The iconic anthem “Bohemian Rhapsody” finds its origins with the legendary band Queen, setting a high bar for performers worldwide due to its perceived difficulty.
At London’s bustling St. Pancras International Station, a scene unfolded as a teenage boy prepared to tackle the daunting task of performing this renowned Queen song on a public piano. Just as he readied himself, two adults intervened, unaware that the young musician was already poised to take on the challenge. With a shy smile, the boy began to play, setting the stage for an unforgettable performance.
This talented individual is Cole Lam, a 12-year-old pianist known for his virtuosity in playing both classical compositions and modern hits in bustling locales like St. Pancras. Beyond the piano, Cole showcases his musical prowess on various instruments, including the guitar and clarinet. Remarkably, despite his tender age, Cole’s repertoire extends to songwriting and composing, making him a prodigious talent poised for greatness.
As Cole embarked on his rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, onlookers braced themselves, hopeful that the young artist would do justice to Queen’s masterpiece. Two men, perhaps skeptical of the boy’s ability to tackle such a monumental piece, approached him as he prepared to play. Little did they know, Cole was about to astound them and the entire crowd with his exceptional talent.
As Cole’s fingers danced across the piano keys, a transformation occurred. Immersed in his performance, he seemed to transcend the bustling station environment, channeling every ounce of emotion into each note. His passion and dedication were palpable, captivating all who were fortunate enough to witness his rendition of Queen’s classic.
Despite his youth, Cole’s commitment to his craft is unmistakable, serving as an inspiration to aspiring musicians everywhere. With each mesmerizing performance, he continues to hone his talents, poised to make a significant mark on the world of music.
Witnessing Cole’s extraordinary talent firsthand is an experience to be shared, a testament to the power of music to transcend age and captivate hearts. So, share his story and his performance with friends and family, and join in celebrating the remarkable journey of this young musical prodigy.
Tragic events bring orphan colt, mare together
An orphan colt whose mother died shortly after giving birth has a new mom – a mare that had tragically lost her foal – thanks to the generosity of strangers and Washington State University veterinarians playing matchmaker.
Pairing an orphan foal and a nursing mare is a challenging task and one that commonly ends with failure. In this case, the connection was instantaneous.
“The mare had only been without a foal for about 24 hours,” Dr. Lisbeth Matthews, an equine medicine and surgery intern, said. “We walked her into the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and past him. He made a noise, and she went, ‘oh, there’s my foal,’ and started making noises back at him.”
It was a surprise to everyone how quickly the mare, named Shelly but affectionally called Mama by her owners, Roy and Faye Lions, accepted the colt. Equine veterinarian Jenifer Gold, who was helping to care for the foal and to supervise its introduction to the mare, said nursing mares frequently reject orphan foals, and when they don’t, the pairing process often takes days.
“She walked in and started nickering at him like it was her own baby – it was unbelievable,” Gold said. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and I have never seen it happen that way.”
The foal, which has been named Laredo, was admitted to the teaching hospital by his owner, Spokane resident Rachel Williams, just days after he was born when he started showing troubling digestive issues. Shortly after the colt arrived in Pullman, Faye Lions placed a call to WSU to see if the equine team was aware of any orphan colts needing a nursing mare.
“Our foal was dead, and nothing was going to bring it back, so we were hoping we could help someone else,” Faye Lions said. “It just so happened there was a foal there.”
A day later, the colt and Shelly were introduced.
“For them to be so willing to basically hand over their animal to a complete stranger after experiencing their own tragedy was pretty phenomenal,” Williams said. “I feel like in this scenario it was the worst of the worst for everybody, but there was a little bit of silver lining to the story.”
Williams is also grateful for the care and treatment she and her foal received at WSU.
“I just can’t even find words to say how great the veterinarians at WSU were,” she said. “They went above and beyond. I am just happy I ended up at WSU. I am so glad we were able to match those two up – it is kind of a miracle.”
Shelly will live with Williams until the colt is ready to be weaned, likely in six months, before she will return to her home in Kamiah, Idaho.
“It will be tough to say goodbye because you just naturally start to bond with animals, and she has kind of been my lifesaver,” Williams said. “It will be bittersweet for sure, but I am sure her owners will be happy to have her back.”
During the spring, the equine team at WSU typically sees at least a handful of orphan foals. Equine medicine specialist Dr. Macarena Sanz said orphan foals can be fed a powdered milk formula designed for horses, but those raised by humans typically develop behavioral issues that can become problematic as the animal matures.
“They turn out to be socially weird, have no understanding of personal space, and they are more difficult to train,” WSU equine veterinarian Macarena Sanz said. “The fact that this orphan foal has a mare is really going to make a difference.”
Sanz strongly encourages owners to immediately call their veterinarian if a foal is orphaned, as early care is critical to the animal’s survival.
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