BBC Proms: Composer turned to music to help with Tourette’s

A man who turned to music to help his Tourette’s syndrome is set to see his work performed by Welsh musicians at the Proms.

Gavin Higgins, from London, developed the condition as an infant and used music to “cool off” when overwhelmed. “Everything stops when I play music,” he said. Years after his diagnosis for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette’s, a piece he composed will be performed at the Royal Albert Hall. On Monday, his Concerto Grosso will be played by the Tredegar Town Brass Band and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. It will be the first time in over a decade a brass band has performed at the Proms.

But for months, the championship band from Blaenau Gwent, were practising Gavin’s work with no idea what they were rehearsing for, with the event kept secret from the players.

Gavin, a composer in association with BBC National Orchestra of Wales, said he hoped playing at the Proms would make more people fall in love with brass bands and change out-dated ideas.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-62334839