Noted Denver saxophonist Clare Church has played with some of the greats, including Tony Bennett, the Temptations, and Dizzy Gillespie, but two years ago something changed. In an interview with CPR.org’s Ryan Warner, Claire speaks about how she began to experience shooting pains in her jaw, and as time went by, she lost the ability to get sounds out of her sax.
She was diagnosed with cranial dystonia, which is also known as Meige syndrome, and at the age of 53.
The new dystonia diagnosis would change her life forever as it took away her true passion, the saxophone.
Church wasn’t going to give up on her music, so she began taking drum lessons, while seeking treatment. Church feels that various types of dystonia are almost an occupational hazard among musicians, noting that flamenco guitarists are very prone to hand dystonia, and as a life-long horn player, she wasn’t surprised by her diagnosis. Church works hard to play with finesse, and gives her drum kit the same attention she previously devoted to playing the saxophone.
Clare’s husband, Pete Lewis, created a GoFundMe page to raise money for Clare to see a specialist for her cranial dystonia to help her play sax again. The funding exceeding its $5,000 goal. Source: GoFundMe
Currently, she is not taking medication to treat the symptoms of her cranial dystonia, but some patients opt for Botulinum toxin injections which help to reduce the excess muscle activity. Instead, Church tries to stay limber, and exercises her facial and eye muscles regularly.
Church experiences anxiety, and sometimes has involuntary eye closure when she’s listening closely, particularly on stage, and because of that, she has begun memorizing music more frequently because of the eye closure issues. After taking a hiatus from performing, she is excited to be playing in jazz clubs with her old band once again.
For more information about dystonia, contact the American Dystonia Society.
