Blind musician brings musical storytelling to MU

Ken Medema is a blind musician who shares his passion for learning and discovery through music and storytelling. He creates compositions on the spot using stories from audience members. 

Medema will present “The Power of Storytelling” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, in Cordier Auditorium on the North Manchester campus of Manchester University. The event is free and is open to the public.

Medema began playing the piano at the age of 5. Three years later, he began classical music lessons through Braille. Along the way, he became a master of improvisation and playing by ear.

In 1969, Medema received a master’s degree in music therapy at Michigan State University. Afterward, he worked as a music therapist in Fort Wayne, Ind., and later at Essex County Hospital in New Jersey. He now lives in California.

Medema has performed publicly for nearly 40 years, including this summer’s Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren.

The presentation is part of the Values, Ideas and the Arts series at the University.

Prepared by Tiana Maclin, MU communications assistant.

October 14, 2015