Bringing this touching solo to life was Cody Smith-Rollins, whose performance was at once gentle, heartfelt, and quietly powerful. With clear phrasing and emotional vulnerability, Smith-Rollings conveyed the conflicting emotions embedded in the piece—pride, confusion, sorrow, and a father’s unspoken love. His delivery gave the audience space to connect to the humanity behind the music, reflecting on the complicated, evolving nature of parental relationships and acceptance.