Unforgettable Sunrise- A symphony from Jacob Rock & Rob Laufer
For most of his nineteen years, Jacob Rock, diagnosed with severe autism at age 3, has only been able to roughly verbalize the words “eat” and “yes.” His crippling inability to communicate spawned years of violent, often bloody, and increasingly compulsive self-injury.
In 2020, during pandemic-Zoom school, Jacob suddenly found his voice via a breakthrough in his long-practiced iPad typing. One of the first full sentences Jacob typed was "I want to be called Jacob" (he had always been called "Jake" up to that point). Soon he began writing smart, compassionate poems, literate, concise movie reviews, and expressing fierce political idealism. Through his dad-held iPad, Jacob revealed an intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm far beyond anyone's wildest hopes or expectations.
And then, 12 months ago, a bombshell: the Brian Wilson/Bob Dylan-loving Jacob casually revealed that he had just finished composing a nearly 70-minute symphony in his head.
In the following weeks, Jacob typed out a detailed description of his musical vision and the intended emotional impact of each moment. It was to be made up of 6 titled movements: 1) Tumultuous Desire, 2) Page Turner, 3) Brilliant Disguise, 4) Laughing In My Sleep, 5) Playing to Win, 6) Laughter in the Face of Sadness. Jacob’s vision follows his journey from anger, pain, and chaos to exploding moments of joy, celebration, and bittersweet melancholy in the wake of his communication breakthrough.
Jacob’s vision has found its perfect collaborator in the extremely talented family friend Rob Laufer. Following and interpreting Jacob’s notes, Rob has created a midi score to match the musical outline. About their work together, Jacob says: "I want to cry because it is so perfect. I love that Rob can read my mind."
With the midi-files of the music complete, the respected JoAnn Kane company is midway through the completion of the score and acclaimed conductor Daniel Lessler Newman https://www.danielnewmanlessler.com/ has been engaged to conduct a 50 plus piece ensemble from USC's Thornton School of Musichttps://music.usc.edu/ for the October 2023 performance.
All the pieces are coming together to bring this unique and amazing artistic creation to the audience that it so richly deserves. We just need your help to fund the musicians!
BUDGET:
1)Score creation: $35,000
2) Musicians for 4 rehearsals and the performance- $40,000+
3)Venue and misc costs including travel and instrument cartage $25,000
Total cost: Approximately $100,000
Current Wild Honey Foundation Fund; $60.000
Total needed: $40000
The debut performance of Unforgettable Sunrise performance will be in support of the 501c3 non-profit Wild Honey Foundation’s Autism Music/Arts Initiative to support, enhance, and enable artistic creation in the non-verbal autism community through creative partnerships with Wild Honey artists.
LIVE PERFORMANCE DETAILS- Sunday, October 1st, 2023 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA The show will be filmed and recorded as a proof-of-concept for future collaborations between Wild Honey Foundation musicians and artists and the non-verbal community.
About the Wild Honey Foundation:
Since 1994, WILD HONEY FOUNDATION, a 501(c)(3), non-profit, has produced concerts, film screenings, online fundraisers, and live stream events to benefit autism treatment/research and members of the music community in need. Led by Paul Rock and David Jenkins, Wild Honey is a grassroots, volunteer organization dedicated to passing on the passion, creativity, and idealism found in rock, rhythm & blues, folk, classical, and pop music to future generations through cultural events of all types.
For more information on the Wild Honey Foundation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WIldhoneyfoundation
You can make a difference by donating today to Wild Honey Foundation.
Produce concerts, screen movies, produce webcasts, and all types of events to benefit autism groups, musicians-in-need, and more.
00 to help him pay his family's basic living expenses while he recovers. It's the least we can do. 
guidestar.org/profile/47-1823179
charitynavigator.org/ein/471823179