September 21, 2016: The Last Tenant Standing. Shaq Gives Back. Perlman’s Musical Power.

> TONIGHT ON 'METROFOCUS' MEET THE LAST TENANT STANDING IN EAST HARLEM.

HE IS THE NEW YORKER WHO REFUSES TO MOVE.

WE WILL TAKE YOU INSIDE HIS FIGHT AND SEE HOW THE FIGHT COULD EFFECT YOU AND SHAQ IS GIVING BACK.

THE BASKETBALL LEGEND AND NEW YORK NATIVE RETURNS TO LEND HIS SUPPORT TO KIDS IN HIS HOMETOWN.

TONIGHT, SHAQ ON MENTORING AND THE SECRET OF HIS SUCCESS AND BEHOLD THE POWER OF MUSIC.

WE GET A FRONT ROW SEAT TO PERFORMANCES BY SOME OF THE MOST GIFTED MUSICAL PRODIGEES OF OUR TIME.

ALL THAT AND MORE AS 'METROFOCUS' STARTS RIGHT NOW.

Announcer: THIS IS 'METROFOCUS,' WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY -- CORPORATE FUNDING WAS PROVIDED BY:

Announcer: FUNDING IS ALSO PROVIDED BY THE J.P. B.

FOUNDATION AND THE FORD FOUNDATION.

> THE HUNT FOR REAL ESTATE IN WHAT IS CONSIDERED THE NEXT HOT NEIGHBORHOOD IS HEATING UP AND THAT HAS SOME NEW YORKERS WORRIED WHILE THE MAYOR HAS PLEDGED TO PRESERVE AND BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING --

WE WANT THE PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT SECURITY, THAT PERSONAL SECURITY, ECONOMIC SECURITY OF A HOME THAT THEY CAN AFFORD.

LOW INCOME RESIDENTS IN EAST HARLEM ARE CONCERNED THEY WILL BE PRICED OUT AS THIS OCCURS.

THOSE FEARS LINGER AS LEGISLATION WAS PASSED REQUIRING DEVELOPERS TO SET ASIDE UNITS FOR THE CITY'S POOREST IN THE NEW BUILDINGS.

WE ARE TAKING YOU INSIDE NEW YORK'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING FIGHT BY LOOKING AT THE DOCUMENTARY, LAST TENANT STANDING IN EAST HARLEM, THAT FOLLOWS A MAN'S JOURNEY TO STAY IN THE HOME HE GREW UP IN.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

> MY NAME IS RAYMOND, I LIVE IN EAST HARLEM.

ON NINTH STREET AND THIRD AVENUE.

I'M 56 RIGHT NOW.

AND I LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE.

YOU SEE THOSE TALL BUILDINGS BACK THERE.

THAT'S WHAT IS GOING HAPPEN OVER HERE.

EVERYTHING HIGH RISE, CAN YOU IMAGINE IT?

THE SUN IS BEAUTIFUL, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

THIS WILL BE OBSCURED BECAUSE OF ALL BUILDINGS FOR RICH PEOPLE.

BECAUSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOES NOT MEAN FOR US.

THE TENANTS.

IT'S FOR THE RICH, IT'S AFFORDABLE FOR THE RICH.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

I LIVE RIGHT BEHIND YOU, WHERE THEY ARE TRYING GET ME OUT RIGHT NOW.

AS YOU SEE, THEY GOT, THEY HAVE DESTROYED MY BUILDING WHILE I'M STILL LIVE ENGINE -- WHILE I'M STILL LIING IN THERE, IT'S MESSED UP TO SAY IT NICELY.

THEY SENT ME A LETTER SAYING, WE KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, AND IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE PEOPLE, WE WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP PAY YOUR WAY ON TO GET OUT.

I AM LIKE, OH, THEY ARE SO NICE.

YOU KNOW?

THEY WANT TO HELP ME GET OUT.

AND THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY ME TO GET OUT.

NO, THEY WILL HIRE GUYS AND BRING MY THINGS OUT.

WHERE TO, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THEY WILL HELP ME GET OUT.

EXCUSE MY HUMBLE ABODE, I'M A SINGLE MAN.

I CAN'T DO ANYTHING HERE.

