Anne Akiko Meyers Addresses Music School Graduates at Colburn Commencement

May 8, 2023, 1:31 PM · You never know what doors might open, if you simply take the initiative.

That was one of the messages from violinist Anne Akiko Meyers' keynote address to the largest-ever graduating class at the Colburn School's Conservatory of Music, at its commencement ceremony on May 1. Meyers also was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the School.

"Don't be afraid to ask," Anne said. "It takes courage and can feel incredibly intimidating and daunting to ask, but it can be a powerful tool in many aspects of life, not just in music. It can lead to new opportunities, connections, and experiences that you might not experience otherwise. While rejection is a very strong possibility, it should not discourage you from continuing to pursue what you want."

Here is a video, cued it up to Anne's full speech - very inspirational, please enjoy!

If you want to see Anne accept her honorary degree from Colburn, that occurs just before her speech. Then at 18:35, she performs "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," without accompaniment - a simple but powerful musical expression of encouragement to the new graduates.

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