Columbus Indiana Philarhomic
The October Columbus Indiana Philharmonic “Concert With A Cause” for mental health was the brainchild of Conductor Issac Selya and a collaboration with the Mental Health Matters Initiative. The Columbus Philharmonic Symphony’s evening performances, entitled “Trust Yourself”, focused on music and mental health.
The evening featured a series of videos from highly respected professionals in their fields. Dr. Vinita Watts, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Centerstone Health Services and licensed Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, focused her remarks on the prevalence of mental illnesses among adults and children/adolescents, especially in our community. She also noted overall staffing issues that impact access to services, problems with stigma, and things that people can do to bring about good mental health. Dr.Kevin Terrell, DO, board-certified in Emergency Medicine and Addiction Medicine, currently serves as the physician and Medical Director of the Treatment and Support Center (TASC), an outpatient addiction treatment program of CRH. Dr. Terrell's remarks related to the community’s overwhelming response to the alarming increase in opioid overdoses and deaths in Bartholomew County. He spoke to the increase in the number of remarkable recovery-based programs growing in our community and noted that music can be a complementary element of a person’s recovery. “Music can help put all of us in a better place emotionally and mentally. Music can help us heal.”
Maestro Selya explained how the composers of the evening’s musical selections struggled with mental illnesses during their careers and went on to become well-accomplished composers. Ilyich Tchaikovsky was highly self-critical, didn't trust his talents, and destroyed some music he had created because he didn't think they were good enough. Career setbacks and the loss of several close family and friends resulted in depression and stage fright. Another featured composer, Sergei Rachmaninoff, after experiencing criticism and rejection by famous Russian musical experts, stopped composing for 3 years, developed depression, began to drink heavily, and lost his inspiration to compose. Jean Sibelius, the composer of Symphony No. 5, first experienced anxiety while auditioning as a professional violinist and experienced the upheaval of living through two World Wars, which resulted in bouts of alcoholism and depression throughout his life. While the various composers struggled with mental illness,they went on to lead productive and fulfilling lives.
A special thank you Maestro Selya and the entire Philharmonic team for their willingness to promote open discussion regarding mental health and remove the stigma associated. Mental health is health, and when the mind is well, great things can be accomplished.
There is a second such "Concert with a Cause" scheduled for Saturday, April 20th, 2024 when we will again experience "Music and Mental Health: Uncertainty"
