English 
French As part of the podcast series, “ArtsAbly in Conversation,” Diane Kolin interviewed Louann Carnahan, a neurologist specializing in epilepsy, and an accomplished classical pianist.
This post presents the resources that Louann Carnahan mentioned during the conversation.
Louann Carnahan
Louann has been a pianist since I was 5. She became a board-certified neurologist specializing in epilepsy. She has a disability caused by a muscle disease that makes her weaker over time. She started needing a wheelchair in medical school. Her shoulders are so weak now that she can no longer lift her arms to play naturally. Thus, she stopped playing for several years. She was very sad that she could no longer play and felt she lost a part of her identity. She designed the harness suspending her arms and returned to playing again.
Watch Louann’s 2023 International Piano Competition performance
Release of the Nocturne No. 2 in E Flat Major Op. 9 No. 2 by Louann Carnahan
Louann has felt a deep connection to Chopin’s music since she was a teenager. If you feel drawn to Chopin’s music in the same way, she invites you to listen to her version of his beautiful Nocturne when it is released to your favourite streaming platform. The official release date is March 1st, 2025. You can listen to a sample here.
Listen to a sample of Louann’s recording
PASK – Pianists for Alternatively Sized Keyboards
PASK is an international movement committed to achieving change in relation to piano keyboard size. Specifically, PASK aims to convince piano manufacturers to begin producing piano keyboards in three standard sizes. Purchasers of new pianos will then have a choice of keyboard size. In addition to the current ‘large’ size, we need two additional sizes with narrower keys.