Last week was one of the toughest weeks I had experienced in a long time. I found out that a wonderful soul was taken from this world due to a car accident. This young man was one of the most talented people I ever knew. He had so much potential and would have gone so far as a performer. I did not know him as well as others but I watched from a distance as he grew as a musician and performer. He was high spirited and always seemed to have a smile on his face. I saw first hand how he influenced so many others lives. As a fellow clarinetist, I got the joy of spending time with him at music camp and no matter what he always remained positive, nothing could bring him down. When we all found out what happened to him a cloud covered the music department. We all knew him and his family and together and as a family, we cried. Time seemed to stop as we realized how frail life truly can be. That was the day Northern cried.

Our hearts hung heavy as we stood together in support but we also laughed at the great memories we had with him. Together we mourned and as a family, we worked to keep going. Some outside of the department did not quite understand what was going on and questioned why we were all so greatly affected by this tragedy. The answer to their question is, we are a giant family. Music brings people together and we work together every day to create something amazing. When we lose someone it is as if losing a member of our own family. Musicians share a bond that is truly indescribable. Out of the many things I heard throughout the week the one that struck a chord for me was "Music helps." Yes, music does help. I could go into the scientific reasons behind why music helps cope with pain but that's not the purpose of this post. Music brings peace and ease to our minds and helps us with the pain we suffer from.

The young man we lost was an amazing musician and nothing preserves his memory better than to continue playing. Play for him, play for yourself, just please keep playing. Do it for him. What we need to do is to keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers so they can continue on from this tragedy. I'm not a religious person, but I do truly believe he is in a better place where there is no pain and no suffering. Northern lost an amazing young man but his memory will stay with us forever. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to know him and that I go to a school where as a department we can come together and celebrate a life we lost too soon. I will never forget that day we learned the news. I'll never forget the day Northern cried.