IT'S SO COLD, I HAVE STUFF THERE FROM CHRISTMAS, THAT IS HOW LONG WE HAVE NOT BEEN HAVING HEAT.

THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

I HAVE PLASTIC.

I HAVE THE TWO HEATERS GOING ON.

AND I CAN CONTAIN MYSELF IN THIS AREA ONLY.

THE REASON I TRY TO KEEP IT AS WARM AS POSSIBLE, AND THEN I DEAL WITH THE ELEMENTS AS I WALK OUT.

HOLD ON.

THERE YOU GO.

SO, THESE ARE THE, THESE ARE -- THE HEATER THEY GAVE ME HAS NO TOP.

THEY GAVE ME ANOTHER HEATER.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE ENOUGH HEATERS FOR THE HOUSE, BEING THAT THE BUILDINGS ARE GOING DOWN, WE HAVE AN INFESTATION OF MICE AND RATS.

AND THEY ARE NOT STUPID MICE, I HAVE TRAPS ALL OVER.

THEY GET AWAY FROM THE [ BLEEP ], THESE ARE MICES AND RATS, THEY ARE EVOLVING IN INTELLIGENCE.

I HAVE BEEN HERE 50 YEARS.

I HAVE SEEN IT ALL.

THIS IS ALL I REALLY KNOW.

AND I DON'T WANT TO BE MOVED OUT OF HERE.

SOME PEOPLE CALL MY AN IDIOT, BECAUSE I DON'T TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN.

BUT WHERE AM I GOING TO GO?

FLORIDA?

IT'S NICE, IT'S WARM.

BUT IT'S TOO SLOW FOR ME AND IT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE AS IT IS IN THE CITY.

AND THERE'S MY SON, WHICH I LOVE THE HECK OUT OF.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE HE IS READY FOR LIFE AFTER ME.

AND THIS APARTMENT WAS MY IDEA OF TAKING CARE OF HIM AFTER I'M GONE.

NO MATTER WHAT, HE WILL BE ABLE TO PAY THE RENT HERE AND SO, YOU KNOW, EITHER HE WAS LAID OFF OR GOT CAUGHT WITH A BAD JOB, WE KNOW WE HAVE A RENT CONTROL SITUATION HERE, HE WILL BE ALL RIGHT.

BEING UNDER PRESSURE THAT THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOCK THE PEOPLE DOWN AND BUILD WHAT THEY HAVE TO BUILD, AND YOU KNOW, I'M SCARED THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN.

BECAUSE IT MAY BE CHEAPER TO DO SOMETHING TO ME AS A PERSON THROUGH HARM OR KILL ME, THAN TO PAY ME.

WHOA!

> HOW LONGS THAT SCAFFOLDING BEEN UP?

FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS AT LEAST.

YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY CLOSE TO WHEN THEY BOUGHT THE BUILDING, BECAUSE THEY STARTED JUMPING IN AND GUTTING AND PUTTING IN HOLES.

I DID NOT KNOW THEY WERE GOING TO DEMO IT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND BUILD TEN STORY HIGH RISES HERE AT MARKET RATE.

AND I DON'T KNOW.

WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE, WE ARE SAVING SOME.

WHERE ARE THEY BEING BUILT, OUT OF EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE LOSING, WE ARE NOT GETTING IT BACK.

GENTRIFICATION IS HERE.

IMAGINE WHAT IT WILL BE TEN, 20 AREAS FROM NOW?

WITH ALL THE HIGH RISES HERE.

THERE WILL BE NO PERSONALITY.

THAT HALL OF FAME OUTSIDE THAT SHOULD BE A LANDMARK, IT WILL NOT BE HERE.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE PUERTO RICAN PARADE ON SATURDAYS?

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FESTIVAL ON THIRD AVENUE WHEN THEY HAVE THOSE THAT WERE LIVING HERE?

DO YOU THINK THE NEW TENANTS IN HERE WILL LIKE IT?

HUH?

YOU THINK YOU WILL PAY THE MARKET RATE PRICE AND SAY, LOOK AT THE PEOPLE HERE.

LOOK AT THE PEOPLE HERE, SEE WHAT THEY ARE DRINKING AND EATING?

YOU THINK THAT WILL BE ALLOWED?

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE YOU CAN BUILD.

FIND THEM.

