Master Violinist with Visual Impairment—Tsung-Yu Hsiao
【Overcoming a brain tumor and visual impairment, dedicating myself to society with my violin】
I am deeply grateful to my parents and the kind-hearted people at home and abroad for their strong support, which has enabled me to transform my blindness into love and dedicate myself to society with my violin. I hope to meet a partner who is willing to walk alongside me in the future, so that we can compose our own melody together and spread love and hope to even more distant places!

 

Defeating a Brain Tumor: The Violin Ignites Life
    Tsung-Yu Hsiao, a graduate student in the Department of Music at National Chiayi University, has always been an optimistic and considerate child. In May 2007, while attending the second grade at Shih-Hsien Elementary School in Chiayi City, he was suddenly struck by a devastating blow when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. He immediately began chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, during treatment, he suddenly fell into a coma for unknown reasons. After nearly a month of emergency care, he miraculously survived but suffered optic nerve atrophy, resulting in severe vision impairment.
 
    Despite losing his vision, Hsiao Tsung-Yu never blamed fate. With the unwavering support and encouragement of his parents, he not only regained his confidence but also actively sought to open another window to life. With his parents' support, he invited his mentor, Dr. Chi Kuei-Ling (Ph.D. in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Washington in Seattle, USA), to guide him in learning violin performance. Under Dr. Ji's encouragement, Xiao Congyou participated in the Philharmonic Music Competition in 2010 and won second place. The following year, he held his first solo violin recital, establishing a strong sense of confidence and stage presence.
 
    Breaking free from the limitations of blindness, he has composed the symphony of his life through the sound of his violin. In 2011, he was honored with the Presidential Education Award, becoming a role model for society. On the evening of June 20th of that year, Mayor Huang Minhui of Chiayi City specially invited Xiao Congyou, along with his family and teachers, to the mayor's office for a meeting. During the meeting, she presented him with his favorite audiobook, “Zhang Manjuan's Private Classics,” invited him to sit in the mayor's chair, and even invited him to join her in a workout to lose weight. At the time, Xiao Congyou not only demonstrated his exceptional violin skills but also performed a mind-reading magic trick, creating a warm and memorable interaction that left a lasting impression on everyone present.
 
    Xiao Congyou's mother emotionally shared that since he began playing the violin, he has become calmer and more confident, mature in thought yet still retaining his childlike innocence. He has also grown to be more considerate and grateful. Along the way, he deeply appreciates his former mentors—Li Ji, Lin Zhiping, and Lin Yucheng—and his current professor, Xie Shiyun. Under their dedicated guidance, Cong-Yu's violin skills have improved significantly, and his emotional expression has become more refined, making his musical performances more moving and beautiful. It is precisely because of the nurturing and encouragement from these mentors, like the gentle rain of spring, that Cong-Yu has been able to persevere on his learning journey and deeply appreciate the profound beauty and emotional power of music.
 
    Academically, Xiao Cong-you has lived up to expectations, completing the seven-year integrated program in the Department of Music at Tainan University of Technology with outstanding grades, and is about to obtain a master's degree in music from National Chiayi University. To fulfill his belief of “opening the melody to illuminate life and dedicating himself to society with his violin,” he actively participates in performances with the Chiayi City Symphony Orchestra conducted by his teacher and engages in charitable activities, demonstrating the spirit of “giving back to society what one has received from it.”
 
    Thus, Xiao Congyou overcame a brain tumor and visual impairments, using the sound of his violin to open a colorful chapter in his life. He is grateful to his parents for their unwavering support, to his teachers and peers for their guidance and mutual learning, and to his peers for their encouragement. From a child full of optimism, he has transformed into a confident young man, blending the black and white of life into a vibrant tapestry of colors. Today, he not only continues to contribute to society through his music but also hopes to spread harmony and joy through music and sow the seeds of equality, dignity, and warmth through charity performances.
 
He also made three sincere wishes in the Year of the Snake, hoping that they will come true soon:
To perform for Mayor Huang Min-hui and the people of Chiayi City: “The Most Beautiful Melodies, Forever Playing Hope.”
A national tour of primary and secondary schools by a visually impaired violinist—sharing life education and providing free violin lessons.
Sincerely seeking a soulmate to marry and start a family—together spreading the love of melody to every corner of the world.
 
