David Lee grew up on a US military base in South Korea, where he often had to move nine times with his family.
He was lonely and struggled with mental health issues as a child, but when he performed a solo at a rehab center, an audience member moved to tears and asked him to play at her funeral, he says.
"David kept his promise, although virtually because of COVID-19 travel restrictions," he tells Stars and Stripes.
That's when the 18-year-old's passion project, Music Echoes, was born.
"Music is a universal language can help uplift moods and soothe fears in a turbulent world," he says.
Lee, an accomplished violinist, founded Music Echoes to deliver the joy of music to health facilities around the world to help people cope with stress, depression, anxiety, and life's hardships.
The nonprofit has recorded music for 15,000+ hospitals, 1,000+ orphanages, and 500+ nursing homes in all 50 US states and more than 100 countries, and Lee has received letters from the Pentagon, US government, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
He was also chosen as a representative of the 2 million military children and received $10,000, a trophy, a free Ritz-Carlton ticket, a free cruise ticket
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