We don’t need a common language, religion or background to collaborate in the arts. Culture transcends our differences and brings people together. I spent last week in Porto, Portugal to prepare and perform in recital with a Brazilian pianist for a weeklong festival. I had not played any of the pieces on our agenda before and had never collaborated with the pianist. For a few months, I studied the program and memorized my parts. Pianist Marco Brescia and I started to rehea

You can help, inspire and unite people regardless of your age, your stature or your financial situation. Everyone in the world has something to offer. I performed in a private fundraising concert last week in New York City that raised $18,000 to buy instruments for music schools in Costa Rica. Last summer, then 14-year-old virtuoso cellist and high school freshman Justin Koga travelled to Costa Rica to teach at several all-volunteer music schools. He quickly realized that th