    In summary, Xiao Congyou has overcome the gates of death, broken free from the barriers of visual impairment, won numerous awards, and demonstrated remarkable self-reliance and dedication through his charitable performances and teaching.
 
    He truly deserves the title of “Master Violinist with Visual Impairment.” From among 3,683 candidates recommended worldwide, earning the Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation’s “28th Global Love of Life Award in 2025.”

Search for Life Fighters from 233 Countries Worldwide

    Everyone can break the shackles of life; everyone’s life holds boundless possibilities.

    For 28 years, the Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation, with the support and encouragement of communities worldwide, has tirelessly promoted the “Global Love of Life Movement,” advocating: Be good to yourself—cherish your own life; be good to others—respect others’ lives; be good to the Earth—protect the Earth’s life.

    To date, they have honored 481 Global Love of Life Award recipients from 81 countries across seven continents, along with 16 Global Love of Life Literature Award winners, including the chivalrous poet Cheng Chou-yu and Chinese chef-poet Song Chengbao, and 41 Hope Award recipients, such as anti-drug hero Kao Chao-liang and reformed figure Wu Shih-hsuan. They have also cared for and supported over 350,000 of the world’s most vulnerable children with cancer, including Mary Donita Uy, a bone cancer angel from a Philippine slum, helping them fight cancer with love and live with hope.

    We are deeply grateful for the recognition and resonance from global media outlets such as CNN, BBC, NHK, Yahoo, YouTube, Facebook, and Baidu, which have widely reported our efforts as the “Nobel Prize of Life.”

    We are profoundly thankful for accolades including the 3rd National Public Welfare Award in 2001, the Hong Kong Loving Heart Award in 2010, the Ministry of Education Social Education Contribution Award in 2018, Colombia’s Congress Resolution No. 61 in 2019 granting its highest congressional honor, the United Nations NGO World Harmony Outstanding Contribution Award in 2021, and the China Charity and Filial Piety Culture Award in 2022. These recognitions inspire us to continue sharing, encouraging, and striving alongside global communities.
​
    The foundation warmly welcomes nominations of life warriors who demonstrate effort, compassion, courage, and achievement from people worldwide. (Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation Global Love of Life Award Nomination Hotline: +886-2-29178770, Fax: +886-2-29178768, Address: 3F, No. 52, Mingde Road, Xindian District, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan, Website: http://www.ta.org.tw, Email: ta88ms17@gmail.com).
 
Using Music to Enhance Life
    Using Music to Enhance Life In this era of ubiquitous internet, AI, and fast-paced, complex lives, Hsiao Tsong-Yu has always believed that music is a healing force for the mind, body, and soul. He often shares with others that whether through playing or listening, music transcends language and sensory barriers to communicate thoughts and emotions, bringing an indescribable power.
 
    As stated in The Book of Rites, “Music is used to stir the blood, circulate the spirit, and harmonize the mind.” The concept of using music to heal the body and mind has existed in traditional Eastern culture for a long time. In the modern scientific field of the West, the connection between music and health has also been gradually discovered. Scientists have confirmed that classical music can soothe trauma and enhance mental well-being, and its application in clinical music therapy is highly regarded.
 
    As early as the early 19th century, European psychiatrists observed that some patients were unresponsive to external stimuli but reacted only to music. This discovery led to increased attention on the connection between music and medicine. Today, most disability care facilities, rehabilitation centers, and special education schools in Europe and the United States have incorporated music as an auxiliary tool to help improve physical and mental well-being, with significant results.
 
    Research indicates that music not only brings pleasure but also has positive effects on health: it enhances immunity, stimulates the release of endorphins, soothes emotions, and even improves learning and memory abilities. In the treatment of conditions such as depression and Parkinson's disease, music has also demonstrated auxiliary therapeutic effects. Medicine further indicates that music shares the same neural pathways as pain signals, enabling it to alleviate labor pain in childbirth, soothe dental patients, and even alleviate discomfort in cancer patients.
 
    Additionally, listening to classical music from a young age can aid in cognitive development and improve performance in subjects such as mathematics, science, and language. Music is thus regarded as an important medium for enhancing social adaptability and emotional resilience, bringing people peace, joy, and hope.
For Hsiao Tsung-Yu, music is not just an art form but a source of energy that can “ignite life.” He puts this belief into practice in his life and performances, hoping to accompany more people through the dark times of life with his music and help them find light in their hearts.
 
