A champion of new music, conductor and educator Dr. Jason Noble has commissioned numerous works, promoting the work of historically marginalized and emerging composers. But Noble’s conducting aspirations were nearly shattered when leading classical figures told him he would never have a real conducting career due to the neurological disorder, Essential Tremor, which causes involuntary shaking, most notably in the hands and forearms.
Instead, Noble took that rejection and channeled his experience into founding the PRISM Arts Initiative, which examines neurodiversity in the arts. Noble has emerged as a powerful voice for neurodiversity in music education and is often engaged as a speaker, stating that “words matter, especially what teachers say to sensitive musicians and artists.”
In December 2024 Dr. Noble underwent an innovative brain procedure at Columbia University Neurosurgery to treat his essential tremor on his right side, a condition he’s lived with throughout his career. In August 2025 he will have a second procedure to address his left side. Noble is documenting his medical journey publicly, adding to his legacy of advocating for neurodiversity in music education.
Dr. Noble already has a packed schedule of conducting engagements in 2025 at Universities and All-State music conferences throughout the United States and Australia. Noble is always thinking about the power of educators to build empathy and understanding within educational organizations and changing the minds of people today.
Dr. Noble is Associate Professor of Music at Lehman College New York, while holding concurrent appointments at New York University, Columbia University and Manhattan School of Music.
WXXI Classical promotes and supports inclusion for musicians of all abilities through programming and special events. WXXI’s Move to Include Initiative is made possible by a generous grant from the Golisano Foundation.
Music: Gustav Holst: Second Suite (North Texas Wind Symphony)