The son of financier Warren Buffett, will be performing, “Life Is What You Make It: A Concert and Conversation with Peter Buffett” on Saturday, in the auditorium of the historic Old Administration Building at Fresno City College.
The performance will be a representation of Buffett’s book, “Life Is What You Make It” and will feature Buffet on the piano and Michael Kott on the cello.
Buffett says that the point of this performance is to interact with the audience.
“I also take questions from the audience throughout the show. They can ask me anything! That’s why it’s a conversation… I’m not just talking ‘at’ the audience. I’m talking with them,” said Buffett.
Much of Buffett’s inspiration comes from his family. He saw that his father loved his work and worked hard.
“Seeing that every day… and knowing that my parents only hoped I could find something I was that passionate about… was very inspiring,” said Buffett.
This made Buffett want to find something that he was equally passionate about. If it happened to make money, that was a bonus.
Buffett found his path in the arts and went on to become an Emmy-winning composer, author and musician.
He describes music as his way of communication and says that it has been that way since his childhood. He believes that music and other art forms are important “vehicles for expression,” and finds sponsoring the arts to be valuable and essential.
Buffett’s love of music is what helped him conquer the challenges of pursuing his passion. At the end of the day, he understood that he was doing what he loved and that was enough.
Some may question whether or not Buffett’s success has had anything to do with the wealth of his family. He says that his family philosophy of “figure it out on your own” is what has made him successful and was the only form of inheritance that Buffett received.
“If my parents had made me emulate the success of others, I probably would have been very unhappy. And if they continually coddled me.. paid my bills etc… I never would have known if I could do anything on my own. So their gift of independence – meaning ‘figure it out on your own’ – but in a very supportive and respectful way, was incredibly valuable,” said Buffett.
Buffett says that through difficult times, he was “self-reflective.” Instead of dwelling on the problems and believing that they were due to outside circumstances, he would examine his role in creating the difficulties.
“I still knew that I was doing the thing I loved. So even in the toughest times I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” said Buffett.
The performance in the OAB follows Buffett’s life, successes and failures and is meant to share a story that might change the way that others view their situations.
With his performance, Buffett hopes that the audience leaves with a better sense of self and the world. He wants to leave his audience in thought over where they are in their lives at this time.
“Ultimately, I’m just telling my story. But hopefully through my story they can find new meaning in their own story and have a different perspective on the world around them,” said Buffett.
Buffett’s concert will benefit the arts education programs at the State Center Community College District, the College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State, the Fresno County Office of Education and University High School.
Tickets for this performance are as follows: $30 for general admission; $100 for VIP Area Seating and tickets may be purchased online at http://fresnostate.edu/artshum/buffett.