Sudden bad news, fighting between fear and the bedside
    In early May 2007, Xiao Cong-you was in the second grade at Shih-hsien Elementary School in Chiayi City. It should have been a carefree childhood, but one day he suddenly developed a headache, followed by vomiting, fever, and severe drowsiness. Upon noticing Xiao Zongyou's symptoms, his parents rushed him to Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital to seek treatment and identify the cause. After a series of blood tests, ultrasounds, MRI scans, and a biopsy, they were devastated to learn that Xiao Zongyou had a tumor in his brain, and his condition was critical.
 
    In fact, long before that, Xiao Congyou had felt a dull pain in his neck, but at the time, he didn’t realize it was a symptom of a brain tumor. He simply thought it was a minor illness and kept visiting traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and undergoing physical therapy, unfortunately missing the golden window for treatment.
 
    Later, Xiao Congyou's parents learned from the doctors that the prognosis was grim. Unwilling to subject Xiao Congyou to surgery, they agreed to let the doctors administer morphine and pursue palliative care.
 
    However, after learning that he might soon pass away, Xiao Congyou did not give up hope. Instead, he told his parents, “I don't want to die so young.”
 
    At that time, Xiao Congyou did not fully understand the concept of death; he simply wanted to finish reading the “World Classics” series of books his parents had bought for him. However, thanks to Xiao Congyou's innocent words, his parents decided to switch to aggressive treatment.
 
    Now, Xiao Congyou is still alive and standing on this earth, deeply grateful to his parents for cooperating with the doctors to undergo more aggressive chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
 
    His parents initially chose a passive treatment approach for a reason. When the hospital combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy to treat Xiao Congyou, the hospital bed turned into a living hell. Losing his hair was the least of his concerns. Explosive headaches, loss of appetite, and pain throughout his entire body, including muscle swelling and soreness, tormented him day and night. At that time, Xiao Congyou's homeroom teacher offered words of comfort: “Soldiers on the battlefield only think about today, not tomorrow.” Xiao Congyou found courage in these words and did not retreat like Yue Fei, instead continuing to fight bravely on the battlefield of his hospital bed, ultimately defeating the disease.
 
Rehabilitation was as harsh as a blizzard, but family bonds were as sturdy as an old banyan tree.
    The more epic the battle, the greater the cost. Xiao Congyou defeated his illness but suffered damage to his optic nerves from the brain tumor, leaving him unable to see the world of light and shadow with his eyes.
 
    However, Xiao Congyou remains undeterred, for he still possesses a clear and bright heart, as well as the warm and steadfast support of his family. Xiao Congyou is deeply grateful to his parents, who have accompanied and supported him through every stage of his life, from the past to the present.
 
    One day, when relatives visited, his father sighed, “Without eyesight, one doesn't know day from night...” Hearing this, Xiao Congyou felt deeply saddened. He knew that when children suffer misfortune, the most pained are not only the children themselves but also their parents who raised them.
 
    So, Xiao Congyou took the opportunity to comfort his father: “Dad, even though I can't see, I can still eat because you help me with my food.” “Actually, I know whether it's day or night because you wake me up in the morning and tell me to go to bed at night.”
 
    When anyone faces pain and setbacks, the support and reliance of loved ones provide the strongest source of strength. After empathizing with his parents' distress over their beloved child's situation, Xiao Congyou encouraged them in his own way.
 
    In addition to the challenges of visual impairment, Xiao Congyou had to regain the use of his legs, which had been severely weakened during his battle with illness. Prolonged bed rest caused his leg muscles to lose their strength, and chemotherapy further weakened his immune system, leaving his body frail and weak.
 
    At first, Xiao Congyou had to use a wheelchair to get around, just like in the past when he needed his parents or medical staff to push his hospital bed to prevent the IV needle from slipping.
 
    However, despite his significantly reduced physical strength, Xiao Congyou still tried to use his own strength to control his weak legs. Even after nearly falling to the ground several times, he persevered, refusing to give up.
 
    After half a year of hardship, Xiao Congyou not only managed to walk on his own but also frequently went out for rides with his parents on a tandem bicycle, embodying the perseverance of “grinding an iron rod into a needle.”
 
A new challenge: venturing into the world of violin
    Heaven rewards those who persevere. After an endless battle, Xiao Congyou emerged victorious in his struggle against illness!
 
