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Music is my life: Meet @nycmusic

Jul 2 8:00am | Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Comments (37)

Member nycmusic with friends ringing the bell at the cancer center

TERESA: What brought you to Mayo Clinic Connect?

@nycmusic: When doing medical research about my health, Mayo Clinic’s website is a favorite resource and I found links to Mayo Clinic Connect there.

TERESA: What motivates you to take part in Mayo Clinic Connect?

@nycmusic: I’m motivated by the desire to share and to learn from other patients. 

TERESA: What about Mayo Clinic Connect makes you feel comfortable to share and to be open with the community?

@nycmusic: Members on Mayo Clinic Connect are honest, fair and non-judgemental. I like the volunteer mentors a lot. 

TERESA: What support groups do you participate in?

@nycmusic: I am in the Colorectal Cancer, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Kidney Conditions and Osteoporosis & Bone Health support groups.

TERESA: Tell us about a meaningful moment you've experienced on Mayo Clinic Connect. 

@nycmusic: Recently, I saw something about how mRNA vaccines developed for COVID-19 can enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. My oncologist had recommended I take the vaccines. I shared the information I had learned from the community with a friend doing chemotherapy plus immunotherapy. Her oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering was on board and we hope it will help her as it did me.

TERESA: What surprised you the most about Mayo Clinic Connect?

@nycmusic: I was surprised at how good the community is and how it gives me a chance to sometimes help others.

TERESA: What energizes you, or how do you find balance in your life?

@nycmusic: Motivation is a big part of my life with many pieces. Love is at the top. And nature. I am a nature lover, which is at the core of my beliefs. 

TERESA: Tell us about your favorite pastime or activity.

@nycmusic: I have several pastimes. Music is my life, though I have pretty much retired from the professional concert stage as a pianist and harpsichordist. I have made many arrangements for piano and for small string groups. 

More recently, I spend time helping friends who have serious health issues. I love taking walks and reading.

TERESA: Do you have a favorite quote, life motto or personal mantra?

@nycmusic: Live, love, laugh, learn 

TERESA: What do you appreciate the most in your friends? 

@nycmusic: They are my family. What I value most in friends (and family, too) is kindness. The two family women in the photo are beautiful examples.

TERESA: What food can you not resist?

@nycmusic: Dark chocolate and ice cream.

TERESA: What do you love about where you live or vacation?

@nycmusic: I love the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where I’ve lived and worked for well over 50 years. There’s fabulous energy here! I also adore the Florida Keys where I spent many winters, commuting back to New York City for work. I still visit Florida’s natural paradise.

TERESA: Puppies or kittens?

@nycmusic: I love all animals, including the great large cats.

Member Spotlights feature interviews with fellow Mayo Clinic Connect members. Learn more about members you’ve connected with and some you haven’t met yet. Nominate a member you think should share the spotlight.

See more Member Spotlights.

30 Reactions

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Profile picture for milwaukee
milwaukee | @milwaukee | Jul 4 8:58am

J have been an inactive member of Mayo Connect . I decided to connect this morning and was very inspired by your posting and just the interaction. Thank you for that today. I will continue to enjoy the personal touches,

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1 reply
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 4 10:04am
In reply to @milwaukee "J have been an inactive member of Mayo Connect . I decided to connect this morning..." + (show)
Profile picture for milwaukee @milwaukee

J have been an inactive member of Mayo Connect . I decided to connect this morning and was very inspired by your posting and just the interaction. Thank you for that today. I will continue to enjoy the personal touches,

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@milwaukee I am glad that you reconnected with Mayo Connect today, and I'm especially happy to hear that @nycmusic's Spotlight inspired you. How are you doing?

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Profile picture for lynn49
lynn49 | @lynn49 | Jul 8 8:00am

New to this site. Was diagnosed with a glioblastoma January 23, 2026. Only symptom I had was facial numbness. Had surgery, 90% of tumor removed. Had chemo + radiation. Now I am cycling 5 days of chemo out of every 28. This week is my 1/2 way point completing 6 cycles in October.

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2 replies
Profile picture for William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor | @hrhwilliam | Jul 8 11:31am
In reply to @lynn49 "New to this site. Was diagnosed with a glioblastoma January 23, 2026. Only symptom I had..." + (show)
Profile picture for lynn49 @lynn49

New to this site. Was diagnosed with a glioblastoma January 23, 2026. Only symptom I had was facial numbness. Had surgery, 90% of tumor removed. Had chemo + radiation. Now I am cycling 5 days of chemo out of every 28. This week is my 1/2 way point completing 6 cycles in October.

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@lynn49 Hello and welcome. I have requested your post is moved to its own discussion. In the meantime if you have any questions or concerns, need to cope with any issues or whatever, the Brain Tumor support group (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/brain-tumor-support-group/) is the right group for glioblastoma and to find others who have dealt with what you are experiencing. As for now, welcome and I hope you can find some answers.

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1 reply
Profile picture for lynn49
lynn49 | @lynn49 | Jul 8 12:32pm
In reply to @hrhwilliam "@lynn49 Hello and welcome. I have requested your post is moved to its own discussion. In..." + (show)
Profile picture for William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor @hrhwilliam

@lynn49 Hello and welcome. I have requested your post is moved to its own discussion. In the meantime if you have any questions or concerns, need to cope with any issues or whatever, the Brain Tumor support group (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/brain-tumor-support-group/) is the right group for glioblastoma and to find others who have dealt with what you are experiencing. As for now, welcome and I hope you can find some answers.

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@hrhwilliam thank you. I look forward to being in the ‘right place.’

