Give Your All to This Moment
“When I notice an audience is not resonating, I become curious and engage more,” reflects Dorothy Lawson, virtuoso and founding cellist of the alt-Classical string quartet ETHEL. As a long-time performer, Dorothy focuses on transmitting what is most important. “We learned from performing for and with the Navajo community that it’s not about entertainment and impressing people with exciting new stuff. It’s about creating an experience that is from the heart.” She reflects: “If I play a wrong note, I don’t dwell on it. My role is to give it my all and look forward with the audience to the next moment and the magic we are about to create together. I keep giving my all to the magic of this moment.” What if people don’t like what you have to give? “Don’t wait for permission or accolades to give yourself fully to life.” It is your choice to give of yourself. The more you give, the more you inspire others. “I tell my students that, yes, they need to master the technique, and yet that is not what defines their impact. People want to work with people who are a light. These people make their work and lives easier.”