    Chemotherapy, as a treatment method, has always been a last resort for hospitals when all other options have been exhausted. Not only is the treatment process extremely painful, but even the medical staff cannot guarantee its success.
 
    According to Xiao Congyou, even the doctors admitted that they had no idea how the treatment worked. They could only attribute it to a miracle sent by heaven for the diligent Xiao Congyou.
 
    After recovering and being discharged from the hospital, Xiao Congyou began practicing the violin under the guidance of his school teachers. This was not his first encounter with the violin; in fact, he had already developed a connection with it before undergoing treatment at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.
 
    “At first, I wanted to learn the violin just to avoid morning self-study and lunch break,” Xiao Congyou recalled with a cheerful laugh. “In elementary school, no one liked morning self-study or lunch break because they were boring. Many students would join clubs during those times. Coincidentally, the violin club’s practice sessions were during those two periods, so I thought, ‘Why not give it a try?’”
 
    The exact time he began learning the violin is unclear. During the interview, Xiao Congyou stated that he started in the second semester of second grade and temporarily stopped in October due to hospitalization. However, his mother mentioned that he had performed at the school festival, suggesting that he may have begun in the first semester of second grade.
 
    Regardless of the truth, after Xiao Congyou lost his sight, the violin became an indispensable part of his life. “Luckily, I hated morning self-study,” Xiao Congyou said cheerfully, laughing heartily with his mother.
 
    He resumed learning the violin in fourth grade when the string orchestra teacher who had previously instructed him reached out to ask if he was interested in continuing. Xiao Congyou thought, “Well, I'm just sitting around anyway, so why not give it a try?” It's better than doing nothing.” And so he returned to his old hobby.
 
    When he picked up the violin again, Xiao Congyou couldn't read the sheet music with his eyes, and the difficulty suddenly skyrocketed. He had to rely on his ears to “read” the music through the rolled-down curtain, carefully distinguishing and mastering the differences in pitch as each note danced across the notes.
 
    Throughout the process, Xiao Congyou's best companion was his music teacher, Ji Kailing. She was the music teacher who guided Xiao Congyou after his school teacher.
 
    Ms. Ji Kailing, a Doctor of Orchestral Conducting from the University of Washington in Seattle, USA, was like a martial arts master from a wuxia novel, patiently guiding and assisting Xiao Congyou's growth despite his slow progress.
 
    To ignite Xiao Congyou's passion for the violin, which he had initially taken up merely to pass the time, Ms. Ji not only taught him the art of playing but also encouraged him to participate in various competitions. Xiao Congyou believes that while his schoolteacher was the one who first inspired him, Ms. Ji Kailing was the person who laid the foundation for his musical career.
 
    “I remember in July 2011, I participated in the ‘Stanbacha’ music competition in Taichung. The venue could accommodate about 200 people, and the scene is still vivid in my memory.”
 
    Xiao Congyou reminisced about that competition, immersed in unforgettable memories.
 
    As the saying goes, “One minute on stage, ten years of practice behind the scenes.” Just as ancient Roman gladiators trained in combat techniques for the day they would enter the arena to fight, the moment to prove the fruits of Xiao Congyou's long-term training had finally arrived.
 
    At the Taichung Stambach Music Competition, Xiao Congyou was the second performer to take the stage. During his performance, he was so nervous that his entire body stiffened and his legs trembled, and he couldn't remember how he managed to walk off the stage.
 
    After returning to his seat, Xiao Congyou was very upset with his performance on stage, believing that if he hadn't been so nervous, he would have done better. Xiao Congyou's mother comforted him, telling him that the process of learning to play the piano was more important than the result. At least, his parents had seen his efforts.
 
    However, Xiao Congyou, who had high standards for himself, did not find comfort in his parents' words. After listening to the performances of the other contestants, his mood plummeted even further, believing that he had no chance of winning.
 
    When it was time for the awards ceremony, the organizers took their time, announcing the winners starting from last place. As Xiao Congyou heard the other participants one by one collect their prizes, his sense of loss was palpable. He never imagined that the name that would finally be called out by the emcee would be his own. "First... Xiao! Cong! You!" When he heard those words, Xiao Congyou's mind went blank. It was only after his father excitedly shouted for him to go up and receive the award that he hurriedly made his way to the stage and took the trophy and prizes from the staff.
 
    According to Xiao Congyou, that “Stanbach” music competition became the most unforgettable experience of his life.
 
