A chorus of voices rang through the Greater Kansas City area last week, during a series of invited talks by Elizabeth Stegemöller, Ph.D. 

Stegemöller, a board-certified music therapist and professor of kinesiology at Iowa State University, presented “Singing in Parkinson’s” at Lyric Opera of Kansas City on Tuesday, August 12; an encore presentation followed at Turning Point in Leawood, Kansas, on Thursday, August 14. Stegemöller’s presentation charted her research into how singing promotes movement, respiratory control and community in people with Parkinson’s disease. The community aspect of Stegemöller’s research was on full display as she led attendees through a series of interactive vocal exercises. 

“The best part of Dr. Stegemöller’s visit was seeing the excitement and engagement from our collaborators, patients and community members in response to her presentations,” said Rebecca Lepping, Ph.D., associate professor in the University of Kansas Department of Neurology. Lepping’s own research explores the links between music and health, and she leads the Power of Music Lab (PROMUS).  

Stegemöller’s visit — presented in partnership with Lyric Opera of Kansas City and Turning Point and facilitated by Dr. Lepping — was made possible through the Big 12 Faculty Fellowship Program, which offers travel funding to faculty with the aim “to facilitate the exchange of ideas and research” across universities in the Big 12 Athletic Conference. Through the program, Lepping and Stegemöller collaborated on the details of Stegemöller’s visit, a partnership Lepping looks forward to developing further. 

“Dr. Stegemöller’s work has had a positive impact for so many people across Iowa, and we’re excited to continue this collaboration in Kansas City,” Lepping said.