Stroke Survivor and Composer Andrew Stopps defeats the gentle assassin

Andrew Stopps call stroke "The Gentle Assassin."

Like many (but not all) of us, Andrew found it remarkable that stroke did not hurt. That's often the case with an ischemic stroke. Mine didn't hurt either, and I found it remarkable at the time. It was a profoundly interesting experience.

Lack of pain doesn't mean lack of impact though. Andrew found his music career suddenly upended and his mosaic career suddenly suspended as his husband rushed him to the hospital. He lost (for now) the ability to play the clarinet. He discovered unexpected laughter and tears. And it redirected his life.

Andrew and I talk all about his encounter with the Gentle Assassin in this week's conversation.

If you don't see the audio player below, click here to visit the original blog post.

 

Click here for a machine-generated transcript

Who is Andrew Stopps?

Andrew Stopps has taught music for over 20 years in Australia, UK and New Zealand. His teaching experience ranges from a woodwind instrumental teacher and band director in rural South Australia to Head of Music at the Australian International Performing Arts High School in Sydney. In 2009 he moved to New Zealand and in 2012 he was a finalist for the NEITA Excellence in Teaching Award.

He is the founder of the Wellington City Concert Band, NZ Youth Symphonic Winds and the Wellington Band and Orchestra Festival. He is also the founder of the Hoa Project that provides support and mentoring to music teachers around New Zealand.

He has been a composer and arranger since high school and his works are performed by ensembles around the world. He has travelled to Washington DC for the World Premiere of my work “Welcome to Aotearoa” for concert band in 2019. This year his “Middle Earth Suite” is to be world premiered in Melbourne, Florida. 

In November 2021 he experienced a mini stroke immediately followed by a massive stroke. He has