BILLY NEWSCBS News Early Show
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Congratulations to Suzanne Jurva and the entire Changing Keys production team for winning top honors, a Platinum Remi Award, at this year's Houston International Film Festival. Changing Keys earned this prestigious award from over 4,300 films submitted to this year's competition. |
Article in the Star Tribune 3/20/'09
Chris Riemenschneider's article about the World Premiers at the Parkway Theater appeared recently in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Click here for link.
Interview on Minnesota Public Radio
On March 7th, Steven John welcomed Billy back, they last spoke on the air when Billy was diagnosed. This ten-minute interview includes Billy playing live and explaining the effects of dystonia and what it was like adapting to playing left-handed.Click here for link.
Fingerdance Inspires Short Story
Mark LaFlamme is a reporter and author from Lewiston, Maine who describes his latest short story inspired by Fingerdance: "Fingerdance is the tale of one man's love of late sleeping and his reaction to a powerfully catchy tune. I wrote it because I sleep like the dead myself. I occasionally wonder if I will rest so comfortably when that sleep is eternal or if some fool will come along and awaken me from the everlasting snooze." More info including a reading by the author is available at www.marklaflamme.com
Debut with Quartet on BabyBlueArts
One of the nation's best cable access arts program is produced by the good folks at BabyBlueArts. This all-volunteer staff celebrates Minnesota musicians by filming live in-studio performances to be shown on regional community TV stations. Billy and his Eclectric String Quartet are the most recent to be added to their 24/7 video stream at babybluearts.com We're excited about this premiere of this more compact version of Billy's work with guitar and strings - check it out!!! More on the Eclectric Quartet coming soon!
"JL" Rocks out to Bow and Arrow
Thanks to Billy-fan Davin for sharing his youngster John's Jam Session with Billy.
Billy and Orchestra Nova Premieres March 18, 2012
on KPBS San Diego
Billy McLaughlin and Orchestra Nova conducted by Jung-Ho Pak filmed a new program called Starry Night for KPBS Public Television San Diego in early January. The program will debut on KPBS in San Diego on March 18th with live appearances by Billy and Jung-Ho. The music and the story behind it will inspire you to never give up on your dreams and to keep reaching for the stars. Starry Night will be made available to PBS stations across the nation in June and Billy anticipates visiting as many stations as possible with a fall concert schedule that would include cities that broadcast the show. All seven string arrangements by Eugenio Toussaint that were featured on Billy's Into the Light CD and Coming Back Alive DVD were performed by Orchestra Nova with a new twist. Master percussionists and long-time friends of Billy, Marc Anderson and Jimi Englund added their wide array of percussion sounds and skills to the existing arrangements as well as a never-before-recorded string arrangement of While She Sleeps by Jacob Tews. Special guest violinist Nathan Wilson joined Billy and the percussionists for a new piece called Back From the Brink and Billy rounded out the concert with two solo works. Please support this new opportunity for Billy by letting your friends in San Diego county know about the March 18 premiere!!! Broadcast schedule available here.
Spring 2012
Billy had the honor of appearing in a ST Dystonia publication written by Stephen J Busalacchi. Busalacchi has complied "Inspiring success stories of people who BELIEVED they could overcome a baffling disorder called dystonia." Billy was asked to share his story along with seven others. If you are interested in purchasing this book, or learning more about ST Dystonia, please visit their website spasmodictorticollis.org and search for The Harmony of Hope by Stephen J Busalacchi.
Dystonia Medical Research Foundation to host historic "Musician's Summit" March 9/10/2012 in NYC
This two day summit of international experts focused specifically on various focal dystonias that affect musicians is the first of it's kind. The first day (3/9) will focus on the scientific side of this life-changing disorder with presentations by world-reknown researchers describing in scientific terms what the most current research has revealed. A concert that evening will feature:
- world acclaimed guitarist David Leisner who has battled and conquered focal dystonia of the right hand
- Nashville fiddler Ryan Thompson who switched hands to be able to continue his successful career
- Billy McLaughlin and string quartet featuring special guests Dr. Stephen Frucht and daughter Emma, as well as Steven Leung who continues to play violin despite the challenges of focal dystonia of the lefthand
Day two (3/10) will focus on the practical side of how musicians can recognize, adapt and identify possible effective therapies or beneficial changes to their playing techniques. The day will include panelists with both hand dystonia and embouchure dystonia. Interactive discussion time with both physicians, researchers and musicians through a Q & A format will prove to be lively indeed.
More information and details on presenters, topics, daily schedule and registration fees will be posted soon at: dystonia-foundation.org
Photos from Dystonia Advocacy Day 2011, Washington DC
Billy in Mobile, AL- May 2011
Read Billy's 'welcome back' article to the Mobile area from the Press Register.
In addition to having two performances and a workshop, Billy was asked to appear on 92.1 WZEW for a short interview with Catt Sirten.
Billy's Workshop Group at Andy's Music
Billy in Mobile, AL
Public Leadership Award
AAN Conference Toronto
What does Billy have in common with Paul Allen, Julie Andrews, Michael J. Fox, Janet Reno and Cuba Gooding Jr? All are recipients of the American Academy of Neurology's Public Leadership Award. Billy will receive the award in Toronto on April 14th, 2010.
"I'm really humbled by this honor and to be in the company of such past winners." — Billy
The AAN donated $5000 in Billy's name to the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation.
Billy Hosts PBS Pledge Drive
Minneapolis St Paul PBS station TPT2 teamed up with Billy for their 2009 December pledge-drive.
Performing Live immediately following President Barak Obama's Nationally televised Speach, Billy enjoyed two hours of live in-studio segments interspurced throughout the broadcast of Changing Keys. The hot membership premium? Billy's $100 per ticket "In-studio House Concert" scheduled for April 2010 at TPT2 Sound Stage. Look for Billy in several PBS markets around the country in 2010.
Fox 9 News Segment about Billy
Billy with the UMD Chamber Orchestra
Billy with the Mobile, AL Orchestra
