The ones who already look and sound and come from the same world you do. That's not true, Harrington protested. But his voice lacked conviction. Then prove it, Catherine said simply.
Take Marcus as a student. Honor your commitment. Show us that the Harrington Foundation's mission statement about making classical music accessible to all talented young people, regardless of background, actually means something. You can't be serious, Harrington said, looking around the room as if expecting someone to back him up.
Teaching someone requires a relationship built on mutual respect and understanding. You can't force that. You can't mandate it through public pressure. Public pressure.
Jessica Huang held up her phone. Vincent, in the fifteen minutes since this confrontation started, the video I've been streaming has been viewed over fifty thousand times. People are watching right now. They've seen Marcus play.
They've heard your responses. The comments are, Well, let's just say the court of public opinion has already reached a verdict. She began reading from her screen. This is everything wrong with classical music. That kid has more talent in his little finger than most professionals I've seen.
Harrington is terrified of being shown up by a fourteen-year-old. This is why classical music is dying. Gatekeepers like this guy. She looked up.
Should I continue? Harrington's jaw clenched so tight. Marcus could see the muscles jumping. Social media commentary from people who probably cannot tell Mozart from pop music is hardly authoritative. Actually, Dr. Crawford interrupted,
I recognize several of those usernames. They're colleagues of mine, music professors, professional musicians, critics. The people whose opinions actually matter in your world, Vincent, and they're all watching to see what you do next. The maestro looked around the room, and Marcus could almost see him calculating the angles, weighing options.
His career had been built on a carefully cultivated image. The brilliant artist who was also a champion of music education. The virtuoso who gave back through his foundation. But that image was crumbling in real time, exposed as a facade that only extended to people who looked and sounded right.
Even if I wanted to teach you, which I'm not saying I do, it wouldn't work, Harrington said, turning back to Marcus. You live in the Bronx. I teach at my private studio in Manhattan three times a week. The commitment alone would be impossible for someone in your situation.
I'll make it work, Marcus said immediately. I'll take the subway. I'll do whatever it takes. And the instrument.
My students need to practice on professional grade pianos. That Casio keyboard of yours won't cut it. Then I'll practice more during my lessons. I'll find practice rooms.