SYMPHONY NO. 1 (2024)

Wind Ensemble | ca. 33' | grade 6

PROGRAM NOTE

In the fall of 2015, my grandmother Joyce was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death among adults in the United States, and is the 5th leading cause among adults 65 and older. It is a form of dementia, a progressive disease that causes the posterior part of the brain to shrink and affected brain tissue to produce abnormal deposits of proteins. These abnormal proteins cause the nerves to become tangled, damaging and destroying brain cells, which gradually leads to the loss of memory and other important cognitive functions, including speech and movement. The root cause of Alzheimer's is unknown, but is speculated to be several different factors combined.

While certain medical treatments can prolong its effects, Alzheimer's is ultimately incurable.

The first few years following my grandmother's diagnosis were some of the most difficult for my family and I. The stress of adapting practically was amplified by the uncertainty each new day brought, while early waves of anticipatory grief constantly disrupted the process of learning to cope emotionally. We found ourselves wrestling with our faith, crying to God in our frustration, "why have you brought this upon us?" Our desperation and impatience for an answer caused bouts of anger and vehemence that drove wedges between us, and the pain caused by those only worsened along with my grandmother's condition. Eventually the wedges were removed and amends were made, but the impending reality of Alzheimer's remained.

Since then, life continued to evolve, swinging my family and I between moments of quiet, contemplative sadness and moments of laughter and joy. Our faith reminded us to return to a more uplifting outlook on the days ahead despite the continued uncertainties, and helped us focus on more time spent with my grandmother and each other rather than with our own despair. Over the course of the past 11 years, we all grew closer together as we helped keep each other afloat, recognizing that it was impossible to navigate the darkness of Alzheimer's alone. Through the turmoil our relationships strengthened, and now more than ever, my family and I cherish the bonds we share and the time we get to spend with each other here on Earth, understanding that it is limited. Inspired by the journey my family and I took together with my grandmother, I wanted to compose a piece that could encapsulate the experience; a work that could serve as a reflection on her condition, a personal outpouring of emotion, and an exclamation of faith and acceptance, all in one. The result of this inspiration was Symphony No. 1.

My grandmother Joyce finally passed away on January 16th, 2026 after 11 years of battling Alzheimer's. To know her was truly a special gift, and she will live on and be cherished by my family and I in our memories forever.