“Beyond the Sea” from Jacksonville

St. John Bargas Jr. is a musician and a multi-instrumentalist. He is autistic and struggles with the spoken word, but not the language of music. St. John states music makes him “happy,” and he loves performing.

Here, St. John performs with his ensemble St. John and Friends. They play “Beyond the Sea”, based on “La Mer” by Charles Trenet, as arranged by Christina Erhayel and David Steadmen. St. John and Friends was formed in 2017, a music group passionate about live music, the power of performance, and the transformative power of music to inspire and enlighten. They perform classical, jazz, and contemporary pieces in the community and outside of Jacksonville, Florida. St. John and Friends is St. John Bargas Jr. (cello) and his teachers Christina Erhayel (violin) and David Steadmen (piano).

St. John  is a graduate of the North Florida School of Special Education (NFSSE) and is currently a postgraduate student at the school. He plays the cello and double bass in the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras (JSYO) and is a Special Olympics Florida-Northeast Region athlete.

St John is is part of From the Top’s Musicians with Disabilities celebration! Throughout the spring, From the Top is spotlighting young disabled and neurodivergent musicians who have been invited to share their talents and stories on Daily Joy.

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“By highlighting the creativity and passion of young people, Daily Joy offers real hope for the future and reminds us that great art is still being made all around the country.”

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Music has the unique ability to bring joy to our lives – especially in the hands of young people. Daily Joy is a reminder of music’s power to uplift, inspire, and unite.

Daily Joy is a project of From the Top. It began in the very early days of the Covid-19 pandemic and continues today to offer a much-needed respite from the anxiety and worry that we encounter in the world.

From the Top is a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating the stories and artistry of young musicians through media and leadership programs. Learn more.

From the Top is grateful to the Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation for their generous support of Daily Joy.

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