I moderated a panel at techweek on Friday. We had some
great insights from our panelists and terrific audience Q&A. Some great stories about the power of people
to connect with each other and become massive and powerful forces for good and
commerce.
Then I heard something on the radio yesterday morning that
put a massive exclamation point on it.
Bob Edwards interviewed Eric Whitacre, a musician, composer
and conducter, who has written music for, and virtually led—that is, online—a
choir of over 2000 people.
The story of how the virtual choir gained momentum is
wonderful inspiration for anyone with an idea waiting to explode. The endeavor is impressive and the music is
beautiful.
But what’s most impactful is hearing how the community that formed
itself through Mr. Whitacre’s virtual choir has come together. Not just to sing together, but to support
each other. They’ve formed a community
that communicates virtually; they even experienced the first death last year of
one of the community members.
In Whitacre’s words, it’s their shared intent that ties
them together and “takes them to a transcendent place. It’s not just a virtual choir anymore, it’s a
virtual choir army.”
It proves the simple
and lovely fact that humans will go to any lengths necessary to connect
and communicate with each other and once they do, the communities they form are
incredibly powerful.
How they form
isn’t hugely different from how great ideas often come to life: a combination of pluck, luck, skill, and
timing. And shared intent.
The guiding force of a strong community is a common passion,
and humans with a strong shared intent can’t be held back.
No comments:
Post a Comment