The Kid Who ‘Wow’-ed Symphony Hall [PHIL-OSOPHY]

Do your kids have wow moments? I mean when their jaw drops and they're frozen in the moment?

This true story reminds me that many of us need to take a break from the same old, same old, and look for more wow moments in our daily lives.

Recently, at a concert of the Handel and Hayden Society at Symphony Hall in Boston, conductor Harry Christophers, the orchestra, chorus and audience were in for a bolt from the blue.

In the seconds at the end of Mozart's solemn and moving "Masonic Funeral Music" there was a pause, but the silence was perforated by a young voice blurting out a sincere "Wow!," prompting the audience to laugh, then the orchestra, and then an eruption of applause!

David Snead, president and CEO of the Handel and Hayden Society, said it was one of the most extraordinary moments he'd ever experienced. But the orchestra didn't know who the child was and appealed to the public because they wanted to give the child an opportunity to meet the conductor and get a copy of the recording to be aired on Boston classical WCRB later this year.

We just learned of the child's identity. His name is Ronan, and he is on the autistic spectrum. He's primarily non-verbal. His grandfather, who took him to the concert, said he could count on one hand the times Ronan spontaneously ever came out with some expression of how he's feeling. Audience members said it was one of the most authentic and wonderful moments for recognizing the power and beauty of Mozart's music.

When you can sum up Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's brilliance with a kid's sincere and unpremeditated "wow," there's a life's lesson behind that little echo.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.