Two Oakland schools received a special visit on Thursday from an Emmy award winning musical director.
Famed musician Ricky Minor stopped by the Oakland School of the Arts and Edna Brewer Middle School of the Arts to give students a little advice, listen and inspire.
He spoke with young artists as part of the Oakland Symphony's music education program aimed at 7th through 12th graders.
"It's magical here. To have this kind of opportunity and the arts are the most important thing. It's such a high vibration, and whatever these students do, they're going to be changing the world," he told KCBS Radio. "I'm so proud of this program. I want to duplicate it and put it around the world in every city."
"These people who are playing music here, they're not all going to be musicians. But what matters that they're learning from here is discipline, friendship and working together for a common goal."
Minor has worked with superstars such as Beyoncé, Usher, Adele, Stevie Wonder and Chance the Rapper been the musical director of celebrated shows like The Academy Awards, Super Bowl and the Kennedy Center Honors, for which he won one of his two Emmy awards. He also served as the band leader on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno from 2010 to 2014.
Despite all his eventual successes, Minor said he originally never thought he would practice music as a profession.
"I just love playing music, so I didn't know that I would have a career doing it, but I was just going to play because I just love the way it makes me feel," he explained.
"I played because I loved it. I wasn’t making any money, but I was happy. I was so happy that I knew that I found something that would make me whole and happy."
Minor will be guest conductor for Saturday night's performance of "Debbie Allen's Playlist" with the Oakland Symphony.
Symphony director Mieko Hotano told KCBS Radio the concert will feature local legends and students, including the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Chorus, the Oakland Symphony Chorus, as well as other national talent.
"It's a really big showcase of Oakland talent," she said.
The concert takes place Saturday, Feb. 12 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre. Tickets can be purchased here.
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