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‘Unforgettable Sunrise’: A Non-Verbal Teen Who Composed a Symphony in His Head

Jacob Rock is a non-verbal, autistic teenager from Los Angeles who wasn’t able to speak until 2020. That’s when he began to vividly type out his thoughts and feelings on an iPad. His parents were flabbergasted to realize that he could read and write and convey his emotions and creativity through text. Six months later, he told them he had a 70-minute symphony in his head. “Unforgettable Sunrise” is the result of a months-long collaboration between Jacob and Rob Laufer, a musician and composer who translated Jacob’s painstaking notes into a musical score. The symphony, which will be played Sept. 30 by an orchestra from USC’s Thornton School of music, chronicles Jacob’s journey with physical pain, his inability to speak for most of his life and his joy in finally translating his voice to the world. Host Sasha Khokha visited Jacob and Rob to learn more about their collaboration. see more

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KQED’s Arts & Culture desk brings daily, in-depth cultural commentary and coverage of the Bay Area with a mission to enrich lives and inspire participation.
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