TAMPA, Fla. — For years now, 20-year-old Milosz Gasior has played piano. It is his true passion in life, practicing sometimes five hours a day.

But would the autism hold him back from securing a paying career? That was a question that lingered in his mother's mind.

“In a perfect world, I would imagine him playing somewhere in a nice restaurant, with beautiful candles and his music,” said Bozena Gasior. 

She was not sure would ever come true as her son lives with a more severe level of autism. 

Milosz graduated in May. It took a few months, but by November, he had a few paying gigs, including at the Polish American Association of Sarasota.

“We wish to present Milosz with a small stipend for his playing with us today,” said Ann Pienkos, handing him an envelope with a check inside. “We are very grateful for your talents, and we thank you very much.”

In the crowd, Bozena beamed with pride. “It means the world to me,” she said. 

He wasn’t playing alone either. On that day, he was accompanied by Maya Mazur, a professional singer and violinist.

“I never really looked at him as a person with autism. I was just focused on music and what we can do together,” said Mazur. “What he did—it was like priceless. It is impossible.”

He did so well that it actually gave Mazur an idea. 

“Why won’t I hire Milosz?” she said. “He is a pianist, he is great, why won’t he just make money out of this?” 

She also owns her own company, It Sounds Good For You. She hires musicians and helps finds venues for them to perform.

“This type of artist, advertising him as someone who can play at a cocktail hour, where she performs later, it is perfect,” said Bozena. “He continues to learn, and playing, accompanying someone, that is not something that his brain does easily.”

Bozena also recently published a book about her son, and life raising an autistic child. It is called ‘I heard the Light.’

If you want to learn more about Milosz, or hire him for an event, click here.