    At first, it was just to avoid morning self-study and lunch breaks, but now, music has become an indispensable part of Xiao Congyou's life. Learning music has given him a clearer goal and the motivation to keep learning and has also enriched his life.
 
    After the “Taichung Steinbach Music Competition,” Xiao Congyou has participated in numerous competitions and won many awards.
 
Offstage, he remains a diligent student, studying hard.
    While piano skills can be developed through prolonged practice, keeping up with classmates in elementary school classrooms where the blackboard is the main focus is not easy. is not easy. After all, an injured runner and other competitors start from the same starting line, but their differences are as vast as the sky and the earth. Just as fish evolved into amphibians to survive on land, Xiao Congyou had to adapt his learning methods to suit his current circumstances.
 
    Therefore, Xiao Congyou applied to the school for a home tutor and occasionally returned to school like a hidden character in a game to take exams.
 
    It wasn't until Xiao Congyou achieved the highest scores and was admitted to Tainan University of Technology that he and his parents decided to return to school to adapt to life with his peers.
 
    The university Xiao Congyou attended, Tainan University of Applied Sciences, is a seven-year integrated program, meaning that students spend all four years of high school and university at the same school. During his time at Tainan University of Applied Sciences, Xiao Congyou had a rigorous schedule, waking up at 6 a.m. to go to school, returning home at 5 p.m., and immediately going to bed, which was extremely tiring.
 
    In addition to his slower pace in digesting knowledge and correcting mistakes, Xiao Congyou also struggled with forgetting key points mentioned by his teachers. Before enrolling at Tainan University of Science and Technology, Xiao Congyou had only played the violin and had no prior exposure to music theory concepts such as counterpoint and harmony, making his studies particularly challenging.
 
    Therefore, Xiao Congyou records both his schoolwork and his major courses and listens to them repeatedly at home. Although this requires more time, effort has always been the magic that helps Xiao Congyou achieve his goals.
 
    In his studies, his classmates also provided Xiao Congyou with a great deal of help. For example, when Xiao Congyou was unable to understand what the teacher was saying or what was written on the blackboard, he could immediately ask his classmates for help. When it came to group reports, his classmates would also assign him tasks that he was capable of doing.
 
    At first, Xiao Congyou frequently had to ask his teachers many questions, but after persistent and diligent study, his name began to appear among the top students in the class, and he even occasionally received scholarships from the school. Even Xiao Congyou, who has always set extremely high standards for himself, was satisfied with his performance.
 
    Friendship, effort, and victory—these are the classic elements of a热血 manga designed for young readers, and they are also the core elements emphasized in the weekly manga magazine JUMP. This unrealistic golden spirit is surprisingly embodied in the real-life academic journey of a young boy!
 
The highest boundary is meant to be broken!
    Since his debut at the Philharmonic Society competition in fifth grade, Xiao Congyou has frequently picked up his violin and traveled across Taiwan's counties and cities, eagerly embracing the thrill of challenges.
 
    Now, after years of honing his skills, violin competitions remain his battleground, though they are no longer unfamiliar territory. It is time to spread his wings and carve out a broader arena in the vast world. However, before setting off, the helpful Xiao Congyou has not forgotten to give back to society with his skills.
    Xiao Congyou has visited Yunlin Prison to encourage inmates, participated in charity performances at Zhongshan Park, and actively engaged in public welfare performances at schools, churches, and communities whenever he has free time. Even when his schedule is tight, his passion for helping others remains unwavering.
 
    In wuxia novels, the highest realm is always meant to be broken by masters. Similarly, the challenges that need to be overcome are often the weaknesses that the protagonist finds difficult to overcome at the time. Xiao Congyou set his first challenge for himself: magic performances.
 
    The essence of magic lies in “illusion,” where the performer must divert the audience's attention, create cognitive dissonance, and deliver a visual impact that feels like a miracle, leaving the audience unable to discern the underlying principles.
Since performers typically need to know what's happening offstage to conceal the secrets of their techniques, this should have been an impossible task for Xiao Congyou, who is blind.
 
    Surprisingly, Xiao Congyou broke through this limitation and demonstrated the results of his training in front of his classmates in the special education class. Through his own hard work and dedication, he inspired other visually impaired individuals to dare to try and challenge themselves.
 
    In addition to magic, Xiao Congyou also participates in non-visual aesthetics courses. In these courses, he uses tools to create art: painting portraits, shaping clay cups, carving, and writing calligraphy.
 
