Michele McLaughlin: Wish #1: I wish for everyone to be more open hearted, open minded, and loving. There is far too much negativity, judgement, and intolerance in the world right now. The world needs a lot more positivity, love and light.

Wish #2: I wish for everyone to have the experience of real love. Someone to love... and someone who loves them in return. Someone to care for... and someone who cares for them in return. Someone to adore and cherish... and someone who adores and cherishes them in return. There isn't a more lovely moment in life than to truly experience love with another human being.

Bill Binkelman: I wish for music to regain its impact as a force for enrichment, enjoyment, and excitement in a jaded, cynical world in which it currently is viewed as a free commodity - background "noise" channeled through earbuds to accompany a life full of other information downloads. Music should be viewed as art to be cherished and explored, not as a "thing" to accompany other "things" in a meaningless, soulless exploration of a life unlived.

I also wish that somehow, whether through happenstance, a change in circumstances, or whatever, that I can finally free up some time and relieve some stress in my life so that I can do my part to achieve my first wish by getting back to reviewing music on a much more regular basis and share my love of music with as many people as possible (and help as many deserving artists as I can as a by-product of my writing).

Jennifer Thomas: This year I wish for the world to be a safer place. In light of recent events, I wish for mankind to have more love in our hearts, to be a little less offended at every tiny thing, to be a bit more unselfish, a bit more nonjudgmental, and a lot more caring. I wish for a world where I don't worry about sending my children to school and worry about a gunman killing classrooms of children. I wish for a world where everyone felt safe, felt like they had a friend, and like they have hope. I wish for a world where good was right again, and evil was wrong. And I wish for a world where music healed, where everyone sought for it in their lives as a healing uplifting tool. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

Joseph Akins: I wish for world peace and that the key of F-sharp major becomes easier to play in!

Jeff Bjorck: I wish for an end to terrorism and the beginning of real peace that involves respect for all people.

I wish for and end to the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene global crisis that still kills the equivalent of four 747s full of children every 24 hours.

Cathy Oakes: I wish for peace and security in our nation and for my children to be safe, happy and productive.

Mike Howe: I wish that everyone in the world has access to clean, safe drinking water. Millions do not, which is why Water Aid is such a great cause. And, on a personal level, I wish that I could absorb more life experiences and learn how to turn them into music in new, interesting ways that I can't even yet imagine.

Bill Leslie: I wish for everyone a sense of (1) optimism and (2) curiosity.

Donovan Johnson: My wish for the upcoming year is to see and experience love, tolerance and encouragement among all people. I wish abundant prosperity and success to all of us who aspire to achieve it!

Tim Neumark: I wish that social media users would focus on their own lives: pictures of pets and children, along with updates about real life, are much more interesting than geopolitical commentary or hate-filled rants.

I wish schools would stop eliminating music programs, arts programs, and physical education.

Suzanne Ciani: A stop to terrorism. No more plastic bottles.

Erik Scott: #1) I hope that all the wishes for peace and understanding on this list are granted. and… #2) I hope that all the holiday pies, cakes and bakery goods will be made with lo-glycemic sweeteners….HA...oorah! (you know, for cancer survivors and peeps with incurable sweet-tooth).

Michael Debbage: A cure for Alzheimer's and an opportunity to interview the great David Foster.

Amy Padilla (former student, friend for life!): 1. That we may let go of prejudices, defensiveness, and all that prevents us from seeing ourselves and one another with clarity and with love.

2. That we may seek peace, live with compassion, and love with openness and understanding.

Michael Brant DeMaria: 1. I wish for peace for all those who have lost loved one’s this year – knowing the holidays can be a difficult time – which is the case for myself this year after losing my dear mother in September. This first year without her will make the holidays challenge – but also in many ways even more meaningful.

2. I wish for all those struggling with self-doubt to find the confidence to pursue their dreams and do what they know in their hearts they are on the planet to do.

Doug Hammer: 1. Love. 2. Repeat.

Kori Linae Carothers: I wish for hearts to be enlarged, opened and giving to those that need healing, love and understanding. I also wish that all of YOU will continue to bless all of us with your beautiful music.

Jim Wilson (adult student): Out of the many how can I choose? I suppose the first would be in the words of an old friend and song writer from her song 'For Whom': "The sun and the wind and the stars and the rain (and the earth and the trees) we have only borrowed to use for awhile. When we are done we will have to give them back, let’s give them back the way they came." Not a likely scenario but my wish would be that we start making an attempt as humans to de-escalate our greed, selfishness parochial fundamentalism to save a little something for those to come.