THERE'S A LOT OF PLACES YOU CAN BUILD.

LET GO OF THE LAND WE HAVE HERE.

YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE THE INDIANS, THEY COME IN AND GIVE ME BEANS.

HERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, HERE, YOU GO, GOOD BEANS, GOOD TRADE OFF, WE TAKE THE HOUSE, YOU TAKE BEANS.

THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO REFUSE THE BEANS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

> HERE NOW WITH THE MORE ON THE FILM YOU JUST SAW IS RAYMOND AND THE DOCUMENTARY'S DIRECTOR, ANDREW PADILLA.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

THANK YOU.

RAYMOND, FIRST OFF, IT'S BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE FILMING, WHAT IS KEEPING YOU IN THE APARTMENT STILL?

DESIRE, I GUESS.

I CONSIDER MYSELF A DINOSAUR LIVING IN THE 21st CENTURY.

ADAPT AND SURVIVE.

YOU ARE THE ONLY TENANT LIVING IN THE BUILDING.

YES, I AM.

HOW IS IT THAT THE LANDLORD HAS NOT FORCED YOU OUT?

THEY HAVE TRIED, THEY HAVE COME UP WITH EVERYTHING.

LIKE I SAID, THEIR BEST OPPORTUNITY WAS IN THE WINTER TIME WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO FREEZE ME OUT OF THERE.

GOOD THING I HAD ELECTRICITY, WHERE I COULD, LIKE I DO, CLOSE MYSELF IN THE ROOM, PUT PLASTIC ALL OVER THE AREA AND LOCK THE DOOR AND KEPT THAT ROOM HEATED AND HAD A COUPLE OF QUILTS.

GOING TO THE BATHROOM WAS DIFFICULT.

I CAN IMAGINE.

YEAH, IT WAS A VERY COLD CONDITION, IT WAS LIKE SUB ZERO.

ANDREW, I HAVE TO ASK, WHAT WAS IT ABOUT HIS STORY THAT DREW YOU TO DO A FULL DOCUMENTARY ABOUT IT?

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF FOLKS WHO TAKE ALL DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE HOUSING CRISIS IN NEW YORK, FOCUS ON DIFFERENT ASPECTS, WHETHER IT FULL STOPPING, CERTAIN PROJECTS OR TRYING GET DIFFERENT COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

I MET RAY AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT AND AS WE LEFT AND SPENT TIME OUTSIDE, HE BEGAN TELLING ME ABOUT HIS PERSONAL SITUATION AND IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT, YOU KNOW, THAT I REALIZED, NOT ONLY WAS THIS DUDE MY NEIGHBOR AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I -- WE DEVELOPED A FRIENDSHIP SINCE.

BUT YOU KNOW, HIS SITUATION IS SO SYMPTOMATIC OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY.

THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORT, FROM WELL INTENTIONED FOLKS TO GET BENEFITS FROM THE RUN AWAY HOUSING MARKET.

BUT IT'S ALL HANGING ON THE HOUSING MARKET CONTINUING TO RUN AWAY.

ARE PEOPLE SATISFIED WITH WHAT THE De BLASIO ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT FORWARD WITH THE ZONING PLAN.

I'M GOING TO GUESS THAT FROM THE LOOK ON YOUR FACE, THAT THE ANSWER IS NO.

IS THERE A HAPPY MEDIUM THAT NEIGHBORHOODS CAN BE PRESERVED AND PEOPLE CAN MAKE MONEY, OR DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO LOSE?

I GOT IN THE COMMUNITIES AND ALL THE STUFF, BECAUSE I WANTED UNION JOBS.

WHICH WAS MY INTENTION BEFORE I BECAME A VICTIM OF GENTRIFICATION, AND I WANTED TO BRING GOOD JOBS TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I FELT THAT WOULD UP LIFT THE COMMUNITY ITSELF.

SO, IN ESSENCE WHAT I'M SEEING, AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN OTHER PLACES THAT THEY BUILT UNION, THEY ARE BUILT AFFORDABLE AND THEY DID HIRING FROM THE COMMUNITY IN A 33% CLIP.

I SEE IT AS A MODEL.

THAT WAS FROM THE BRONX AND BROOKLYN.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS, WHERE DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, EAST HARLEM IN THE NEXT DECADE?

