I have always loved playing and listening to all different types of music. This love first stemmed from being in my elementary school’s band. I have played the trumpet for around nine years and have performed all different types of songs, including classical, jazz, and pop. I was always interested in learning piano, but I never had the opportunity. My sister, however, did. She received formal lessons once a week for two years, and I would always sit near her and listen. It was very interesting listening to my sister learn Für Elise, a song that will forever me implanted into my brain. Although I have yet to receive lessons in piano, I would love to one day.
Sara Davis Buechner’s performance at the Baruch Performing Arts Center was quite intriguing. I had never been to any type of piano recital before, and I was expecting it to solely be Sara playing her instrument. When she first walked on stage and began talking about the trouble that she had with the MTA and began telling several jokes, I knew this was going to be far from a boring concert.
When Sara began playing her first song, I could not stop staring at her. Honestly, the fact that she was so invested in her music made the whole experience captivating. The way her head and body wobbled back and forth with the music; the way she swiftly lifted her hands and fingers at the end of certain parts; the way she was able to play perfectly with hundreds of beady eyes starting at her. Sara’s performance was virtually perfect. Another aspect of her show that I enjoyed was that she stood up in between segments and spoke. She explained the origins of several of the songs she played and told stories of her travels – all the way to Japan. She oozed humility, another reason as to why her performance was so impeccable.
The article we read on Sara before attending the recital was very thought-provoking. When she was known as David, everyone seemed to love her playing and she was labeled “an extraordinarily young artist” at age 24. When she came out as Sara, the public, as well as her family, looked down upon her. In fact, as David, she did over fifty concerts per year; when she became Sara, she did between three to five concerts per year. She applied to over thirty-five places to work, but received no responses.
Sara is an inspiration. Even when the world was against her, she never gave up. She moved from Manhattan and took smaller jobs with less pay. She was just so glad that she was finally able to be yourself. Little by little, she moved her way up and regained publicity. By 2016, Sara was able to teach at Temple University, Manhattan School of Music, New York University, and the University of British Columbia. Sara proves that if you accept yourself for who you truly are, good things will ultimately come your way.