    All the things Xiao Congyou initially doubted he could accomplish when reading the activity brochure were eventually overcome, materializing into priceless works of art. These pieces represent Xiao Congyou's spirit of striving for excellence and serve as trophies that any challenger would be proud to possess.
 
    “Doesn't art require visual aids? Can I do it?” This was the question that arose in Xiao Congyou's mind before the non-visual aesthetics course began. In the end, it was Xiao Congyou himself who answered this question perfectly.
 
Encounters along the journey and prospects for the future
    To break through his own limitations, Xiao Congyou participated in summer camps to train his independence. The summer camps designed tasks for Xiao Congyou and other visually impaired individuals to complete together, fostering communication and collaboration skills. For example, they would form teams to take public transportation to various locations to earn competition points.
 
    During one summer camp, Xiao Congyou met Jing Teng, a graduate of Tamkang University, through a group chat. Jing Teng is a person with multiple sensory impairments, and the two communicated via voice recognition technology, becoming close friends.
 
    Whenever Jing Teng knows about any courses or activities, he invites Xiao Congyou to join. Besides participating in a literary writing class and paintball activities together, Jing Teng also introduced Xiao Congyou to an educational radio station, accompanying him to the studio for an interview.
 
    Xiao Zongyou has a wide social circle, not limited to musicians with shared interests, but also including close friends in the Chinese literature department.
 
    “Where there's a will, there's a way; there's nothing you can't do, only things you choose not to do.” This is Xiao Zongyou's motto.
 
    He believes that if one is willing to try new things, one should not be constrained by existing notions. One should boldly attempt what one desires and ultimately achieve the goals one has set for oneself.
 
    When faced with setbacks and difficulties, Xiao Congyou always accepts the situation as it is, adjusts his mindset, and faces future challenges with a healthy state of mind.
 
    Will he pursue a career related to music in the future? Xiao Congyou is unsure, but he is certain that the violin he holds close to his heart will accompany him throughout his life.
 
    Xiao Congyou also looks forward to moving to Taipei City on his own after completing his master's degree, joining an orchestra to perform and give charity concerts across the country, and letting his beautiful violin melodies linger in foreign lands for years to come.
 
A Friend of the Blind
    In any work, the protagonist always has a close friend who shares both joy and hardship. For Xiao Congyou, that friend is A Zao Shixiang, a student in the Chinese Literature Department at National Chiayi University who aspires to become a novelist. Their first encounter was in a classical novel reading course during their sophomore year. They did not become instant friends but gradually got to know each other through conversations, eventually becoming close confidants.
 
    As for how Xiao Congyou from Nanying University met Zao Shixiang from Chiayi University that leads we to the story of Xiao Congyou's life after the events mentioned earlier. As mentioned earlier, after graduating from Nan Ying University, Xiao Congyou decided to continue his studies and pursue a master's degree. After passing the entrance exams, he was admitted to the Music Research Institute at Chiayi University, which boasts the fourth-largest campus in Taiwan.
 
    Yes, in terms of seniority, Xiao Congyou is actually Zao Shixiang's senior! However, when they first met, he didn't know this and mistakenly thought that his senior was his peer. After spending so much time together, he didn't want to change the dynamic.
 
    In the eyes of intellectuals, talent is very important. Xiao Congyou could play the piano, write lyrics, and compose music, so Zao Shixiang was very proud to have such an outstanding friend.
 
    Zao Shixiang still remembers when he was a sophomore and received an invitation to a concert from Xiao Congyou. The venue was the Wenhui Hall of the Music Department at Jiaotong University. Unfortunately, my musical knowledge was lacking, and during the classical music performance that evening, I only recognized the composers Beethoven and Mozart, but the names of the pieces were completely unfamiliar to me. All I could tell was that the sound coming from the stage was beautiful.
 
    However, the last piece was very familiar to me—Deng Yuxian's “Rainy Night Flower.” If I hadn't even heard that one, then my elementary school music classes would have been a complete waste.
 
    Xiao Congyou's performance of “Rainy Night Flower” was particularly special. The sad melody was interpreted by Xiao Congyou in such a way that it became lively and energetic, as if on a day when it was supposed to rain, the dark clouds suddenly parted to reveal a blue sky and warm sunshine that lifted everyone's spirits.
 
