Chicago native Norman Malone never gave up on his dream to be a concert pianist, making his orchestral debut at age 79 with the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Norman’s tragic but uplifting story begins at age 5, when he was drawn to music and sat down at the piano, where his virtuosic talent soon became evident. However, at age 10 he sustained an injury that resulted in complete paralysis on his right side.
Determined to reclaim his place at the piano, Norman spent years re-learning how to walk, talk, read and write, eventually earning degrees from DePaul University, and becoming a successful high school choir teacher. Over the next several decades he secretly worked to teach himself some of the most difficult music ever written for the left hand alone, including one of the hardest pieces in the piano repertoire – Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto for Left Hand.
At age 78, his story caught the attention of noted journalist Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune, who wrote a feature story on the retired musician. Immediately, he began receiving invitations to perform works specifically written for the left hand, including an invitation in 2016 from the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra to make his once illusive orchestral debut.
Norman’s journey to his orchestral debut is the subject of the 2021 documentary film, “For the Left Hand,” produced by Kartemquin Films, enchanting viewers on PBS and at film festivals around the country.
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: Ravel: Concerto for Left Hand, mvt 7, Charles Dutoit, cond, Montreal SO, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, p