The Violins that Survived (Monday’s Bow Nov. 28)

The Violin That Survived Paralysis

Last Tuesday was a landmark moment for musical performance. Eric Wan wheeled onto the stage of Montreal’s Place des Arts and performed with the Montreal Chamber Orchestra without using his hands.

You see, Eric Wan is quadriplegic.

The concert marked the world stage debut of the Virtual Music Instrument. Wan, a software engineer by profession, helped develop this as a graduate student at the Bloorview Research Institute in Toronto. The Virtual Music Instrument (VMI) is designed to play music when someone activates shapes (circles, squares, stars, etc.) drawn on a computer screen. The shapes are triggered by actions such as moving a hand or tilting a head. A camera is placed next to the computer screen and pointed at the performer, detecting his or her motions which the VMI software uses to activate pre-determined samples of music.

The event was a significant point in history, for the scientific and musical communities in terms of innovation, as well as personally for Wan who was able to play on stage with live musicians for the first time in over 15 years (a feat he once thought was impossible due to his disability.)

The event was a fundraiser, and in no small part thanks to Wan, who stole the show, raised over $100,000 for people with disabilities.

Check out the video below and learn more about this incredible project.