Welcome to the Myasthenia Gravis Association of British Columbia (MGABC).
We are here to help.
The MGABC is a volunteer driven, non profit support group for people living with Myasthenia Gravis.
Through membership in the Myasthenia Gravis Association of British Columbia, we learn from each other on how to live through the ups and downs of MG and continue to thrive!
Myasthenia Gravis Association of BC
Brenda Kelsey
2805 Kingsway
Vancouver, BC
V5R 5H9
604-451-5511 ext 1284
myasthenia.gravis@bc-cfa.org
Press Release:
MOZART FOR MYASTHENIA
On Saturday March 30, an evening of some of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s finest chamber works will be performed by a group of internationally acclaimed artists at a premier location, the Vancouver Academy of Music, all in support of the Myasthenia Gravis Association of BC.
“ This is an extraordinary opportunity to experience the best of Mozart performed by five internationally recognized artists who call Vancouver home, in the intimate setting of the Academy of Music. We are most grateful to the Artists and the Academy for their generous contribution of time, talent and facilities in support of the work of the Myasthenia Gravis Association of BC” reports Brenda Kelsey, president of the MGABC.
ARTISTS FOR MOZART FOR MYASTHENIA: Andrew Dawes (violin) is a MGABC board member and founder of the Orford String Quartet. He is a winner of many musical awards including the Order of Canada, 3 Junos, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and the Governor General”s Lifetime Achievement Award and is professor emeritus UBC. Andy has gathered these equally talented musicians to join the group:
Jason Ho (viola) a graduate of the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music. Jason Ho was a grand prize winner at the Canadian Music Competition, BC Festival of the Arts, UBC Concerto Competition, and Burnaby Clef Concerto Competition. Mr. Ho made his orchestral debut at the age of fourteen, has served as concertmaster of the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra and was appointed Principal Second Violin of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in 2013.
Eric Wilson (cello) was awarded the Bronze Medal (1971) in the Geneva International Competition and co-winner of the Morris Loeb Prize for Strings (1973) at the Juilliard School. Mr. Wilson was solo cellist of the Ensemble of New York in residence at the Lincoln Centre, New York, and was a founding member of the Emerson String Quartet that won the prestigious Walter W. Naumberg competition Prize for Chamber Ensemble.
Isabel Vila (violin) began her violin studies in Barcelona and went on to study with Lorand Fenyves, Ivan Galamian, Dorothy Delay and Ruggiero Ricci. Ms Vila was concertmaster of the National Ballet of Canada for seven years and went on to be concertmaster of several orchestras in Spain. She taught violin at the music conservatories of Vitoria, Barcelona and Salamanca. Her desire was to improve the level of violin playing in Spain and she became Spain’s most successful violin teacher. Ms Vila also founded youth orchestras in Las Palmas Gran Canaria, Barcelona, Salamanca and Vitoria Gasteiz. She is retired and now resides part time in Spain and part time in Canada.
Jane Coop (piano) is an internationally recognized concert pianist, appearing as a recitalist and as a soloist with major symphony orchestras throughout the world. Ms. Coop has performed at such venues as the Bolshoi Hallin St. Petersburg, the Kennedy Center, Alice Tully Hall, Roy Thomson Hall, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Beijing Concert Hall, and the Salle Gaveauin Paris. From 1980-2012 she taught on the faculty of the University of British Columbia’s School of Music in Vancouver. In December 2012, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.
Mozart for Myasthenia will be held on Saturday March 30 commencing at 7:30 pm at the Koerner Recital Hall at Vancouver Academy of Music, 1270 Chestnut St, Vancouver. There will be a light refreshment at intermission.
Tickets may be purchased on line at MGABC.eventbrite.ca. Tickets are $25/Adults, $40/Couples, $18/Student. For concert and ticket information call the MGABC Office at 604 451 5511 ext 1284.
MYASTHENIA GRAVIS is a chronic auto-immune disease affecting the nerve transmission to the muscle. It can strike anyone at any age. Once recognized, myasthenia is treatable with medication, such as corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, plasma exchange, intravenous gamma globulin, and in younger patients, possible surgery. If diagnosed and treated early, myasthenia patients can look forward to a normal life with medication.
THE MYASTHENIA GRAVIS ASSOCIATION OF BC is a non profit organization incorporated in 1958. The mandate of the MGABC is to provide, support, education and advocacy for myasthenia patients. Over the last few years the Association has also raised funds to support research in the neuro immunology lab at UBC and the education of young neurologists at the neuro-muscular diseases unit of the VGH.
For more information on Mozart For Myasthenia or the work of the Myasthenia Gravis Association of BC please contact the MGABC office at 604 451 5511 ext 1284. For interviews please contact Dr. Joel Oger at 604 813 3143 (cell)
JOEL OGER D.en M., FRCPC, FANA, FAAN
Professor Emeritus (Medicine, Neurosciences, and Pathology) UBC
Retired Neurologist
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Donating to MGABC:
You can donate to the Myasthenia Gravis Association of BC by donating through the Canada Helps website, for more information please visit our donation page here.
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Next Meeting:
Our next meeting is our Annual General Meeting and Spring Support Group Meeting
When: Sunday, April 14th, 2019 @ 1:30pm
Where: Room 307, Centre for Ability, 2805 Kingway, Vancouver
Special Guest speaker: Dr. Aathi Pathmanathan
Dr. Pathmanathan will answer questions and discuss experiences at VGH Neuromuscular Diseases Unit regarding MG Studies and Research projects.
You can download our lastest newsletter here, Spring 2019
