What an amazing night! Last evening, my gifted student Tanny Labshere and I had the opportunity to play a
piano duet for the Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick. For the occasion--a small fundraising party at a private home--we created a special medley of "We Shall Overcome" and "America the Beautiful." At the last chord, there was a palpable absorption in the room. People were deeply impacted.
Tanny's adoptive mother, Paula Labshere, was there and she was thrilled. We both had an opportunity to express to the Governor the ways in which the State had made it possible for Tanny to grow and thrive, though she was born blind. It had given her life-changing opportunities: through the foster program she was placed with a loving family who eventually adopted her; Tanny attended the Perkins Institute for the Blind; and now she was at
Riverbrook Residence in Stockbridge, MA, which is a model of care for women with disabilities. That's where I teach her music.
Like anyone in government these days, the Governor is grappling with extraordinary challenges. At the event, he spoke about the multi-billion dollar cut in the state budget and, as a result, the hard decisions he's having to make. I thought, it's important for him to see what's working, and how significant it is. State programs and facilities in Massachusetts had made it possible for a young woman like Tanny--who was born into great difficulty--to ultimately express the freedom and beauty Governor Patrick had just witnessed. His response was wonderful. He was clearly moved by what he had just heard. It was a very special moment!
What an amazing night! Last evening, my gifted student Tanny Labshere and I had the opportunity to play a piano duet for the Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick. For the occasion--a small fundraising party at a private home--we created a special medley of "We Shall Overcome" and "America the Beautiful." At the last chord, there was a palpable absorption in the room. People were deeply impacted. 
Tanny's adoptive mother, Paula Labshere, was there and she was thrilled. We both had an opportunity to express to the Governor the ways in which the State had made it possible for Tanny to grow and thrive, though she was born blind. It had given her life-changing opportunities: through the foster program she was placed with a loving family who eventually adopted her; Tanny attended the Perkins Institute for the Blind; and now she was at Riverbrook Residence in Stockbridge, MA, which is a model of care for women with disabilities. That's where I teach her music. 
Like anyone in government these days, the Governor is grappling with extraordinary challenges. At the event, he spoke about the multi-billion dollar cut in the state budget and, as a result, the hard decisions he's having to make. I thought, it's important for him to see what's working, and how significant it is. State programs and facilities in Massachusetts had made it possible for a young woman like Tanny--who was born into great difficulty--to ultimately express the freedom and beauty Governor Patrick had just witnessed. His response was wonderful. He was clearly moved by what he had just heard. It was a very special moment!
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