Nashville Summer Camp Unites Country Music and Brain Research
Orange County, CA - August 2nd 2017 - The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN is recognized by fans as the country music genre's Holy Land. Home to The Grand Ole Opry radio show since 1943, the auditorium also operates as a concert hall for country music stars passing though Tennessee. Today, the venue is referred to as “The Mother Church of Country Music” and is seen by all performers as the pinnacle tour venue. It was in this historic building that 30 people with Williams syndrome arrived backstage to perform an original song written during the ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp.
Williams syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that can cause developmental disabilities, similar to symptoms expressed in downs syndrome. Those living with the condition are notorious for their outgoing personalities and love of music. Believed to work as a coping mechanism in overcoming challenges, doctors are researching the specifics behind these correlating traits.
Known as Music City, USA, Nashville naturally became the location for the annual summer camp where people with Williams syndrome submerge themselves in country music and participate in innovative research. The camp was created over 12 years ago by Researchers at Vanderbilt University in order to learn more about the syndrome and help those diagnosed to cope with the condition. Organized by Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, an organization that focuses on developmental disabilities, this camp is unique for those with Williams syndrome due to its country flair.
