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[introduction of Terell Stafford]
>>Stafford Good afternoon, good morning, congratulations to everyone here. I just wanted to share a
few words. The feeling that I feel in this room, the joy that I feel in this room today,
is the joy that I felt when I had the opportunity to pick up my trumpet for the very first time.
The energy, excitement knowing that I had an instrument, I didn't know what I was going
to do with it, but I was going to make the best and with hard work and dedication, hopefully
it would take me somewhere. Before I got the opportunity to pick up the trumpet, though,
I had an unfortunate experience. I had to play the viola, and the viola hated me as
much as I hated the viola. And after a year, a very difficult year, let's put it that way,
my music teacher called my parents and myself into the office and said your son has no musical
talent whatsoever. Keep him as far away from music as humanly possible. At that point I
knew I had obstacles in front of me and I'd have to work as hard I could to get through
these obstacles, so to you I pass along today first, my dream was to play music and I made
sure that whatever I did in my life I could fulfill that dream. The second thing is through
hard work we can do anything. We can make anything happen. We can always find success,
so I wish you all the best and all the success and I'll play you a short excerpt to congratulate
you through music. [trumpet]