Music Without Borders: Jeff Stietz at TEDxSemesteratSea

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

Pianist and composer, Jeff Steitz has been playing the piano since the age of four. After studying for twelve years at Mannes College in New York, Steitz went on to work with pianist Hao Huang at Claremont McKenna College, where he earned dual degrees in piano performance and economics. Recently, Steitz has performed in venues across the country and has begun debuting his original improvisatory works for piano. Jeff sailed with Semester at Sea on the Fall 2011 voyage and will join the Spring 2014 voyage during his quest to source 100 fabrics from 100 countries. Jeff Steitz is the founder and CEO of Serengetee, a concept inspired by the diverse fabrics he began collecting from country to country while sailing on Semester at Sea. He is on a mission to make compassion the next big trend in fashion. For each T-shirt sold, 13% of the profit goes to one of the 50 foundations across the globe with which Serengetee has partnered.