New Jersey Stage 2017: Issue 5 | Page 124

INSIDE MUSIC by Rosemary Conte SHARE BUTTON The Medicare Symphony I received a CD in the mail from my friend Derwyn Hold- er, who lives in Cali- fon, NJ. I read the CD title and thought it was a joke. It wasn’t. And when I played it, I got to know my friend a lot better. Throughout his long career, Der- wyn’s had one foot in jazz and the other in classical music, com- posing many large and smaller pieces in each style. A few years ago, after a heart attack and sub- sequent surgery, Derwyn wrote NJ STAGE 2017 - Vol. 4 No. 5 something special. Now, I’ve learned of many male heart patients whose lives and personalities underwent drastic changes after sur- gery, resulting in careers lost and mar- riages ended. I wonder what made the difference in Derwyn’s life; he wrote a symphony --- and got married! Derwyn was so thankful that his $400,000 sur- gery was covered by Medicare, his gratitude poured forth in Symphony No.1 Medicare. INDEX NEXT ARTICLE 124