May His Memory Be For A Blessing

Memorializing the dead is hard, seeking to memorialize someone who impacted your life but you never met... much harder.

As a cellist from age 5 to 15, I always loved the instrument. My parents supported my attention to classical music, paying for lessons, renting instruments, buying me tapes and CDs and even taking me to live concerts. I loved YoYoMa, who doesn't?

But last year I went to go hear Rostropovich conduct Shostakovitch at the SF Symphony. Classical music has often moved me, but never in my life have I been moved to tears by a performance.... never until this concert. It was so vibrant, like a living being, furious, playful, fast, joyous, wow. I'm emotional just recounting the concert. As a player and conductor he will be remembered as a giant. I will never forget my brief encounter with his majesty.