people for 1400 BC were boring and you know they have now Vanya
boring and you know they have now Vanya
boring and you know they have now Vanya they had music it was so important they
they had music it was so important they
they had music it was so important they had this complete song and they didn’t
had this complete song and they didn’t
had this complete song and they didn’t waste paper they went on the back
waste paper they went on the back
waste paper they went on the back they were like really really progressive
they were like really really progressive
they were like really really progressive and you know what 40 kilometers or miles
and you know what 40 kilometers or miles
and you know what 40 kilometers or miles from my home nobody told me about this
from my home nobody told me about this
from my home nobody told me about this due to dictatorship that was only 40
due to dictatorship that was only 40
due to dictatorship that was only 40 miles away from my parents house and I
miles away from my parents house and I
miles away from my parents house and I went to high school all my life and
went to high school all my life and
went to high school all my life and nobody told me that my ancestors down
nobody told me that my ancestors down
nobody told me that my ancestors down the street invented the alphabet another
the street invented the alphabet another
the street invented the alphabet another example that I want to bring to your
example that I want to bring to your
example that I want to bring to your attention and share with you when you
attention and share with you when you
attention and share with you when you think about Olympics and representing
think about Olympics and representing
think about Olympics and representing nations and countries we don’t represent
nations and countries we don’t represent
nations and countries we don’t represent them by how much gdb and the population
them by how much gdb and the population
them by how much gdb and the population and how much money in the tallest
and how much money in the tallest
and how much money in the tallest building and the shortest building two
building and the shortest building two
building and the shortest building two pieces of art will summarize that entire
pieces of art will summarize that entire
pieces of art will summarize that entire history that entire cultural identity
history that entire cultural identity
history that entire cultural identity usually a flag beautiful colors a piece
usually a flag beautiful colors a piece
usually a flag beautiful colors a piece of art like the American flag and a
of art like the American flag and a
of art like the American flag and a piece of music we call it the national
piece of music we call it the national
piece of music we call it the national anthem sometimes it has lyrics and we
anthem sometimes it has lyrics and we
anthem sometimes it has lyrics and we all remember what happened with the
all remember what happened with the
all remember what happened with the lyrics of our national anthem and
lyrics of our national anthem and
lyrics of our national anthem and sometimes no lyrics for example Spain no
sometimes no lyrics for example Spain no
sometimes no lyrics for example Spain no lyrics they said music will do justice
lyrics they said music will do justice
lyrics they said music will do justice we don’t need lyrics just music so music
we don’t need lyrics just music so music
we don’t need lyrics just music so music and make you feel pride
thank you you may sit as the national
thank you you may sit as the national anthem is just summarized America
anthem is just summarized America
anthem is just summarized America powerful huh in like a minute
powerful huh in like a minute
powerful huh in like a minute powerful that’s music so if music can
powerful that’s music so if music can
powerful that’s music so if music can provoke all these emotions and all these
provoke all these emotions and all these
provoke all these emotions and all these physical responses to the humans even to
physical responses to the humans even to
physical responses to the humans even to animals everywhere in nature would it be
animals everywhere in nature would it be
animals everywhere in nature would it be possible to have music that inspires us
possible to have music that inspires us
possible to have music that inspires us to have peace that was the question
to have peace that was the question
to have peace that was the question rather than having the brutal attack on
rather than having the brutal attack on
rather than having the brutal attack on my parents I thought to myself oh maybe
my parents I thought to myself oh maybe
my parents I thought to myself oh maybe we can have music that is so beautiful
we can have music that is so beautiful
we can have music that is so beautiful the most beautiful music ever that when
the most beautiful music ever that when
the most beautiful music ever that when you hear it you feel absolute serenity
you hear it you feel absolute serenity
you hear it you feel absolute serenity peace love maybe both
from that experience and from the
from that experience and from the realization of the soft power of music I
realization of the soft power of music I
realization of the soft power of music I was inspired to come up with my
was inspired to come up with my
was inspired to come up with my foundation pianos for peace to bring art
foundation pianos for peace to bring art
foundation pianos for peace to bring art back to the community and to build peace
