The Miracle of Music

Book excerpt: 'It will take more than an earthquake to keep me from doing my work...' Music changed Romel Joseph's life. But on Jan. 12, 2010, it also saved it. That's when the blind musician and educator became trapped under three stories of rubble-the remains of the music school he founded in Port-au-Prince, Haiti-following the earthquake that devastated his country. But Romel, filled with faith in God and a desire to realize his dreams, remained alert. He survived, he says, by performing a different violin concerto or sonata every hour until the moment of his rescue. The Miracle of Music captures his remarkable ordeal, which has captivated audiences around the world. His story has been featured in The Miami Herald, The Washington Post, the London Times, the CBS News with Katie Couric, the BBC, and others. But the narrative has been incomplete-until now. This inspiring story is about how a blind Haitian boy became a Juilliard-trained violinist, a world-renowned musician, and used the music in his soul to overcome his life's obstacles and help those around him. It is about the successful struggle to keep open the New Victorian School, a premiere music education institution, despite untold obstacles. It is about the hopes and dreams and perseverance of a country. And it is about love and empathy that keeps us going even when the ground is shaking under our feet.