“The performance is both exceptional and memorable. As a person with lived TBI experience, it took me on a roller coaster of emotions and described in music the experience of living with a TBI.”
– Russ Davies, Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor
I Am Who I Am Records is proud to present, Anatomy of the Recovering Brain, an extended single-movement composition (in six parts) for bass clarinet and electronics by Canadian composer Frank Horvat, performed by Dr. Kathryn Ladano.
In the fall of 2020, life changed instantly for acclaimed Canadian bass clarinetist Kathryn Ladano when she was rear-ended at a Toronto intersection, sustaining a traumatic brain injury that upended her world. Though the collision was small, its effects continue to shape her daily life.
Inspired by her personal recovery, Anatomy of the Recovering Brain is a deeply immersive one-hour musical journey. It features Kathryn Ladano on bass clarinet, supported by fixed electronics and musical cameos from Richard Burrows (vibraphone), Morgan Lovell (cello), Greg Turner (piano), and Pam Patel (soprano) — friends and fellow artists who stood by her during her darkest hours.
A year into her healing process, Kathryn, along with Canadian composer Frank Horvat, conceived the idea of creating a composition that would shine a light on the profound challenges of living with an acquired brain injury. At the time, even playing her instrument for five minutes caused severe pressure in her head, making the completion of this hour-long piece a remarkable achievement in her recovery.
“I went through the darkest times of my life as a result of this injury. It takes an enormous toll on your mental well-being,” Kathryn Ladano shares. Anatomy of the Recovering Brain is more than a musical work; it is a testament to resilience, giving voice to brain injury survivors and celebrating the small victories that come with healing.
“This is about seeing life differently, celebrating our wins, and giving a voice to survivors who need to have a voice,” says Dr. Ladano.
Alongside Kathryn, we hear the voices of five other acquired brain injury survivors — Russ, Paul, Melanie, Lucy, and Jeffrey — whose personal stories of struggle and resilience are woven into the fabric of this powerful work.
“At its heart, this work celebrates personal empowerment and triumph over life’s challenges,” says composer Frank Horvat. “We can all learn a lot from their journeys.”
Music composed by Frank Horvat
Produced by Frank Horvat
Recording Engineered by Earl McCluskie, Wesley United Church, Cambridge, ON
Edited, Mixed and Mastered by Jean Martin, THE FARM, Toronto, ON
Album Photography by Kinsey Winger
Album Packaging by Matthew Maaskant
Find out more about the recording:
Frank Horvat’s Blog
Sounds of Hope Article
