Tony Cicoria
Encyclopedia
Anthony Cicoria, Md, PLLC, (born 1952), is a doctor specializing in orthopedic medicine, orthopedic surgery
, orthotics
, prosthetic supplies, and sports medicine
. He is best known for acquiring an unusual affinity for music after being struck by lightning
. He was profiled in neurologist
Oliver Sacks
' book Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain
(2007).
, New York. He is also Clinical Assistant Professor
of Orthopedics at SUNY Upstate Medical School, in Syracuse
. He received his BS
in Biology
from The Citadel and graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina
(MD, PhD) and the University of Virginia
Orthopedic Surgery Residency.
In 2004, Cicoria got divorced. During that same year, he had a serious motorcycle
accident. Within two months he had completely recovered and returned to work.
He lives in Oneonta, New York
and has three children in college.
, 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 was resuscitated by a woman, (coincidentally an intensive-care-unit nurse) who was waiting to use the telephone.
Several weeks after the accident Cicoria consulted a neurologist
because he was having difficulties with his memory and was feeling sluggish. The neurological exam, including an EEG
and an MRI, 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.
Then Cicoria, over a period of two or three days, became struck with an insatiable desire to listen to piano
music. He acquired a piano and started to teach himself to play. His head was flooded with music that seemed to come from nowhere. Although, previous to his accident, he had no particular interest in music, within three months of being struck by lightning Cicoria spent nearly all his time playing and composing.
In 2007, under the direction of Polly van der Linde, Tony has given recitals at the Sonata Adult Piano Camp, in Bennington, Vermont, where he has played Chopin’s Military Polonaise
, Op. 40 (in 2002), Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu
(in 2003), Brahms’ Rhapsody
, Op. 79, No. 2 (in 2005), Chopin’s Scherzo in B-flat Minor, Op. 31
(in 2006) and an earlier version of his own composition, Lightning Sonata.
January 29, 2008 marked an important milestone in Cicoria's musical career. He publicly debuted at the Goodrich Theater in Oneonta, New York
, presented by the Catskill Conservatory in association with the SUNY at Oneonta
. The performance was assisted by a grant from the NYS Council on the Arts
. This performance was recorded live by Granada Media UK, the BBC One
, and German National Television.
Cicoria has appeared in numerous magazines including, The Week
, SuperConsciousness Magazine
, and Financial Times
.
He has appeared in numerous television presentations including: BBC One’s documentary Imagine
, Canada
’s The Hour, Granada Media’s documentary My Strange Brain, WSKG TV Expressions and the NOVA
episode Musical Minds
.
Cicoria is also working on several other solo piano pieces, including a 4-hand / 2-piano piece, a symphony based on Brahms' Variation, op. 9, and a concerto.
He is also writing a book detailing the origin of his musical experience.
Orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system...
, orthotics
Orthotics
Orthotics is a specialty within the medical field concerned with the design, manufacture and application of orthoses. An orthosis is an orthopedic device that supports or corrects the function of a limb or the torso...
, prosthetic supplies, and sports medicine
Sports medicine
Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness, treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise...
. He is best known for acquiring an unusual affinity for music after being struck by lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
. He was profiled in neurologist
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
Oliver Sacks
Oliver Sacks
Oliver Wolf Sacks, CBE , is a British neurologist and psychologist residing in New York City. He is a professor of neurology and psychiatry at Columbia University, where he also holds the position of Columbia Artist...
' book Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain
Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain
Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain is a 2007 book by neurologist Oliver Sacks about music and the human brain. The book was released on October 16, 2007 and published by Knopf....
(2007).
Personal information
Cicoria is a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon, and is Chief of the Medical Staff and Chief of Orthopedics at Chenango Memorial Hospital, NorwichNorwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, New York. He is also Clinical Assistant Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Orthopedics at SUNY Upstate Medical School, in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. He received his BS
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
from The Citadel and graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina
The Medical University of South Carolina opened in Charleston, South Carolina in 1824 as a small private college for the training of physicians. It is one of the oldest continually operating school of medicine in the United States and the oldest in the Deep South...
(MD, PhD) and the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
Orthopedic Surgery Residency.
In 2004, Cicoria got divorced. During that same year, he had a serious motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
accident. Within two months he had completely recovered and returned to work.
He lives in Oneonta, New York
Oneonta, New York
Oneonta is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, had a population of 13,901. Its nickname is "City of the Hills." While the word "oneonta" is of undetermined origin, it is popularly believed to mean "place of open rocks" in the Iroquois language...
and has three children in college.
Struck by lightning
In 1994, when Tony Cicoria was 42 years old, he was struck by lightning near Albany, New YorkAlbany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, 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 was resuscitated by a woman, (coincidentally an intensive-care-unit nurse) who was waiting to use the telephone.