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, RAY CAN SHARE HIS THOUGHTS ON IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP IN THIS WAY, TRYING GET -- WITH ALL THE BEST INTENTIONS, RIGHT, BUT TRYING TO GET SMALL PIECES OF A REALLY, REALLY SMALL PIE, YOU KNOW, IF WE DO GET MANDATORY INCLUSIONARY HOUSING, WE WILL GET 25% OR WHATEVER PERCENTAGE WE GET, MAYBE WITH CITY SUBSIDY, WE GET MORE PERCENTAGE OF HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE, BUT NOT AFFORDABLE TO OUR MEDIAN INCOME.

EVEN MOST OF THE AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE NOT AFFORDABLE TO THE AVERAGE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IF WE CONTINUE ALONG THIS PATH OF DEVELOPMENT, WE WILL GET WHAT THE CITY'S HOUSING PLAN IS PRMGSED.

WE WILL BE BUILDING A CITY THAT CAN TAKE IN AN EXTRA 500,000 NEW RESIDENTS WHO WILL BE FOR THE MAJORITY MARKET RATE.

WHERE IF IF WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP IN THIS PATTERN, WE WILL DO WHAT THE CITY PLAN IS.

IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT TO MAKE SURE AND ENSURE THAT WE REMAIN IN OUR HOMES.

THAT PEOPLE LIKE RAY AND ALL THE FOLKS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT LIVED THROUGH THE BAD TIMES WHILE LANDLORDS WERE BURNING THE NANDS TO THE GROUND, AND THE CITY WAS NOT PROSECUTING ANY OF THEM, THAT THESE FOLKS ARE ABLE TO STAY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, NOBODY IS AGAINST DEVELOPMENT.

LISTEN, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND THAT LOOKS LIKE A REALLY POWERFUL DOCUMENTARY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

'METROFOCUS' IS FOLLOWING UP WITH THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT AND WE HOPE YOU TO BRING YOU THAT SIDE OF THE STORY AS WELL.

AND WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE COMING WEEKS OF THE CITY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN.

STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES.

IN THE WORLD OF BASKETBALL FEW PLAYERS HAVE BEEN MORE CELEBRATED OR MORE EXCITING TO WATCH THAN SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, THE NEW JERSEY NATIVE HAS ATTRIBUTED HIS SUCCESS ON AND OFF THE COURT TO THE SUPPORT AND VALUES THAT WAS INSTILLED IN HIM AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

HE HAS BEEN A SPOKES PERSON AND FUNDRAISER FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND HAS BEEN A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE NEW CHILDREN'S DENTAL AND VISION CENTER.

IN A CONVERSATION THAT WAS PART OF AMERICAN GRADUATE, A PROJECT MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING TO HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES FIND WAYS TO KEEP STUDENTS ON THE PATH TO GRADUATION, MICHAEL HILL RECENTLY ASKED O'NEAL, WHAT IT MEANT TO HIM TO HAVE A PLACE LIKE THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB FOR HIM.

THIS IS WHERE IT STARTED, BOTH PARENTS HAD JOBS, COULD NOT AFFORD BABY-SITTERS.

GOOD THING I LIVED ACROSS THE STREET.

THOSE PROJECTS RIGHT THERE.

I WAS INSTRUCTED TO COME HERE AFTER SCHOOL, AND WAIT UNTIL ONE OF US CAN GET YOU.

A LADY BY THE NAME OF MS. BANKS.

SHE IS STILL HERE.

SHE IS LIKE EVERYONE'S MOM, GRANDMOM, AUNT, SHE MADE SURE ALL THE KIDS WENT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IT WAS SIMPLE FOR HER, SHE SAID, SHOW ME THE HOME WORK, AFTER THAT WE GOT TO COME OVER HERE AND PLAY.

THIS WAS MY SAFE HAVEN.

IT WAS A PLACE WHERE I GO CULTIVATE DREAMS.

IF YOU WERE NOT HERE AND THIS CLUB WAS NOT HERE, WHERE WOULD SHAQUILLE O'NEAL HAVE BEEN?

WELL, I WAS ALREADY A LOW-LEVEL JUVENILE DELINQUENT AND WHERE WOULD I BE?

