Washington, Jan. 22 (BUS): A Vermont classical music organization for mentally ill musicians, and the people supporting them, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a free performance in Boston on Sunday, the Associated Press reports.
Me2/is an untested orchestra of musicians, half of whom suffer from diagnosed mental illness such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or PTSD, among others, and also marked its first 10 years with a free performance at the University’s Recital Hall Vermont last week.
Music director/conductor Ronald Bronstein, who lives with bipolar disorder, and CEO Carolyn Whedon formed Me2/ in September 2011, months after Braunstein was fired by the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association.
“I have decided that I don’t want to be subject to stigma and discrimination in my field any longer,” Brownstein said in a statement. “At that point, I decided that the only people I wanted to work with were people like me – people with mental illness and those who would support me even if I didn’t have a good day.”
Me2/Now includes bands in New Hampshire, Maine, Oregon, and Massachusetts.
Nearly 100 of its regional players will perform “Stigma-Free at Symphony Hall” at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Boston Symphony Hall.
The hour-long event includes testimonies from musicians who are living well with mental illness, according to the Symphony Hall. Audience members can also participate in a question-and-answer session.
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