back to the community and to build peace
back to the community and to build peace through music and education last year I
through music and education last year I
through music and education last year I put around 30 pianos painted pianos by
put around 30 pianos painted pianos by
put around 30 pianos painted pianos by artist by homeless bay students children
artist by homeless bay students children
artist by homeless bay students children all over the city and the idea was to
all over the city and the idea was to
all over the city and the idea was to bring art to everyone children poor rich
bring art to everyone children poor rich
bring art to everyone children poor rich transit system Airport Georgia Tech
transit system Airport Georgia Tech
transit system Airport Georgia Tech remember the one at Georgia Tech this is
remember the one at Georgia Tech this is
remember the one at Georgia Tech this is the one at Georgia Tech a true symphony
the one at Georgia Tech a true symphony
the one at Georgia Tech a true symphony people brought their instruments
people brought their instruments
people brought their instruments engineers and computer whizzes playing
engineers and computer whizzes playing
engineers and computer whizzes playing music
it was amazing twice amazing I said to
it was amazing twice amazing I said to myself oh my god you know everybody’s an
myself oh my god you know everybody’s an
myself oh my god you know everybody’s an artists let me share with you that story
artists let me share with you that story
artists let me share with you that story when I went down the streets of Atlanta
when I went down the streets of Atlanta
when I went down the streets of Atlanta and all of a sudden this elderly man
and all of a sudden this elderly man
and all of a sudden this elderly man walked in he was hesitant to touch the
walked in he was hesitant to touch the
walked in he was hesitant to touch the piano he he wasn’t sure if he was
piano he he wasn’t sure if he was
piano he he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to touch the piano he came in
allowed to touch the piano he came in
allowed to touch the piano he came in his clothes were tattered worn Brown he
his clothes were tattered worn Brown he
his clothes were tattered worn Brown he sat on the piano and he paused and
sat on the piano and he paused and
sat on the piano and he paused and looked around to this date ladies and
looked around to this date ladies and
looked around to this date ladies and gentlemen I have never ever heard
gentlemen I have never ever heard
gentlemen I have never ever heard Chopin’s polonaise played so beautifully
Chopin’s polonaise played so beautifully
Chopin’s polonaise played so beautifully a later found out that this guy was
a later found out that this guy was
a later found out that this guy was homeless and he has been homeless for
homeless and he has been homeless for
homeless and he has been homeless for many years I couldn’t believe my eyes
many years I couldn’t believe my eyes
many years I couldn’t believe my eyes the crowd started to gather around him
the crowd started to gather around him
the crowd started to gather around him it was a concert a free concert every no
it was a concert a free concert every no
it was a concert a free concert every no it was perfect passion as if we had a
it was perfect passion as if we had a
it was perfect passion as if we had a concert pianist
concert pianist
concert pianist and for the duration of time people
and for the duration of time people
and for the duration of time people didn’t see John as a homeless person
didn’t see John as a homeless person
didn’t see John as a homeless person they embraced him as an artist’s at the
they embraced him as an artist’s at the
they embraced him as an artist’s at the end of his performance everybody went
end of his performance everybody went
end of his performance everybody went into a amazing applause thunderous
into a amazing applause thunderous
into a amazing applause thunderous applause he stood up well mingle with
applause he stood up well mingle with
applause he stood up well mingle with the people talked I waited I was like
the people talked I waited I was like
the people talked I waited I was like shocked everybody left he came to me and
shocked everybody left he came to me and
shocked everybody left he came to me and he leaned in and said that was the first
he leaned in and said that was the first
he leaned in and said that was the first time I felt that way in 20 years
I was touched think it was more
I was touched think it was more meaningful to me than him I was honored
meaningful to me than him I was honored
meaningful to me than him I was honored that my pianos for peace and my
that my pianos for peace and my
that my pianos for peace and my initiative inspired him and made him
initiative inspired him and made him
initiative inspired him and made him feel as a human for a second or fourth
feel as a human for a second or fourth
feel as a human for a second or fourth ten minutes another story I wanna share
ten minutes another story I wanna share
ten minutes another story I wanna share with you was children these amazing
with you was children these amazing
with you was children these amazing children going into this pianos banging
children going into this pianos banging
children going into this pianos banging names matching them I mean I was fearing
names matching them I mean I was fearing
names matching them I mean I was fearing for the life of my parents like their
for the life of my parents like their
