Jorge Antonio Zetina was 7 when he heard a song that he wanted to play "really bad." The song was one of Mozart's rondos, but that didn't deter the young boy. He started taking piano lessons.

Now, two years later, Antonio (he goes by his middle name) plays not only Mozart but Beethoven, Schubert and his favorite, Chopin. (He has weekly lessons with teacher Kathleen Christensen.)

In March, Lorraine Brown, volunteer coordinator at Harmony Home Health and Hospice, received a phone call from 9-year-old Antonio. He wanted to be a volunteer. He wanted to play the piano for the elderly residents at care centers.

"I got his address and went to visit," said Brown, all the while thinking maybe there was some way he could help, but she wasn't sure that playing the piano was it. Then Antonio started playing for her, and "I was blown away. His little fingers were just flying over the keys. He was amazing."

Since then, under the auspices of Harmony, Antonio has performed at several assisted living centers, most recently at the Golden Living Assisted Living Center in Taylorsville. On a recent Saturday morning, Antonio played through his repertoire of classical favorites.

"He sure made us all happy," said one of the residents. "We hope he'll come again." "That boy goes beyond genius," added another enthusiastic listener. The residents clapped and cheered and showed their appreciation for a little boy who gave up his Saturday morning to play for them.

For Antonio, his reasons for coming are simple. "I just like to give something I like to other people."

The Zetinas came to America from Mexico three years ago when his dad, Juan Antonio, got a job in Chicago. "Then we came here because you can do a lot of things here," said Antonio, who speaks English fluently, although his father is still more comfortable with Spanish.

As a third-grader at South Kearns Elementary, Antonio also likes to read and play soccer. His dad plays the guitar, but Antonio fell in love with the piano. "I like the feelings that music brings. It can be soft or loud." And he has already started composing his own works. "I did one called 'Rainbow.' It's kind of like Chopin." But it's not finished enough to play for groups yet, he said.

Antonio is the youngest volunteer for Harmony, said Brown. And already he's having an impact. "You see the smiles on the faces of the residents and know they like the music. One patient that he played for was going to be transferred to another facility, and she asked if we could bring him to her new place."

People are amazed by his skill, Brown says, but they also fall in love with his smile and his nature. "He's always so respectful." He demonstrates not only an ability but also a humanity far beyond his age, she said.

Antonio's father taught him that gifts should be shared with other people who need them, said the boy. "I love to come here and play."

But volunteering was Antonio's idea, said his father. "I am very proud of him. He's just a little boy, but he likes to make people happy."

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E-mail: carma@desnews.com