“Imagine being told that your two-year-old has moderate to severe autism,” says Bozena Gasior, Milosz Gasior’s mother. “Imagine being told by a school psychologist that your five-year-old’s IQ is zero.”

This is the reality many parents of children with disabilities face, including Milosz Gasior, a now 18-year-old piano prodigy with autism. His adventure with the piano started in the fourth grade, where he found his passion for music. Before he could even speak, Milosz found a way to express himself through music, and his natural talent was undeniable. Milosz also thrived off the structure and routine; practicing the piano for hours each day helped him in other areas of his life. “He thrives on following a routine, and music seems to be an organized world for Milosz in which he finds refuge,” says his mother Bozena.

By experiencing the world through a mind with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), this incredible musician is able to master music in a way that transcends the ability of the average person. Today, Milosz practices the piano for about four hours each day. He is able to read music, store it, and play up to five pages of music from memory.

“Milosz is one of the most uniquely talented young musicians with whom I have had the pleasure of working,” says Derek Weston, Program Director and Assistant Principal at Pinellas County Center for the Arts (PCCA). “I am consistently impressed with his technical and expressive playing, and we have been very fortunate to have him as a student at PCCA.”