for the life of my parents like their life depending on the piano
life depending on the piano
life depending on the piano boom boom boom take it easy take it easy
boom boom boom take it easy take it easy
boom boom boom take it easy take it easy it’s a human expression but you know
it’s a human expression but you know
it’s a human expression but you know well it’s amazing it was amazing they
well it’s amazing it was amazing they
well it’s amazing it was amazing they went back to schools they said I had
went back to schools they said I had
went back to schools they said I had your concert at the MARTA station I
your concert at the MARTA station I
your concert at the MARTA station I plated the airport on my way to Cancun
plated the airport on my way to Cancun
plated the airport on my way to Cancun you know it was amazing and you know in
you know it was amazing and you know in
you know it was amazing and you know in our program we just don’t do the public
our program we just don’t do the public
our program we just don’t do the public art display we actually donate all these
art display we actually donate all these
art display we actually donate all these pianos to nursing homes after the
pianos to nursing homes after the
pianos to nursing homes after the initial festival we donate them to
initial festival we donate them to
initial festival we donate them to nursing homes autistic centers hospitals
nursing homes autistic centers hospitals
nursing homes autistic centers hospitals and title one schools so one of my
and title one schools so one of my
and title one schools so one of my amazing experiences when one of the
amazing experiences when one of the
amazing experiences when one of the schools actually established
schools actually established
schools actually established re-established they used to have it
re-established they used to have it
re-established they used to have it reestablish the music program based on
reestablish the music program based on
reestablish the music program based on our painted pianos and now they have a
our painted pianos and now they have a
our painted pianos and now they have a music program in that school to me
music program in that school to me
music program in that school to me that’s that’s just proved that the
that’s that’s just proved that the
that’s that’s just proved that the pianos for peace is much needed we’re
pianos for peace is much needed we’re
pianos for peace is much needed we’re bringing back the arts to the
bringing back the arts to the
bringing back the arts to the underserved communities and we are
underserved communities and we are
underserved communities and we are bringing unity back to their community
bringing unity back to their community
bringing unity back to their community through music and through the soft power
through music and through the soft power
through music and through the soft power of Arts Rumi said let the beauty of what
of Arts Rumi said let the beauty of what
of Arts Rumi said let the beauty of what you love be what you do let the beauty
you love be what you do let the beauty
you love be what you do let the beauty of what you love be what you do my
of what you love be what you do my
of what you love be what you do my challenge to each one of you to myself
challenge to each one of you to myself
challenge to each one of you to myself love what you do and do what you love
love what you do and do what you love
love what you do and do what you love don’t waste your time and my plea engage
don’t waste your time and my plea engage
don’t waste your time and my plea engage in music music is not just entertainment
in music music is not just entertainment
in music music is not just entertainment it’s fun but as you can
it’s fun but as you can
it’s fun but as you can see from my own experience it’s so much
see from my own experience it’s so much
see from my own experience it’s so much more powerful I never realized how
more powerful I never realized how
more powerful I never realized how powerful it is so from the bottom of my
powerful it is so from the bottom of my
powerful it is so from the bottom of my heart be an artist’s you know art is
heart be an artist’s you know art is
heart be an artist’s you know art is nothing if it doesn’t engage and impact
nothing if it doesn’t engage and impact
nothing if it doesn’t engage and impact every segment of the people join us
every segment of the people join us
every segment of the people join us paint a piano sit on any piano you find
paint a piano sit on any piano you find
paint a piano sit on any piano you find in September and play it
in September and play it
in September and play it engage and be a true artists and join
engage and be a true artists and join
engage and be a true artists and join our Symphony for peace the literal
our Symphony for peace the literal
our Symphony for peace the literal meaning of symphony or symphonia and
meaning of symphony or symphonia and
meaning of symphony or symphonia and Latin is to sing together symphonia sink
Latin is to sing together symphonia sink
Latin is to sing together symphonia sink together be a musician be involved music
together be a musician be involved music
together be a musician be involved music is the most rewarding experience you
is the most rewarding experience you
is the most rewarding experience you will ever have
will ever have
will ever have and bring back unity to our community
and bring back unity to our community
and bring back unity to our community thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment