Fresh Arts Presents Volunteer Pianist Travis Glover Performing For World Autism Awareness Week 2021

Fresh Arts, the arts programme for North Bristol NHS Trust, is delighted to support a large team of hugely skilled volunteer pianists. It is extremely important to all of us that volunteering opportunities at the hospital are inclusive and accessible to everyone, including neurodivergent individuals and people living with Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
To mark World Autism Awareness Week 2021, we are delighted to highlight the fantastic contribution of volunteer pianist Travis Glover.
When he was born at Southmead Hospital, Travis was a very poorly premature baby. He spent a long time being expertly cared for by our amazing Neonatal Intensive Care Team.
At the age of 2 Travis was diagnosed with Chronic Lung Disease. At the age of 3 Travis was diagnosed with Autism. At the age of 4 Travis lost his speech and was given the opportunity to attend Music therapy sessions. He spent two years lying on top of the piano while his Music Therapist played, he loved feeling the vibrations. At the age of 7 Travis went into his primary school and pointed to the piano 'I play'. Travis went over to the piano and started playing Beethoven's 9th Symphony.
Travis went from strength to strength, he would memorise pieces of music and transpose pieces into different keys. His Consultant gave him a Chopin CD to listen to at night to help him sleep. Travis listened to the music and wrote down the notes as it played! His parents soon arranged piano lessons and since then, music making and performance have become an enormously important part of Travis' life. Aged just 11 he passed his music GCSE with an A*, going on to pass Music A-level with an A* as well. In 2019 Travis graduated from the University of the West of England and he is currently studying for a Masters in Composition for Film at the University of Bristol.
Travis chose to become a volunteer pianist at Southmead Hospital because he wanted to give something back to the hospital community. He is an absolutely brilliant volunteer and a massive asset to the volunteer pianist team. Not to mention a brilliant musician!
To learn more about becoming a volunteer pianist for North Bristol NHS Trust please email [e-mail]