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Profile picture for daisydays
daisydays | @daisydays | Jul 8 12:46pm

Hi there neighbor ! 😊
I live just a bit north up in the Hudson Valley … I love NYC ! As well, my oncologist/surgeon etc. are all located in NYC.
We try to do what we can each appt, most recent was visiting the MOMA… not my first time but always something new to experience there.
I enjoyed reading your interview… and yes, mayo connect is wonderful. I have found it very supportive, not only to myself, but to everyone here needing support. The moderators and mentors are simply the best ! All so kind, caring and knowledgeable!
Congratulations on all your Music accomplishments ! Fabulous really !
Enjoy 😊

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Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 8 8:35pm
In reply to @lynn49 "New to this site. Was diagnosed with a glioblastoma January 23, 2026. Only symptom I had..." + (show)
Profile picture for lynn49 @lynn49

New to this site. Was diagnosed with a glioblastoma January 23, 2026. Only symptom I had was facial numbness. Had surgery, 90% of tumor removed. Had chemo + radiation. Now I am cycling 5 days of chemo out of every 28. This week is my 1/2 way point completing 6 cycles in October.

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@lynn49, welcome. Please follow the Brain Tumor support group and join the discussions here:
- Brain Tumor Support Group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/brain-tumor-support-group/

Search for discussions about glioblastoma to meet others https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/brain-tumor-support-group/

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Profile picture for isadora2021
isadora2021 | @isadora2021 | Jul 9 5:06pm
In reply to @nycmusic "I should note that I was born in SoCal, grew up in countryside areas in ohio..." + (show)
Profile picture for nycmusic @nycmusic

I should note that I was born in SoCal, grew up in countryside areas in ohio and Michigan, even loved living in the Florida Keys for awhile, spent most of my life in NYC—-but it is true that NYC never really leaves you…returning from a trip is always special…thanks for your really nice post ! Enjoy our wonderful town ! We really are friendlier than people think—our city is just a lot of smaller towns stitched together, plus some magical energy.

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@nycmusic Thank you so much for sharing. You have lived, and live, a full life with a wonderful motto to live by.

I always enjoy our interactions on this site and it’s lovely to know more about you. Including that you can’t resist dark chocolate and ice cream! Absolutely!!

How wonderful that you were able to make a career doing something you love, and being able to love and enjoy it still. I too love music having grown up with a father who relaxed from work on Sundays by playing classics all day on his record player. I still associate Sundays with my father’s music filling our home. Other days of his busy week he would be blissfully away with music in his head and break out loud when it got too big for his head (usually Mozart and usually at the dining table)! Dad’s personnel favourites were Mozart and Beethoven but he loved such an array of composers. (As a small child I was smitten with Arthur Rubinstein and his interpretation of Chopin).

I love your description of NYC. What a wonderful place it must be to live in. That’s exactly how I found it (many friendly villages) when I visited some years ago over Christmas and New Year after Cyclone Sandy. While NYC was hurting and subdued I fell in love, especially with Central Park. I didn’t expect to love NYC but walked all over Manhattan. Probably walked past your home on the west side many times!

So lovely having people like you on this site. Thank you 🙏💕

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1 reply
Profile picture for nycmusic
nycmusic | @nycmusic | Jul 9 6:28pm
In reply to @isadora2021 "@nycmusic Thank you so much for sharing. You have lived, and live, a full life with..." + (show)
Profile picture for isadora2021 @isadora2021

@nycmusic Thank you so much for sharing. You have lived, and live, a full life with a wonderful motto to live by.

I always enjoy our interactions on this site and it’s lovely to know more about you. Including that you can’t resist dark chocolate and ice cream! Absolutely!!

How wonderful that you were able to make a career doing something you love, and being able to love and enjoy it still. I too love music having grown up with a father who relaxed from work on Sundays by playing classics all day on his record player. I still associate Sundays with my father’s music filling our home. Other days of his busy week he would be blissfully away with music in his head and break out loud when it got too big for his head (usually Mozart and usually at the dining table)! Dad’s personnel favourites were Mozart and Beethoven but he loved such an array of composers. (As a small child I was smitten with Arthur Rubinstein and his interpretation of Chopin).

I love your description of NYC. What a wonderful place it must be to live in. That’s exactly how I found it (many friendly villages) when I visited some years ago over Christmas and New Year after Cyclone Sandy. While NYC was hurting and subdued I fell in love, especially with Central Park. I didn’t expect to love NYC but walked all over Manhattan. Probably walked past your home on the west side many times!

So lovely having people like you on this site. Thank you 🙏💕

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@isadora2021 thank you for your very kind and beautiful post…I really enjoy how you say things with a lovely writer’s touch….i was a musician in a family of writers and teachers, some of whom were serious music lovers…Summers at Interlochen ignited my music fire …one of the special things I’ve enjoyed is having the opportunity to perform with some of the artists I’d admired from childhood…many live or spend time in NYC…loving the challenges to go deeper…and many wonderful friendships have come from that…if you wish, write something about yourself…this is a good place for that, bringing interesting people together. PS I too adored Rubinstein, still enjoy his recordings, and what a gracious person he was !

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1 reply
Profile picture for nycmusic
nycmusic | @nycmusic | Jul 9 6:47pm

For the musically inclined—in addition to the many great piano recordings of Rubinstein and Horowitz, i have found some really lovely recordings via Facebook—of artists like Maria Joao Pires and Marta Argerich…these recordings are a happy discovery, and many choices of their artistry are on YouTube…enjoy !

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