I'm Possible: A Story of Survival, a Tuba, and the Small Miracle of a Big Dream

Richard Antoine White

I'm Possible: A Story of Survival, a Tuba, and the Small Miracle of a Big Dream
Format
Paperback
Publisher
Flatiron Books
Country
United States
Published
4 October 2022
Pages
256
ISBN
9781250269669

I’m Possible: A Story of Survival, a Tuba, and the Small Miracle of a Big Dream

Richard Antoine White

From the streets of Baltimore to the halls of the New Mexico Philharmonic, a musician shares his remarkable story in I’m Possible, an inspiring memoir of perseverance and possibility.

Powerful … equal parts heartwarming and heart-wrenching. White is a gifted storyteller. –Washington Post

Young Richard Antoine White and his mother don’t have a key to a room or a house. Sometimes they have shelter, but they never have a place to call home. Still, they have each other, and Richard believes he can look after his mother, even as she struggles with alcoholism and sometimes disappears, sending Richard into loops of visiting familiar spots until he finds her again. And he always does–until one night, when he almost dies searching for her in the snow and is taken in by his adoptive grandparents.

Living with his grandparents is an adjustment with rules and routines, but when Richard joins band for something to do, he unexpectedly discovers a talent and a sense of purpose. Taking up the tuba feels like something he can do that belongs to him, and playing music is like a light going on in the dark. Soon Richard gains acceptance to the prestigious Baltimore School for the Arts, and he continues thriving in his musical studies at the Peabody Conservatory and beyond, even as he navigates racial and socioeconomic disparities as one of few Black students in his programs.

With fierce determination, Richard pushes forward on his remarkable path, eventually securing a coveted spot in a symphony orchestra and becoming the first African American to earn a doctorate in music for tuba performance. A professor, mentor, and motivational speaker, Richard now shares his extraordinary story–of dreaming big, impossible dreams and making them come true.

This item is not currently in-stock. It can be ordered online and is expected to ship in approx 4 weeks

Our stock data is updated periodically, and availability may change throughout the day for in-demand items. Please call the relevant shop for the most current stock information. Prices are subject to change without notice.

Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.