    Zao Shixiang's previous impression of violin performances was that they simply replayed past music for the audience. That night's performance completely changed my perspective.
 
    Zao Shixiang and Xiao Congyou often took the same classes and served as each other's study partners, and in fact, Zao Shixiang was actually assigned as Xiao Congyou's study partner on occasion.
 
    During our time together, we chatted and laughed, worked on group projects, and discussed and overcame academic challenges together. I would like to thank Xiao Zongyou here. Zao Shixiang has very few friends, so thank you for becoming my best friend at National Chiayi University. I am also grateful to Xiao Zongyou's mother for choosing the empty seat next to me when she brought him to the classroom that day.
 
Perseverance and hope learned from Isaac Stern
    Xiao Congyou most admires violinist Itzhak Perlman, whom he has always regarded as his lifelong spiritual mentor in violin.
 
    Many people are born with natural talent, yet while God bestows them with intelligence, He also sets insurmountable obstacles in their path—Itzhak Perlman is such a person.
 
    At the age of four, Perlman contracted polio. Though he narrowly escaped death, he was left with lifelong disabilities.
 
    As is well known, Perlman dedicated all his energy to learning the violin; today, he is one of the world's top violinists.
 
    Devices such as leg braces, canes, and wheelchairs—typically used by people with disabilities—are not brought onto the stage by performers. Many performers, no matter how passionate and outgoing, would shy away from such a situation (physical and mental disabilities). If they were forced to display their disabilities on stage in front of an audience in pursuit of their career, they might prefer to give up their musical aspirations.
 
    But Palman is not like that! Because this performer not only brings these assistive devices onto the stage but also something else—a violin. The presence of the violin alone makes the assistive devices he relies on to move around seem pale in comparison.
 
     When he uses his bow to draw the strings of the Stradivarius violin, producing melodious music, the beauty transcends all the details around him. The soft and pure melody connects the hearts of the audience and the performer, and people seem to be immersed in a joyful atmosphere, celebrating the power of the human spirit and will, which has overcome the limits of the body.
 
    It is hard to believe that Palman's lower limbs are completely paralyzed. This disability did not occur after he began his musical career but was the result of an illness he contracted in his childhood.
 
    Pallman was born in Israel. His father was a barber in Tel Aviv. At the age of four, Pallman contracted polio. Although he recovered after many months of rehabilitation, the illness left him with lifelong physical and mental disabilities.
 
    Despite this, the young Palman felt he should learn to play the violin. He believed the violin to be one of the most challenging instruments to master, a view he has never altered.
 
    He dedicated himself entirely to his craft, practicing with unwavering skill and for extended periods, investing far more effort than most people could endure.
 
    Despite this, Palman remained convinced that playing the violin was the most suitable path for him.
 
    Fortunately, his parents were highly supportive and arranged for Palman to study at the music academy in Tel Aviv.
 
    From that point onward, Palman pursued his musical career with unwavering determination, never acknowledging his physical disability as an obstacle to achieving his dreams.
 
    He worked harder and practiced longer than anyone else.
 
    At the age of 12 and a half, he moved to the United States, appeared on the television program hosted by Ed Sullivan, and participated in a three-month tour with the “Sullivan Star Orchestra,” a group of talented young musicians.
 
    At that time, the young violinist Palman remained in the United States to continue his studies and was taken under the wing of the renowned teacher Ivan Galamian.
 
    In 1963, at the age of 17, Palman gave his debut performance at Carnegie Hall in New York, causing a sensation across the United States.
 
    From then on, he worked tirelessly, frequently appearing in concert halls around the world and recording several albums. Over the years, he continued to refine his playing technique and was eventually recognized as one of the most outstanding violinists of the 20th century.
 
    A critic wrote, “Listening to Perlman play, one can feel joy and delight on different levels—technical, musical, and human.”
 
    Perlman's playing has been described as having a ‘joyful’ and “lively” charm that even his peers find astonishing. This is also evident in his personality—joyful, lively, and passionate.
 
    Pallman's life is the story of a boy with polio who grew up to become an outstanding violinist who was skilled at both mastering his instrument and mastering his life.
 
    Despite his disability, which could have cast a shadow over his future, he chose to embrace hope and accept the challenges of life, ultimately sharing his passion for music with millions of people around the world.
 
    Of course, every step Palman took in his arduous life, just like every step Xiao Congyou took in his own journey, was marked by perseverance and hope.

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