I THINK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

I HAD TO LEARN THE HARD WAY ON HOW TO BE A LEADER AND NOT A FOLLOWER.

I OWE THIS PLACE, I OWE THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA.

IF IT WAS NOT FOR THIS PLACE, THERE WOULD BE NO SHAQUILLE O'NEAL OR SHAQUILLE O'NEAL BRAND.

AND IT OFFERS MORE NOW THAN WHEN YOU WERE A KID.

THAT IS RIGHT, WHEN I COME BACK, I HELP TO RAISE MONEY AND HELP THEM TO BUILD STUFF.

KIDS PROBABLY NEVER GET A CHANCE TO GO TO THE DENTIST OR GET THEIR EYES EXAMINED.

IF THIS CASE, SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CROP UP LATE THEIR LIFE, CAN BE ADDRESSED NOW, WHAT IS IT LIKE HELPING WITH THIS?

IT'S A BIG DEAL.

KIDS SHY BY NATURE.

IF YOU CANNOT SEE, YOU WON'T READ.

YEARS AFTER THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST ASK A LITERACY -- IF WE GET THEM IN THERE AND GET THEM TESTED AND SAY, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, PICK OUT A PAIR AND YOU KNOW, WE ASSOCIATE READING WITH COMIC BOOKS AND YOU KNOW, OTHER LITTLE BOOKS AND FUN BACKS, THEN WE START TO, YOU KNOW, BRING UP THEIR COMPREHENSION AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

PEOPLE CALL IT GIVING BACK.

THIS IS WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO.

SUPPOSED TO DO IT BECAUSE MY MOTHER TOLD ME TO DO IT.

MOM SAID GO BACK AND FIX THAT PLACE UP.

GO BACK TO NEWARK AND FIX IT UP.

GO AND SEE A FAMILY THAT DON'T HAVE A HOUSE, HANDLE THAT.

ALL THE STUFF THAT I'M DOING, PEOPLE CALL IT GIVING BACK, I'M TYING ORDERS FROM THE PERSON WHO RAISED ME.

LUCILLE O'NEAL --

YOU VOW TO KEEP THAT PROMISE.

YOU HAVE TO, A MAN THAT DOESN'T KEEP A PROMISE TO HIS MOTHER IS NOT A REAL MAN.

SO, YOU KNOW, MY MAMA WORKED HARD FOR ME, AND YOU KNOW, THE REASON THAT I HAVE WORKED HARD FOR HER, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATED THAT.

YOU HAVE HAD AN IMPORTANT MENTOR IN YOUR LIFE, YEAH, DALE BROWN.

13 YEARS OLD, 6'9', COULDN'T DUNK, COULDN'T PLAY, DALE BROWN COMES THROUGH MY FATHER'S ARMY BASE IN WEST GERMANY.

MY FATHER SAID, HEY, LET'S GO TO THIS COACH AND SEE IF YOU CAN GET A SCHOLARSHIP.

I TALKED TO HIM.

6'9', CAN'T PLAY, CAN'T DUNK, CAN YOU HELP ME OUT WITH EXERCISES TO STRENGTHEN MY LOWER EXTREMITIES.

A WORD I LEARNED ON PUNISHMENT.

I THOUGHT, MAYBE I GET IN TO COLLEGE.

AND HE SAID, HOW LONG ARE YOU IN THE ARMY AND I SAID, I'M ONLY 13.

I'M NOT IN THE ARMY.

AND WE KEPT IN TOUCH, WHAT I LIKE ABOUT DALE BROWN, HE SENT ME QUOTES AND EXERCISES EVERY WEEK.

EVERY WEEK, IN GERMANY.

I READ THEM AND READ THEM AND THEN I HAD TO WRITE HIM PAINFUL LETTER.

MAN, ALL THE STUFF YOU SENT ME, DIDN'T WORK.

THANKS FOR THE HELP.

APPRECIATE YOU.

I'M GOING TO QUIT NOW, GOING TO JOIN THE ARMY.

NEXT LETTER, NO, FORGET BASKETBALL, DON'T QUIT, COME BACK TO THE STATES AND CALL ME, I WILL GIVE YOU A SCHOLARSHIP.

THAT'S WHY I WENT TO LSU.

