Manuel Ramos is a global treasure, a violinist who has played around the world and has been a treasure in the St Louis Symphony Orchestra for many years. Lucky us here in Missouri; I love going to performances where I get to witness expertise taken to a new height. I felt additionally fortunate when the conductor at our municipal orchestra invited Manuel to play a solo in our most recent concert, which took place yesterday. The music was Beethoven. Awesome. The audience was completely engaged in his performance — me too. However, I had been at each rehearsal leading up to yesterday and got to witness this talent and skill for a month. Incredible. At the age of 14 violinist Manuel Ramos entered the National Conservatory of Music, he was just a child then. Regardless, he was an artist and knew his passion. It shows.
During each rehearsal and also the concert, I had a range of emotions that took me from laughter to tears as I was the recipient of the music. I thought about the why of it.
Emotional reactions to beautiful music extend beyond just the superficial hearing of a piece, it is about the intense work it takes for a composer to write what only he can hear and it takes every bit as much concerted energy to read the notes and play it to the fullest. I sat and watched and listened and thought about how the expertise of the violinist produces some of the most glorious sounds you can ever imagine hearing, the dance of the notes, the song heard, all feel like they are in tune with heart, and the mind follows. In order to achieve such talent, you must develop the skills and that takes a very long time, so many hours of a life in practice, continual practice. It is about a devotion, a motivation that is nothing short of inspired. 
Music is a beauty filled language that brings all living things together. Imagine the world and how peaceful and also functional it could be if each and every one of us felt such a strong commitment to developing our passion to the point of excellence. I have a vision for this. it is my passion, it is my practice to put into place in this world. Dive down deep into your own self and reach for what holds meaning and develop it — if it is for goodness and right, it will happen and it will be amazing, alongside you.
