Fast-forward 2 years later....
He's getting ready to go onto a stage, a stage I've been on before.
I prep him by reviewing what side of the stage to enter on, how to walk, how to stay
cool.Â
We don't talk about playing the violin or posture or anything.
We don't need to.
His performance time comes up, he nods at me and slowly walks through the heavy
stage entrance doors... twisted step by twisted step.
I turn to look at the stage screen and I see him put his violin to his neck and a
combination of awe and pity descend upon the venue, the audience feeling the weight
of his disadvantages.
As he played the rst phrase of the sonata he prepared for that day, the entire audience
stood up in respect—eyes xated on the player before them for the entire piece.
That was something I had never seen before.