“Music — a pure art form — without doubt has the ability to spread peace and foster a lasting cooperation between people,” Goldstein said in a recent interview. “That ideal can be incorporated into compositions as the work is felt and put into print. As a composer is inspired, his work is . . . given to the world through the performer, and then . . . the listener feels the original inspiration and proceeds accordingly.”

Goldstein began his musical career at age 9, when he won a set of accordions as part of a contest at his parents’ bank. Not long after, Goldstein also began learning to play the piano and, during high school, the French horn.

It was during his high school career that Goldstein began his professional career as a musician, though he had already been performing for several years.

“My first professional gig was in a German Bar on Fort Lauderdale beach New Years Eve 1966,” Goldstein said. “I was 16 years old. I received $10 for three hours. I guess that was enough money to desire a career in music.”

After graduating from high school, Goldstein traveled to Israel to attend Tel Aviv University’s School of Music. He also studied music at the famous Mozarteum University of Salzburg, Austria, and at Florida State University.

Goldstein continued to perform, though it would be many years before he would record his first album. Drawing upon his repertoire of more than 4,000 songs, he entertained audiences and often took requests—all the while gaining experience and confidence.

Since he made his first recording, Marvin Goldstein, Pianist, in 1988, Goldstein has recorded more than 30 albums with other artists such as Janice Kapp Perry. Among members of the church, Goldstein has become most famous for his piano arrangements of LDS hymns.

In 1985, Goldstein joined the Church, a decision that would ultimately lead him to discover his mission in life. He recalled, “I first realized that I had a mission to promote and spread peace though music as a result of an impromptu blessing given me in October 1989, by Apostle Marvin J. Ashton.”

Over the years, Goldstein has visited three continents and given more than 2,000 performances, each of which was a part of his effort to establish peace throughout the world. One of his most treasured experiences came in 1998, while performing with Arab and Israeli musicians in Israel.

“I felt an overwhelming peace,” he said. “I knew then that I was about a great work. Actually, performing in the concert with the Arab and Jewish performers, plus noticing the varied audience of 200 Arabs and 200 Jews . . . I was moved and concluded something most profound. I witnessed Arabs and Jews that had a great time in the same building, at the same time, listening to each others’ music. They left more sensitive to each other and felt a greater sense of peace through music.”

The profound influence of that concert is what Goldstein hopes to foster at every performance; he hopes others will strive for it as well. He said, “When people ask me how they can help me, I ask that they find opportunities for performances in their localities, where varied factions of their communities are asked to perform together for a mutual charitable concern.”

This summer, Goldstein continues his efforts with a special anniversary concert, celebrating his 50th year of performing. The concert will take place Saturday, June 6, at The Covey Center for the Arts in Provo, Ut., at 7:30 p.m.

Also in celebration, Goldstein will host a wide range of artists that have performed and recorded with him over the years, including Kenneth Cope, Jessie Clark Funk, Gabriela Quezada, Michael Dowdle, Daron Bradford, Joy Gardner, Chenille Saunders, Karen Larsen, Steven Kapp Perry, Todd McCabe, April Moriarty, Jonelle Goddard, Jason Hewlett, Heartbound, One Clear Voice, Thomas Cook and many others.