As I enter the ninetieth year of my life, I recall my long and very eventful biog¬raphy through the stories gathered in this book. Of course I cannot predict how much longer this life will last, but I want to end with some closing and summa¬rizing thoughts. First of all, I would like to explain why I call this memoir Build¬ing Bridges with Music. All my life I have tried to be a bridge builder whenever I have encountered a situation where reconciliation or any other form of under¬standing is required. This has greatly influenced many of my most important decisions. Furthermore, I have always tried to live every moment of my life as fully as possible and hope to continue this lifestyle until the end. (That's why the poem cited at the beginning of the stories of my life as a motto has meant so much to me.) I have been extremely fortunate during those more than eighty-eight years, as can be seen from the many stories related in my narrative.It seems that every episode has presented opportunities that were unimaginable before these certain doors were opened to me. Many people have contributed toward this fortunate outcome and stood by me with great support so very often. If I were to mention them all I am positive that I would leave out too many.

However, I want to summarize by mentioning some people and events that have greatly helped shape my life and make it meaningful. First, I must mention my father who was such a strong role model: a man of extraordinary discipline and courage who faced extreme adversity without ever losing his will to live, to love, and to create. And then my mother, who personifies to me the proverbial “woman of valor,” taught both my sister and me how to get along with people, and emphasized the importance of family. She helped to foster a close relationship between my sister and her family and mine that has endured throughout these years. For this I am particularly grateful. Here I also want to acknowledge my very demanding teachers, who inspired me and gave me the tools for my creative work.