Finding Light Through Adversity

The musician Tim Long sat at his dining room table on a September morning, reflecting on the profound ways in which good can emerge from suffering. He was surrounded by old family photographs, each image telling a story of resilience and hope.

Long’s mother, Stella, a proud member of the Choctaw Nation, grew up in severe poverty in the rural landscapes of eastern Oklahoma. Her early life was marked by hardship, especially after her widowed mother remarried and left Stella and her four brothers to largely fend for themselves. The Oklahoma government intervened, placing the children in a boarding school where Stella faced a devastating battle with tuberculosis. This illness led to the removal of one of her lungs and resulted in two prolonged stints in quarantine, totaling five arduous years.

Amid these challenges, one source of comfort emerged in the form of a classical music station she discovered on the radio. It was here that she developed a deep appreciation for the works of Beethoven.

“Without that influence, I wouldn’t be involved in music at all,” Long, now 56, reflected over steaming cups of oolong tea. “My life as I know it would not have been possible if my parents hadn’t embraced that broader outlook on life.”

As he spoke, images of his family in Yeager, Oklahoma, before his birth filled his mind. His father, Fred Long, stands proudly in the back of one photo, while his mother, Stella Long, beams from the left, surrounded by relatives who shared in their struggles and triumphs.

Long’s journey through the world of music has been nothing short of expansive. He has donned many hats as a musician: from playing the violin and piano to conducting orchestras, coaching singers, and imparting knowledge through teaching. Yet, he has now embarked on a new and perhaps the most significant chapter of his career: commissioning new works that will contribute to the rich tapestry of musical history.