You know when your friends offer the advice "Life's too short?" It's usually followed by "Don't sweat the small stuff," or "Let it go and move on," or "Follow your bliss!" For one concert pianist in Australia, time really is running out. 30-year old Aaron McMillan has brain cancer, and is doing all he can to use his remaining time to assemble his past 12 years of concertizing into a 9-CD collection. Aaron can’t get out of bed now, so his hospice room has become a literal production office.
His amazing story illustrates the sheer perseverance of the human spirit. Reading it, for me, is like the exercise of writing your own epitaph. What do you want to be remembered for? What really matters to you? What would you do if these were the last months, weeks, days of your life?
Aaron McMillan doesn't talk about the inevitable and instead is using his time to compose a piano concerto “in the style of Schubert," who died at 31 without having written one. I am particularly moved by Aaron's words of a few years back, words that echo Victor Frankl and some of the great minds in human psychology: "I want to find elegant ways through everything."
Love the music?
Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.
Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.
YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.