Recently Houstonians honored the lives of two men – John Lennon and our own Sergiu Luca, the Rice University professor and virtuoso violinist — who made unique contributions not just to the world of music, but to our sense of hope that the world in general is indeed moving forward in concert, despite periodic dissonance suggesting the contrary.

At a time of terrible turmoil wrought by a huge war dividing our nation decades ago, Lennon gave us baby boomers a new sense of hope in the song “Imagine.” When we sang those beautiful words, we were given the gift of a vision of world peace in years to come. The song imbued us with a sense of peace and unity, presenting us with a vivid picture of what could happen if we all worked together, in concert, toward the good of the whole.

“Imagine” was empowering to us in a special way, like no other song that I have known, before or after. It gave us exactly the words that we needed to hear at that time – prayerful words, sung against a lullaby of a tune, that lifted us all up and made us dream of the possibility of a better world to come. It made us feel better. It may even have made us better.

At that time, some of us were marching in one direction, some in the opposite direction. But finally, most of us were marching to the same tune, led by a series of uniquely inspiring drum majors who spoke to us in powerfully evocative terms as they described their dreams of a peaceful, more beautiful world. We were all, finally, listening attentively to the same song of hope, moving forward in concert. The song “Imagine” still stands as an eternal reminder and inspiration of the good that is possible for us all, together, no matter how dark and long the road ahead of us may appear.

When I think of the soaring sense of hope that beautiful music can inspire, I think of how fortunate I was to have heard and learned from Luca’s wonderful performances with Da Camera, the chamber music organization that he founded here in Houston. What a privilege it was to hear him play his violin so beautifully, and to continue to hear so many other talented individuals play in Da Camera concerts through the years.

I’ve always loved chamber music performances because they so beautifully illustrate and exemplify the art of performing in concert. If you’ve ever attended a chamber music concert, you know what I mean. You’re looking at a handful of individuals on stage who are playing their instruments with the highest precision, discipline and virtuosity on a personal level, and at the same time, paying the closest possible attention to one another as the exquisite timing of each note progresses.

They are often performing classical works that were composed by great musicians many years ago— gorgeous compositions that have been appreciated by generations of listeners over a long period of time. Now, these particular performers, these representatives of their era, are paying tribute to the idealistic concept that individuals who are working hard, together, in concert, can produce something truly beautiful, bigger and better and more inspiring than anything any one person could accomplish on his own.

A few weeks ago, I was privileged to attend a free Shepherd School of Music student concert in Stude Hall at Rice University. As I sat in the audience, listening to the great classical music performed so well by these talented students, I felt a renewed sense of hope and joy and belief in a better global future. I looked at the students’ young faces and admired the way they focused so strongly on the music, on the timing of each piece, on their conductor, and on each other.

At the end of the concert, I turned in my seat and sought out the older faces of the Shepherd School faculty members — professors who, like Luca, had worked so hard and so attentively with each one of their students, to help them perfect the individual talents they had and give them to the world, as a sort of peace offering.

I thought of how marvelous it was that we all had this opportunity to be transformed and uplifted together by this performance in concert – musicians and teachers and listeners alike. Listening over time to all these buoying hymns, we can all give tribute to the drum majors of hope and peaceful community who have gone before us, including Lennon and now, Luca, by making our own kind of music, offering something that adds to the beauty of the whole.