Conducting Parkinson's Conversations

Revered baton craftsman Phil Aguglia, owner of PaGu Batons, joins Thomas Verrier for a trip down memory lane of when the two collaborated on Verrier's custom baton.

ABOUT PHIL: Phil Aguglia’s passion for music was ignited as a student in the City of Buffalo School Public School system learning to play the trumpet. He was fortunate to have some amazing teachers that provided many unique opportunities which eventually led him to major in music education at Ithaca College where he received his Bachelors of Music Education and later at SUNY Fredonia to complete his Masters in Music. He is the author of the “Thinking out of the Box” instrumental music curriculum where students can go from beginners to college material in four years of instruction.

During his career as an educator he has been blessed with the opportunity to teach in Medford, MA, West Valley, NY, Cleveland Hill USFD in Cheektowaga, NY, and since 2002 Kenmore East High School in Tonawanda, New York. Mr. Aguglia has been recognized for excellence and commitment to music education as the recipient or nominee of over two dozen awards which include the Grammy Foundation, People Magazine, Walt Disney Corporation, Erie County Music Educator Association, The Conn/Selmer Corporation, SUNY Buffalo State, the Buffalo Bills, and more. He is a sought after conductor, clinician, speaker, and has proudly served on the board of trustees for the Music is Art organization since 2008.

Phil is also the owner and craftsman of PaGu Batons which are the preferred batons of many of the world's most prestigious conductors. Phil and his wife of over twenty years Cindy, have two incredible boys Jacob and Griffin.

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.

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Rand Laycock, known for receiving the groundbreaking Deep Brain Stimulation surgery with Cleveland Clinic, joins Thomas Verrier to discuss the impact of this treatment on his conducting journey.

Dr. Rand Laycock is a retired high school orchestra conductor and the current music director of the Parma Symphony Orchestra in Northeast Ohio.

British conductor James Morgan joins Thomas Verrier to discuss his journey to diagnosis, navigating the stress of conducting with Parkinson's, and musical preparation strategies.

ABOUT JAMES:

James initially worked at English National Opera and then went on to conduct operas for Glyndebourne, ENO, English Touring Opera and Raymond Gubbay Ltd.

James has conducted and recorded with many of the UK’s leading orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic, CBSO, Philharmonia and London Philharmonic Orchestras. Abroad, he works regularly with the Danish National Chamber Orchestra and City of Prague Philharmonic, and has also guested with the Copenhagen Philharmonic, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Flanders Symphony Orchestra and West Kazakhstan Philharmonic.  Specialising in contemporary music, including several world premieres at the South Bank and the Barbican, his repertoire varies widely from renaissance polyphony to arena pop concerts, with artists as varied as Alfie Boe, Jamie Cullum, Michael Bolton, Andrea Bocelli, Katie Melua and the BBC Singers, for whom he is a regular guest conductor. He conducted the televised Classic Brits at the Royal Albert Hall, with the London Chamber Orchestra.

Learn more at https://www.morganpochin.com/