HE SAW SOMETHING IN ME THAT I DID NOT SEE IN MYSELF.

YOU CAN GO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.

WHY NEWARK?

I KNOW YOU MADE A PROMISE TO --

BECAUSE MY MOTHER AND FATHER CREATED A PROGRAM CALLED SHAQ.

AND IT GOT ALL THE PARTS FROM NEWARK.

YOU CANNOT FIND THE PARTS ANYWHERE ELSE AND IF I WANT TO KEEP MY SHARPNESS, I HAVE TO COME BACK HOME AND GET MY PARTS REPLACED.

PERIOD, THAT'S WHY.

HM-MM.

THEY DON'T -- THEY DON'T BUILD THIS SEXINESS ANYWHERE ELSE.

THEY BUILD IT HERE IN NEWARK.

SEXINESS.

♪ ♪

EACH SUMMER, SOME OF THE MOST GIFTED YOUNG CLASSICAL MUSICIANS IN THE WORLD PILGRIM TO THE MUSIC PROGRAM IN LONG ISLAND, THE PROGRAM FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS HAS PARTNERED WITH THE LOCAL EAST END ARTS ORCHESTRA.

I GOT A CHANCE TO ATTEND THE CONCERT AND SAW AND HEARD THE UNIFYING POWER OF MUSIC.

♪ ♪

YOUNG MUSICIANS FROM TWO ORGANIZATIONS HARMONIZE TO ONE SONG DURING AN OPEN REHEARSAL AT THE HIGH SCHOOL ON THE NORTH FORK OF LONG ISLAND.

IT'S THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE JOINT PERFORMANCE BASED IN RIVER HEAD AND THE PEARLMAN MUSIC PROGRAM, A TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR GIFTED MUSICIANS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE.

THESE KIDS OBVIOUSLY PRACTICED A LOT AND THEY HAVE A CERTAIN SOUND AND THEN WE ADDED A LITTLE BIT OF HARMONY TO WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

AND IT'S GOOD EXPOSER TO WHAT MUSIC CAN BE.

IT'S NOT JUST ONE DIMENSIONAL.

EAST END ARTS RUNS A SCHOOL AND GALLERY AND HOSTS COMMUNITY EVENTS, ALL WITH THE MISSION TO ENRICH THE AREA THROUGH THE ARTS.

MARK AND EACHAM MILLER ARE INVOLVED WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO BRING THE ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER TO BENEFIT THE MUSIC STUDENTS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

THE MILLERS INTRODUCED EASTEND ARTS TO THE PEARLMAN MUSIC PROGRAM AND SPONSOR THIS JOINT REHEARSAL.

WE ARE LUCKY.

WE HAVE THE GREATEST ARTISTS IN THE WORLD.

THESE YOUNG STRING ARTISTS RIGHT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT REALLY SAYS A VERY POWERFUL STATEMENT ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AND I SEE THE LEVEL OF INTEREST ON THE NORTH FORK AND THE EAST END IN GENERAL.

JUST GROWING YEAR BY YEAR.

THIS YEAR, BECAUSE OF HOW SPECTACULAR THIS IS.

WE HAVE HAD A FULL ROSTER OF STUDENTS SIGNED UP.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING THINGS FASTER.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING THINGS SLOWER.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING THINGS LOUDER AND SOFTER, JUST TO GET A GOOD SENSE OF WHAT MR. PEARLMAN MAY DO THIS EVENING.

SO, I JUST NEED TO ASK YOU A AGAIN, WHAT IS THE TEMPO?

THAT FIRST MOMENT OF PLAYING IN FRONT OF HIM, YOU SEE THE ANXIETY, YOU SEE A BIT OF PRESSURE.

I LIKE TO TRY IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THIS TIME.

STARTLE TO PLAY REALLY, REALLY -- START TO PLAY, REALLY, REALLY SOFTLY.

THE WAY THAT HE IS SO WARM AND LOVING.

KIDS DETECT THAT INSTANTANEOUSLY.

BEFORE WE COME HERE, WE HAVE THIS IMAGE OF HIM AS VERY MUCH A LEGEND IN THE MUSIC WORLD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE GET HERE AND WE REALIZE HE IS ALSO A PERSON.

