That was Samantha Wang, a current second-year student at UVA. Clements complimented her on her playing, stating it was a more intricate piece of music than he believed he could play. He had been engaged with the piano on and off since 1958.

The Invitation and the Audience

Wang extended an invitation to Clements to play a particular song. "I was like, 'OK, why don't you switch seats with me, and you can play the song that you have memorized?'” Wang said. She became his audience, and soon others passing through the lobby joined in. "He grabs everyone’s attention when he plays. People get emotional, they tear up while he plays, or they’ll sing along," Wang remarked.

The Lobby Music Program

Wang connected Clements with UVA Health’s LaDelle Gay, who oversees the lobby music program along with fellow volunteer coordinator Maureen Oswald. Volunteers in this program go through an interview and audition process to ensure a good fit, and Clements was a perfect match. "He’s a delightful soul," Gay said. "We had a wonderful conversation, then we scheduled a time for him to play, and the rest is history."

Clements' Volunteer Work

Clements now plays the piano in the lobbies of the University Medical Center and the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center approximately once a week, sometimes more frequently, even as he and his wife continue their treatments. This is quite an achievement for a man who never initially wanted to learn the piano. "In 1958, boys didn’t want to learn how to play the piano, but I did not have a choice because Mama said, 'You will play,'" Clements shared.After ceasing his lessons, he discovered a genuine love for playing the piano as his faith became more prominent in his life. Clements, a resident of Orange County, still performs at churches in the area along with his volunteer shifts. "He’s unique in his passion for this. It’s not necessarily an easy thing to do," Gay noted.Clements is only the second person to volunteer and receive treatment at the hospital simultaneously, but he believes there are numerous rewards in playing. "It’s not about me, but it’s been really good for me in the midst of my wife’s cancer treatments and my situation, too. It’s been an opportunity for me to just do something about it," Clements expressed.

The Impact on Wang

His desire to improve his situation also had a positive impact on Wang. She and Clements communicate via text and tries to visit when she knows he’s playing. Wang is a certified nursing assistant, and Clements inspired her to start working in the oncology unit at UVA Health. Shortly after Wang’s grandfather passed away due to cancer, Clements texted her that his cancer was shrinking. "It gave me hope that not everyone’s stories have the worst ending. I work on an emotionally difficult unit, but he gives me a hopeful perspective for my patients," Wang said.Clements said he is simply doing what he is meant to do. "It’s just part of my purpose," he declared.