Inspirational To be Heard! music festival unites young onset Parkinson’s community

On Friday 12 July, musicians diagnosed with young onset Parkinson's from around the country came together to build a community through music and shared experiences. 

The evening event was filled with live performances, film, and an opportunity to listen to the "I Hear You" soundscape, which powerfully captures the mental health experiences of people living with young onset Parkinson’s. Read more about the "I Hear You" soundscape.

Hosted by Gillian Lacey-Solymar from the Movers and Shakers podcast, the event featured a wide range of performances, including:

• The First Light Brigade: an opening performance featuring David Sangster, Annie Booth and Mike Bell, plus video footage from the wider Parkinson's community. Watch The First Light Brigade performance on YouTube.
• an entertaining live performance from Miss Havisham’s Digital Clock, inspired by Grant Davis's lived experience of young-onset Parkinson’s
• Tomas Gisby’s uplifting performance at the World Parkinson Coalition 2023. Watch Tomas Gisby's performance on YouTube
• Chiara Viale’s film The New Music, which follows the impact of a diagnosis of young onset Parkinson’s on a classically trained pianist 
• a piece from Gillian Lacey-Solymar’s musical IrrePRESSible, sung by Savannah Haynes
• Bibi Heal's performance of "Auf Flügeln des Gesanges (On Wings of Song)", accompanied by Simon Carrington on piano. Bibi is a soprano and co-founder of Song Surgery and Songs That Move. Find out more about Bibi Heal on her website.

The event was organised by clinical neuropsychologist, Dr. Jennifer Foley, and artist, Alison Carlier, in collaboration with Parkinson’s UK and UCL Grand Challenges.

David, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's when he was 29, said:

"The event was awesome and one of its kind. Never say you can't!"

Gini Dellow, Policy Manager for Mental Health and Dementia at Parkinson’s UK, said: 

"This event was unique and brought together a truly inspirational group of people. Music is a powerful connector and is well known to benefit people’s mental health. 

"Bringing together people with young-onset Parkinson’s in such an inclusive way raised much needed awareness. And also gave people the opportunity to connect and share experiences. 

"We were encouraged by the resounding success of the event and look forward to working further with many of those present to understand the impact of living with young onset Parkinson’s and make a difference for this community."

Share your story

We're looking for people to share their experiences of living with young onset Parkinson’s and mental health. Email Gini at [email protected] to share your experience.