IT'S HUMBLING IN A WAY, AND IT IS INSPIRING TO SEE THAT, WELL, HE IS A GOD, BUT NOT IN A WAY WHERE WE CAN'T IMPACT WITH HIM.

BESIDES CONDUCTOR AND MUSICIAN, HE IS A TEACHER, LEADING THE WORLD CLASS MUSIC FACULTY IN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT DESIGNED TO NURTURE STUDENT AS TALENTS.

YOU SUPPORT THE STUDENT.

YOU INVOLVE THE STUDENT IN THE PROCESS OF TEACHING AND I THINK THAT, THAT IS PART OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO HERE.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

YEAH, YOU CAN ALSO --

STUDENTS GET THE CHANCE TO LEARN FROM AND SHARE THE STAGE WITH HIM.

BUT AFTER THEY LEAVE LONG ISLAND, THE PEARLMAN MUSIC PROGRAM OFFERS LIFE LONG MENTORSHIP.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET IN TO.

ONCE THEY ARE IN, THEY ARE IN.

AND WE ARE THERE FOR THEM.

STUDENTS BRING THE OPENNESS AND SUPPORT TO THEIR REHEARSALS WITH THE EAST END ART STUDENTS.

SOMEONE TOLD US EARLIER TODAY, THAT YOU ARE PEOPLE'S ROLE MODELS AND SOMETIMES IT'S NICE TO BE ON THE OTHER END AND IT'S GOOD TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE KIDS IN A WAY.

THEY ARE THE PERFECT ROLE MODELS FOR THE CHILDREN.

WE HAVE EIGHT, NINE, TEN-YEAR-OLDS.

AND THEY ARE WATCHING THE TEENAGERS AND SEEING THAT THEY CAME FROM AROUND THE WORLD BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PASSION FOR THEIR MUSIC.

IT'S A DRIVING FORCE FOR THEM.

THAT WAS TRUE FOR ONE PEARLMAN STUDENT.

WHO FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM THROUGH A SIMILAR CONCERT NEAR HER VERMONT HOMETOWN.

I REMEMBER LOOKING AT THEM AND THINKING, OH, MY GOSH, THESE PEOPLE ARE AMAZING.

I WANT TO BE LIKE THEM SOME DAY.

THEY SEEMED HAPPY WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE MUSIC.

AND I HAD NOT SEEN TOO MANY GROUPS PLAY AT SUCH A HIGH LEVEL AND I HAD NEVER SEEN A GROUP PLAY SO JOYOUSLY.

I THINK IT PUTS A GREAT EFFECT ON KIDS.

THEY SEE THEM AND GET INSPIRED AND KIDS THAT NEVER PLAYED EVER, WANT TO GO AHEAD AND PLAY.

EVEN FOR STUDENTS WITH NO PLANS FOR A CAREER IN THE ARTS THE EXPERIENCE IS ABOUT MORE THAN MUSIC.

IT'S KIND OF IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPLAIN.

SO HOW WAS YOUR SUMMER AND YOU STAND THERE LOOKING AT THEM SAYING, THERE'S NO WAY I COULD ACTUALLY CONDENSE SEVEN WEEKS THAT DOES IT JUSTICE.

THE MUSIC IS ALMOST A VEHICLE.

MY FAVORITE PART IS TRYING TO BRING OUT OF THE BEST IN EACH CHILD.

AND ACTUALLY SEEING IT HAPPEN IN FRONT OF MY EYES.

AS THE NIGHT WRAPS, STUDENTS TAKE A BOW AND BID ADIEU UNTIL NEXT SUMMER.

Announcer: FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY --

> COMING UP, A PROFILE OF TESSA LARK, WINNER OF THE 2016 AVERY FISHER CAREER GRANT AWARD.

I HAD ALL SORTS OF MUSIC PLAYING IN THE HOUSE.

BOTH OF MY PARENTS ARE MUSIC LOVERS.

AND A VISIT TO THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART FOR A LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC PAINTINGS.

WATER LILLY.

FUNDING WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY: THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY MEMBERS OF 13.

NYC ARTS IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIRST REPUBLIC BANK.

FLEXIBILITY.

COORDINATION.

EXCELLENCE.

FIRST REPUBLIC PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT.

IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE YOU AND BY SWAN AUCTION GALLERIES.