UNA-USA Pasadena hosted its second Coffee Talk of the year, featuring drummer Daniel “Danno” Petersen. Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Petersen shared his story with attendees and performed on the drums during the event. He is currently studying at the Manhattan School of Music and spoke about his journey into music and how it has shaped his life.
Throughout the evening Danno talked about how music became a way for him to express himself from a very young age. He reflected on how discovering your personal purpose can help create stronger connections with others and build a sense of community. While visiting the area he also mentioned that he would be performing at local high schools in Pasadena and sharing his story with students.
After the performance, Danno spoke with the audience and answered questions about topics such as finding your community, staying true to yourself, and what he hopes people can take away from hearing his music. He explained that when he performs his goal is for listeners to feel the same sense of freedom that he experiences when he plays the drums. At the end of the evening Danno was presented with the Ambassador for Peace award by representatives from the Universal Peace Federation.
Overall the Coffee Talk gave attendees the chance to experience Danno performance while also hearing about the role music has played in shaping his path as an artist.
~ Charlotte Yorke, UNA Pasadena Intern
