Klaus Döring's Classical Music/Klaus Döring's Klassische Musik

COVID-19 patient serenades hospital staff in Utah with violin.  Picture: Intermountain Healthcare By Sian Moore, ClassicFM London The 70-year-old musician played church hymns and the ‘Tennessee Waltz’ as hospital staff watched on teary-eyed. A retired orchestra teacher, who was in hospital with  coronavirus , showed his appreciation for his caregivers the only way he knew how – by serenading them on his  violin . Grover Wilhelmsen was intubated and unable to speak, so requested in writing to perform on the ICU ward in Utah to thank the workers. “It’s the very least I could do,” he wrote. Grover’s wife of 47 years, Diana, brought her husband’s  violin  and  viola  into the hospital. To ensure a safe environment for the concert, medical staff closed the doors to Grover’s room and enjoyed the music from behind the glass. “About a dozen caregivers gathered to watch and listen in the ICU,”  said  Grover’s nurse, Ciara Sase. “It brought tears to m...

 ...  for introducing millions to orchestral music John Williams receives RPS Gold Medal award. Picture: Royal Philharmonic Society By Maddy Shaw Roberts, ClassicFM London ‘He has dedicated his life to ensuring orchestral music continues to speak to and captivate millions of people worldwide.’ Internationally treasured composer  John Williams , 88, is the recipient of this year’s RPS Gold Medal. The legendary film maestro, who composed the enduring music for  Star Wars,  Harry Potter ,   Schindler’s List   and many more ,  won the coveted award at the 2020  Royal Philharmonic Society  Awards, for introducing millions to orchestral music. His win, one of the highest honours in music recognising outstanding musicianship since 1870, was announced during a digital broadcast on 18 November featuring performances filmed at London’s  Wigmore Hall . Accepting the medal via video, Williams said: “To receive this award is beyond any expectat...

92-year-old with dementia remembers how to play piano.  Picture: Randi Lebar By Maddy Shaw Roberts, ClassicFM Learning to play Beethoven on the piano is a joy that will never leave you, no matter what life throws at you… This moving video of a 92-year-old  pianist  playing  Beethoven  speaks to the incredible power of music to unlock memories – even for people living with severe dementia. Elaine Lebar, a former composer and music teacher, started playing the piano aged three and went on to study at a school for the performing arts in New York City. After getting her BA from Brooklyn College, majoring in Music, Elaine took her studies to the University of Missouri for an MA in music education. She went on to compose traditional piano and vocal music and, after becoming intrigued by the skill it required, composed several  piano solos for one hand . Ten years ago, she started showing signs of dementia. And in 2017, she was moved to a care home, Buzzards Bay m...

81-year-old man serenades wife beneath hospital window.  Picture: Facebook / Valerio Marangon By Sian Moore, ClassicFM This is the kind of love that warms the cockles... An 81-year-old Italian man has been filmed serenading his hospital-bound wife with an  accordion , after he was told he couldn’t visit her due to  coronavirus  restrictions. Sitting in the courtyard outside her hospital window, Stefano Bozzini found a way to show his love for his partner of 47 years, Carla, without entering the ward. As Carla and several  nurses  watched on from a window, Bozzini gave a rendition of Engelbert Humperdinck’s ‘Spanish Eyes’, a piece of music he told  The Guardian  his wife “was so in love with”. “I did it for Carla – to show her how much I love her and to thank her for all she has given me,” he said. Posted by  Valerio Marangon  on Sunday, November 8, 2020 Read more: NHS doctor and violinist husband serenade neighbours in balcony duet > ...