The second is probably just as unrealistic but that is to get my left hand to co-operate on the “Deck the Halls” duet for the Christmas recital.

Wayne Gratz: 1. A speedy recovery for my mother-in-law Beverly
2. A new healthy puppy.

Jim Hudak: As you know, its hard to wish for anything since I'm a guy who "has everything," (I hope you still see the humor in that statement), but I will take this opportunity to bid you a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season.

Greg Maroney: 1. Humans, as one people, will realize that life here on earth is precious, short, and wondrous. People should treat each other with respect, love and realize we are all connected. What happens to one person happens to us all.

2. I wish that I will continue to have the inspiration to create beautiful music that helps people realize wish number 1.

Kevin Kern: All you Chicago cubs fans, whether young or young at heart, having come so heartbreakingly close last season, here’s hoping that the North Side of Chicago will know the joy that comes from winning it all for the first time in the modern era next year. Go Cubbies!

Louis Landon: 1. World Peace 2. A worldwide shift in consciousness allowing people to understand that we all connected.

Jeremy Le (student, 5th grade): 1. To be able to play David Hicken's "Sekhmet" soon! Really like this piece. 2. World peace.

Sang Le (friend and Jeremy’s dad): 1. A sweet lime tree and a big pomegranate tree. We have lots of fruit trees in our backyard but these two, both of which are good for the heart.

2. To be really motivated in the next three years with my piano practice, so that I can play in public a bunch of songs at the cafe' located near the platform of the Palo Alto, CA CalTrain station near where I work. People always gather there, while waiting for their trains like I do, to hear whoever makes use of the piano in the cafe'.

Bernward Koch: I wish more creativity for the benefit our world. & I say it with a quote from J. W. v. Goethe: “Nothing is more worth than this day.”

Craig Urquhart: My wish is: That all the beautiful music we make will help to heal the world and bring harmony and joy to all.

Bette Groesbeck (adult student): 1. GOOD HEALTH IN 2016 FOR OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

2. PRAYERS FOR OUR COUNTRY THAT IS IN SUCH A SORRY STATE AND HOPE THAT WE CAN ONCE AGAIN BECOME A LEADER IN THE WORLD THAT OTHER NATIONS WISH TO FOLLOW.

Rocky Fretz: 1. I wish peace for the weary, shelter for the homeless, food for the hungry and unconditional love for and from all.

2.Why, a million more wishes, of course.

Robin Meloy Goldsby: 1. I wish for a warm and safe home for each of the refugee families living in our village in Germany. These people deserve to live with dignity.
2. A friend of mine—the father of two young children—died last year. He asked me to come and play for him in the hospice home, where he lived for three months before he finally passed away. Before my little concert, we held hands, laughed like teenagers, and cried like babies. This is what he said to me: “I don’t want to sound like I’m some wise old man giving advice from his deathbed—but listen to me. I’ve figured out a few things since I’ve been here. Spend as much time as you can with the people you love; do work that you’re passionate about; and, most importantly—don’t worry so much.” So that’s my second wish—to heed his words. Rest in peace, Bruno.

Paul Adams: Two wishes... that's hard. I would want the media to allow more air time for moderate Muslims to stand and be counted. I would want the American public to be a bit wiser in their choice of leaders. I would want the media to reduce focus on anything outrageous just to make $. I would want all good guys to win, and bad guys to stumble and learn. Less homeless animals, more self esteem and energy for street folks and for people to have hope. ..... I could go on forever, but such is not the way of the unfolding of this life. This is a playground where anything is possible. It's a no holds barred wrestling match pitting the plight of the soul at the whim of Ego. So, WISDOM and a sense of feeling inner LOVE/CONNECTION.

Kathy Parsons: I wish that all of the wonderful and heartfelt wishes that everyone else has made here come true. What a wonderful world it would be and there would be nothing left to wish for! Except to wish everyone a wonderful and joyous holiday season no matter you celebrate it, and may 2016 be your best year yet!

Michael Hoppé: Gratitude, gratitude, and more gratitude...

Louis Colaiannia: My first wish is that my grandchildren get to live in a world that knows peace. I hope they have limitless opportunities and have happy lives.

Since my parents are no longer alive my second wish would be to spend a few minutes with my mom and dad and tell them how much they are missed.

Robin Spielberg: 1) To live in a world where we do not have to fear the threat of a mass shooting at a mall, cinema, workplace or social gathering

2) To make a positive difference in the world through music, deed or compassion