Selah Costi • Senior • Cello
Tonight, we had a special orchestra event with a few other high school orchestras. We had the pleasure of being conducted by Larry Livingston, playing the piece Nimrod. I went into the night tired, not wanting to be there, and unmotivated. But, Larry Livingston was such a special person, and he inspired the entire orchestra to play so beautifully and magically.
I sat warming up, and to my surprise, Mr. Livingston came up to me, introduced himself and shook my hand. Throughout the rehearsal, I was amazed by the true kind and tender heart of Larry’s, to love others, and his passion for music. All of the things that Livingston said and did were so inspiring to me, I was truly in awe of who he was as a kind, loving person and what he was doing. Measure by measure, Livingston found new ways to explain the music, feeling and expression to us, and inspiring us to play in a way I never have before.
We rehearsed and played and the entire time I was so focused. Livingston told us about his love for music, reminded us to express our love for music and others, and begged us to never forget the beauty that is music. During rehearsal, I was thinking about nothing but the music. It was so calm and peaceful.
At the end of the rehearsal, Livingston sat down by the piano, and played a song for all of us. Inspired by his desperate love for life, music and others, I watched Livingston play an improvised song, and my eyes filled with tears. It was so beautiful, so pure and I felt at peace yet so emotional. Tonight’s rehearsal was a truly amazing and inspiring experience, far better than I could have hoped or imagined.
