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Tony Cicoria | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1952 (age 72–73) |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | Physician |
| Sub-specialties | Orthopedics |
Antony (or Tony)Cicoria (born 1952), is a man who is famous for having developed an obsession for piano (listening and practicing) after being struck by lightning.[1] He is a doctor specializing inorthopedic medicine,orthopedic surgery,orthotics,prosthetic supplies, andsports medicine. He was profiled inneurologistOliver Sacks' bookMusicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain (2007).[2]
Cicoria received hisBS inBiology fromThe Citadel and graduated from theMedical University of South Carolina (MD, PhD) and theUniversity of Virginia Orthopedic Surgery Residency.[3]
Cicoria is a practicing orthopedic surgeon, and is Chief of the Medical Staff and Chief of Orthopedics atChenango Memorial Hospital,Norwich,New York. He is also Clinical AssistantProfessor of Orthopedics atState University of New York Upstate Medical University, inSyracuse.[4]
In 2004, Cicoria got divorced. During that same year, he had a seriousmotorcycle accident. Within two months he had completely recovered and returned to work.
At one time he lived inOneonta, New York and has three children who went to college.
In 1994, when Tony Cicoria was 42 years old, he was struck by lightning nearAlbany, New York, while standing next to a public telephone. He had just hung up the phone and was about a foot away when a rogue bolt of lightning struck. He recalled seeing his own body on the ground surrounded by a bluish-white light. Cicoria's heart had apparently stopped, but he wasresuscitated by a woman (coincidentally anintensive-care-unit nurse), who was waiting to use the telephone.[5][6]
Cicoria suffered burns to his face and left foot where theelectrical charge had entered and exited his body.
Several weeks after the accident Cicoria consulted aneurologist because he was having difficulties with his memory and was feeling sluggish. Theneurological exam, including anEEG and anMRI, found nothing unusual. After a few weeks his energy returned and he went back to work. Two weeks later, his memory problems disappeared. His life had apparently returned to normal.[7]
Then Cicoria, over a period of two or three days, became struck with an insatiable desire to listen topiano music.[8] He acquired a piano and started to teach himself to play. His head was flooded with music that seemed to come from nowhere. Although before his accident, he had had no particular interest in music, within three months of being struck by lightning Cicoria spent nearly all his time playing and composing.[9]
Tony Cicoria debuted his first piano composition inWestport, Connecticut, on October 12, 2007.
In 2007, under the direction of Polly van der Linde, who runs an international piano camp for adults and children inOld Bennington, Vermont, Tony has given recitals at the Sonata Adult Piano Camp, inBennington, Vermont, where he has playedChopin’sMilitary Polonaise, Op. 40 (in 2002), Chopin’sFantaisie-Impromptu (in 2003),Brahms’Rhapsody, Op. 79, No. 2 (in 2005), Chopin'sScherzo in B-flat Minor, Op. 31 (in 2006) and an earlier version of his own composition,Lightning Sonata.[10]
January 29, 2008 marked an important milestone in Cicoria's musical career. He publicly debuted at theGoodrich Theater inOneonta, New York, presented by theCatskill Conservatory in association with theSUNY at Oneonta. The performance was assisted by a grant from theNYS Council on the Arts. This performance was recorded live byGranada Media UK,BBC One, andGerman National Television.
Cicoria is also working on several other solo piano pieces, including a 4-hand / 2-piano piece, a symphony based onBrahms'Variation, op. 9, and a concerto.
He is also writing a book detailing the origin of his musical experience.[3]
Cicoria has appeared in numerous magazines including,The Week,SuperConsciousness Magazine, andFinancial Times.
He has appeared in numerous television presentations including: BBC One's documentaryImagine,Canada’sThe Hour, Granada Media's documentaryMy Strange Brain,WSKG-TV Expressions and theNOVA episodeMusical Minds.