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Tim Mikulski
Yo-Yo Ma Spins an Emotional Tale of "Art for Life's Sake"
Posted by Apr 09, 2013
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Tim Mikulski
As I have been sitting back at my desk at Americans for the Arts this afternoon, I've had a hard time coming up with a way to describe what I experienced last night at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
It could be the lack of sleep, the lack of coffee, or the abundance of Twizzlers and Clif Bars I've eaten during and before Arts Advocacy Day 2013; but, I'm not convinced of that.
Watching Yo-Yo Ma's combined lecture and performance of a speech called "Art for Life's Sake: A Roadmap from One Citizen Musician" as our 26th annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy last night was priceless.
Not only did it feature eloquent points about the power of arts education and being a citizen musician, but it also featured memorable performances by jooker Lil' Buck, bagpiper Cristina Pato, MusiCorps, and teaching artist Greg Loman and founder Arthur Bloom—two of which brought tears to the eyes of those around me in the Concert Hall.
Before I get too involved in describing it, I guess I should provide you with a chance to watch the entire event below or you can continue reading and click on the links to see the specific parts I point out as I attempt to capture the night to the best of my ability.
I'll wait here while you watch...
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