Cellist Joshua Roman Presents Concert Exploring the Effects of Long COVID

The program documents Roman's journey as he battled with the illness and eventually healed well enough to return to his performing career

Cellist Joshua Roman is presenting a concert at Carnegie Hall on December 3 to explore the ongoing impact of his experiences with long COVID.

When he first caught the virus in 2020, Roman soon found that his body could no longer cope with the exertion of ascending a flight of stairs, let alone playing the cello.

Titled Immunity, this program traces Roman's journey through the doubt, struggle, refocus, and renewal he went through as he decided whether or not he would be able to return to his performing career.

The concert is part of Carnegie Hall's Well-Being Concerts series. Scholars and scientists across disciplines are partnering with Carnegie Hall to ask important questions about the relationship between music and wellness. The Berkeley Social Interaction Lab at the University of California, Berkeley, under the guidance of Professor of Psychology Dr. Dacher Keltner, is partnering with Carnegie Hall to study the experience of live concerts.

The program includes:

• J.S. Bach Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prélude
• Joshua Roman Duet (with Tessa Lark)
• Allison Loggins-Hull Stolen
• Krzysztof Penderecki Capriccio per Siegfried Palm
• Caroline Shaw in manus tuas
• Mark Summer Julie-O
• George Crumb Sonata for Solo Cello
• Joshua Roman TBA new commission
• Leonard Cohen (arr. Roman) Hallelujah

You can hear Joshua Roman speaking about his experience with long COVID below.