Speaking last Saturday to this heroic class of 2022 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the world looked a bit different than it does after this past week's tragedy in Texas. I stand by the words I shared with them about the power of music to connect, for when we are connected to each other and to the world around us, we simply do not slaughter one another.

May we return to a time when making music is held up as noble, as humane, and as a solution to many of our woes. These graduates are leading the way.