Nathaniel Ayers was a gifted musician who attended Juilliard but had to drop out due to schizophrenia. He ended up homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. A journalist named Steve Lopez meets Nathaniel and tries to help him get back on his feet and pursue his dream of playing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Lopez discovers Nathaniel was accepted to Juilliard but his schizophrenia caused him to leave school and end up homeless.