Conducting Parkinson's Conversations

Kelly Corcoran

In this episode, Thomas Verrier speaks with Kelly Corcoran. Kelly is a professional conductor who, among her many accolades, was the associate conductor of the Nashville Symphony for nine seasons. Kelly also holds a master's degree in public health and today serves as a social scientist at Vanderbilt University's Music Cognition Lab. Her work in the lab draws on both her conducting career and her public health training, exploring how music engagement can support community well-being and social connection. She is also involved in interdisciplinary research related to musicality, cognition, and health outcomes. In their conversation, Kelly shares her perspectives on both the negative effects Parkinson's has had on Thomas as a conductor and the positive effects he has experienced when conducting and participating in the creative music-making process. This is Episode 3 of Season 2 of Conducting Parkinson’sConversations. If you are a musician with Parkinson's, I would love to hear from you. I believe that when we share our stories, others on the Parkinson's journey will feel less alone. ABOUT CONDUCTING PARKINSON’S: I’m Thomas Verrier, conductor of the Vanderbilt University Wind Symphony, and I have Parkinson’s Disease. I have come to accept that Parkinson’s Disease will significantly shape my future. However, my acceptance does not equate to resignation. Quite the opposite, it has given me a strong sense of purpose and motivation! It is my desire that by sharing my story, others facing Parkinson’s Disease will know that they are not alone. I hope to inspire perseverance and adaptation; to create a forum for sharing and comparing experiences; to foster a supportive network of conductors/musicians with Parkinson’s; and to raise awareness and understanding among others in the broader community. FOLLOW ON SOCIALS: www.instagram.com/conductingparkinsons [http://www.instagram.com/conductingparkinsons] www.facebook.com/conductingparkinsons [http://www.facebook.com/conductingparkinsons] #parkinsondiseaseawareness [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/parkinsondiseaseawareness]#parkinsonsawareness [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/parkinsonsawareness]#michaeljfoxfoundation [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/michaeljfoxfoundation]

Gilbert Long

In the latest installment of Conducting Parkinson’s Conversations, Thomas Verrier visits with his longtime colleague from the Blair School of Music, Gilbert Long. Gil is a world-class tuba player who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2018. Now retired from both Vanderbilt University and the Nashville Symphony, Gil talks candidly about his experiences. Together, these friends compare notes on the diversity and complexity of living with PD symptoms and share insights. If you are a musician with Parkinson's, I would love to hearfrom you. I believe that when we share our stories, others on the Parkinson's journey will feel less alone. ABOUT CONDUCTING PARKINSON’S: I’m Thomas Verrier, conductor of the Vanderbilt University Wind Symphony, and I have Parkinson’s Disease. I have come to accept that Parkinson’s Disease will significantly shape my future. However, my acceptance does not equate to resignation. Quite the opposite, it has given me a strong sense of purpose and motivation! It is my desire that by sharing my story, others facing Parkinson’s Disease will know that they are not alone. I hope to inspire perseverance and adaptation; to create a forum for sharing and comparing experiences; to foster a supportive network of conductors/musicians with Parkinson’s; and to raise awareness and understanding among others in the broader community. FOLLOW ON SOCIALS: ⁠www.instagram.com/conductingparkinsons⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/conductingparkinsons] ⁠www.facebook.com/conductingparkinsons⁠ [http://www.facebook.com/conductingparkinsons]