After the accident
Cicoria suffered burns to his face and left foot where the electrical charge had entered and exited his body.Several weeks after the accident Cicoria consulted a neurologist
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
because he was having difficulties with his memory and was feeling sluggish. The neurological exam, including an EEG
EEG
EEG commonly refers to electroencephalography, a measurement of the electrical activity of the brain.EEG may also refer to:* Emperor Entertainment Group, a Hong Kong-based entertainment company...
and an MRI, 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.
Then Cicoria, over a period of two or three days, became struck with an insatiable desire to listen to piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
music. He acquired a piano and started to teach himself to play. His head was flooded with music that seemed to come from nowhere. Although, previous to his accident, he had no particular interest in music, within three months of being struck by lightning Cicoria spent nearly all his time playing and composing.
Musical career
Tony Cicoria debuted his first piano composition in Westport, Connecticut, on October 12, 2007.In 2007, under the direction of Polly van der Linde, Tony has given recitals at the Sonata Adult Piano Camp, in Bennington, Vermont, where he has played Chopin’s Military Polonaise
Polonaises Op. 40 (Chopin)
The twin Op. 40 Polonaises of the Polonaise in A major, Op. 40, No. 1, nicknamed the Military Polonaise, and the Polonaise in C minor, Op. 40, No. 2 were composed by Frédéric Chopin in 1838...
, Op. 40 (in 2002), Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu
Fantaisie-Impromptu
Frédéric Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Op. posth. 66, is a solo piano composition and one of his best-known pieces. It was composed in 1834 and dedicated to Julian Fontana, who published the piece in spite of Chopin's request not to do so....
(in 2003), Brahms’ Rhapsody
Rhapsodies, Op. 79 (Brahms)
The Rhapsodies, Op. 79, for piano were written by Johannes Brahms in 1879 during his summer stay in Pörtschach, when he had reached the maturity of his career. They were inscribed to his friend, the musician and composer Elisabeth von Herzogenberg...
, Op. 79, No. 2 (in 2005), Chopin’s Scherzo in B-flat Minor, Op. 31
Scherzo No. 2 (Chopin)
The Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31 is a scherzo by Frédéric Chopin. The work was composed and published in 1837, and was dedicated to Countess Adèle Fürstenstein...
(in 2006) and an earlier version of his own composition, Lightning Sonata.
January 29, 2008 marked an important milestone in Cicoria's musical career. He publicly debuted at the Goodrich Theater in Oneonta, New York
Oneonta, New York
Oneonta is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, had a population of 13,901. Its nickname is "City of the Hills." While the word "oneonta" is of undetermined origin, it is popularly believed to mean "place of open rocks" in the Iroquois language...
, presented by the Catskill Conservatory in association with the SUNY at Oneonta
State University of New York at Oneonta
The State University of New York College at Oneonta is a four-year liberal arts college in Oneonta, New York, United States, with approximately 5,800 students. The College offers many bachelor's degrees and a number of graduate degrees...
. The performance was assisted by a grant from the NYS Council on the Arts
New York State Council on the Arts
The New York State Council on the Arts is an arts council serving the U.S. state of New York. It was established in 1960 through a bill introduced in the New York State Legislature by New York State Senator MacNeil Mitchell , with backing from Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and began its work in 1961...
. This performance was recorded live by Granada Media UK, the BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
, and German National Television.
Cicoria has appeared in numerous magazines including, The Week
The Week
The Week, styled as THE WEEK, is a weekly news magazine.-History:It was founded in the United Kingdom by Jolyon Connell in 1995. In April 2001, the magazine began publishing an American edition; an Australian edition followed in October 2008. Dennis Publishing publishes the U.K. and Australian...
, SuperConsciousness Magazine
SuperConsciousness Magazine
SuperConsciousness Magazine is an independent, quarterly, theme-based magazine devoted to evidence-based human potential, practical spirituality, and an inspired, visionary future. The publication is available in Print or Digital formats and is internationally distributed. SuperConsciousness also...
, and Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
.
He has appeared in numerous television presentations including: BBC One’s documentary Imagine
Imagine (TV series)
Imagine is a wide ranging arts series first broadcast on BBC One in 2003, hosted and executive produced by Alan Yentob. Each series usually consists of 4 to 7 episodes, each on a different topic...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
’s The Hour, Granada Media’s documentary My Strange Brain, WSKG TV Expressions and the NOVA
NOVA (TV series)
Nova is a popular science television series from the U.S. produced by WGBH Boston. It can be seen on the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States, and in more than 100 other countries...
episode Musical Minds
Musical Minds
Musical Minds is a NOVA documentary based on neurologist Oliver Sacks's 2007 book Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain about music and the human brain aired on June 30, 2009 on Public Broadcasting Service ....
.
Cicoria is also working on several other solo piano pieces, including a 4-hand / 2-piano piece, a symphony based on Brahms' Variation, op. 9, and a concerto.
He is also writing a book detailing the origin of his musical experience.