Sad death of a BBC Young Musician
RIPThe death has been made known of Adam Boeker, a contestant in BBC Young Musician 2012. He was 27 years old.
A Canadian student at Chetham’s School of Music, Adam appeared destined for great things.
His father posted: ‘Adam Boeker passed away yesterday. Adam was a wonderful, comedic young man and a gifted pianist who struggled to manage the talents God gave him. Through his antics and music, he touched many people, and we want to thank all those who supported him along the way. Adam lived at home this last year and we shared wonderful times. He was well loved and fed, and caring for us both. We miss you fiercely Adam and hope you find peace. Our love is eternal.’
Pianist Murray McLachlan writes: ‘A colossal talent, a tremendous natural artist. Dear Adam. RIP. Memories of so many wonderful performances. Finalist in BBC Young Musician. Winner of Chetham’s concerto competition with Prokofiev third concerto. Scriabin fifth sonata. Liszt sonata. Prokofiev sonatas 2 and 4. So creatively charged. Such a warm hearted personality and such a brilliant mind as well as amazing fingers. The best kindest and most sensitive supportive parents. It’s too unfair.’
This is heartbreaking. My condolences to Adam’s family, friends, and loved ones. The clips here and elsewhere reveal a tremendously talented pianist. His personality comes through in his playing – which is saying something. There’s no “generic” excellence here.
Recently the college-age son of some friends of ours ended his life. He was a very talented oboist and was well-loved. The large outpouring of grief after his passing from a large community of family and friends who loved him and whose lives he touched was overwhelming. If only he understood how loved, how valued, and how meaningful his life had been to so many. He had so much to look forward to, whether in music or beyond it.
The sad truth is that in this day and age when so many are so connected, the real-world disconnections are mind-boggling. Many people out there are suffering silently. I wish I could make a difference for the better – and I know many others feel this way as well. If you are suffering and reading this, PLEASE seek out the kindness, love, support, and help of others if you are feeling bad about yourself, your life, or your circumstances. Many people you may not know well care very deeply about you. The truth is many if not most of us have profound, difficult struggles from time to time. There are times when ALL OF US need the support, encouragement, and help of others. No matter how things may appear to be, better days almost always come. If you believe the world might be a better place without you, your brain is lying to you because that’s just not true. I’ve never once seen or heard of a someone committing suicide and then the people in that person’s life are happy, relieved, or feel good about what’s happened. I still remember and am saddened by the suicide of an acquaintance of mine in college 40 years ago. I wonder sometimes about all the wonderful things awaiting him in life that he missed out on.
If there is anyone you can reach out to for help, please do. Many more people care about you than you likely realize.
Beautifully put. My older sister took her own life 11 years ago. I have not felt like a whole person ever since – nor, I expect, will I ever. Not a day goes by that I do not think about her, or blame myself for not having seen the signs and done something to prevent it.
If you are struggling, please know that you are not alone.
Superbly expressed. Thank you for articulating it so clearly. I did a rehearsal and gig nearly 40 years ago with a musician. I sat next to him in that gig, we had the best time, a great performance. He killed himself the next morning, and although he was almost a complete stranger, I have, over the years wondered what I missed, what I could have seen to help him.
Please don’t punish yourself; there really would have been nothing you could have done. Sometimes, people planning this course appear more upbeat in their last days, having made the decision finally to act on previous thoughts and thereby deriving some sense of peace at long last.
Just so awful for those left behind, wondering if they could have changed the outcome or where they think they went wrong. Can think of no greater loss than parents losing and burying a child in any circumstances.
There’s no bigger pain for a parent than a loss of a son/daughter. Wish his parents, family and loved ones all the best.
Just wanted to take a moment to celebrate how effortless and tension-free he is in the attached clip. As a pianist I’m jealous! A meaningful legacy