Fabio Dwyer

In this first episode of Season 2 of Conducting Parkinson’s Conversations, Thomas Verrier talks with guitarist Fabio Dwyer. Fabio’s journey with early onset Parkinson's disease has been defined by resilience and the pursuit of new possibilities. Following his diagnosis, Fabio chose to undergo deep brain stimulation, DBS, a procedure that has fundamentally changed his daily life. Fabio shares the reality of living with Parkinson's, the decision process behind DBS and what life looks like on the other side of the procedure. If you are a musician with Parkinson's, I would love to hear from you. I believe that when we share our stories, others on the Parkinson's journey will feel less alone. ABOUT CONDUCTING PARKINSON’S: I’m Thomas Verrier, conductor of the Vanderbilt University Wind Symphony, and I have Parkinson’s Disease. I have come to accept that Parkinson’s Disease will significantly shape my future. However, my acceptance does not equate to resignation. Quite the opposite, it has given me a strong sense of purpose and motivation! It is my desire that by sharing my story, others facing Parkinson’s Disease will know that they are not alone. I hope to inspire perseverance and adaptation; to create a forum for sharing and comparing experiences; to foster a supportive network of conductors/musicians with Parkinson’s; and to raise awareness and understanding among others in the broader community.  FOLLOW ON SOCIALS: www.instagram.com/conductingparkinsons [http://www.instagram.com/conductingparkinsons] www.facebook.com/conductingparkinsons [http://www.facebook.com/conductingparkinsons] #parkinsondiseaseawareness [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/parkinsondiseaseawareness]#parkinsonsawareness [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/parkinsonsawareness]#michaeljfoxfoundation [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/michaeljfoxfoundation]

Ethan Henderson (Part 2)

Previously, Conducting Parkinson's reposted a YouTube video of Clayton Henderson, a pianist with severe Parkinson's symptoms. When he begins to play piano, we see that his symptoms completely disappear. This two-part episode of Conducting Parkinson’s Conversations is with Clayton’s son, Ethan Henderson, who recorded this video back in 2012.In this second part of our conversation, Ethan discusses his own journey with Parkinson’s and his involvement with the Michael J Fox Foundation.ABOUT CONDUCTING PARKINSON'S:I'm Thomas Verrier, conductor of the Vanderbilt University Wind Symphony, and I have Parkinson's Disease. Over the past 12 months, I have come to accept that Parkinson's Disease will significantly shape my future. However, my acceptance does not equate to resignation. Quite the opposite—it has given me a strong sense of purpose and motivation! It is my desire that by sharing my story, others facing Parkinson’s Disease will know that they are not alone. I hope to inspire perseverance and adaptation; to create a forum for sharing and comparing experiences; to foster a supportive network of conductors/musicians with Parkinson’s; and to raise awareness and understanding among others in the broader community.FOLLOW ON SOCIALS:https://www.instagram.com/conductingparkinsonshttps://www.facebook.com/conductingparkinsons

Roger Frisch

In this episode of Conducting Parkinson’s Conversations, Thomas Verrier speaks with violinist Roger Frisch. Roger is a distinguished violinist and former associate concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra. After building a celebrated career, he developed Essential Tremor, a neurological condition that threatened his ability to play his instrument. In 2010, Roger underwent deep-brain stimulation surgery, in which electrodes were implanted to regulate abnormal signals. Remarkably, he played his violin during the surgery to help guide its precision. The treatment restored his control and allowed him to continue his performance career.   Although Roger is not on a Parkinson’s journey, his story resonates deeply--as DBS has become an important option for many living with Parkinson’s Disease. Having undergone the procedure more than 16 years ago, his experience offers a meaningful, long-term perspective. If you are a musician with Parkinson's, I would love to hear from you. I believe that when we share our stories, others on the Parkinson's journey will feel less alone. ABOUT CONDUCTING PARKINSON’S: I’m Thomas Verrier, conductor of the Vanderbilt University Wind Symphony, and I have Parkinson’s Disease. I have come to accept that Parkinson’s Disease will significantly shape my future. However, my acceptance does not equate to resignation. Quite the opposite, it has given me a strong sense of purpose and motivation! It is my desire that by sharing my story, others facing Parkinson’s Disease will know that they are not alone. I hope to inspire perseverance and adaptation; to create a forum for sharing and comparing experiences; to foster a supportive network of conductors/musicians with Parkinson’s; and to raise awareness and understanding among others in the broader community.  FOLLOW ON SOCIALS: ⁠www.instagram.com/conductingparkinsons⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/conductingparkinsons] ⁠www.facebook.com/conductingparkinsons⁠ [http://www.facebook.com/conductingparkinsons]