Zoƫ Keating

Making sense of life, loss, and love through music

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About Zoë Keating

Often called a one-woman orchestra, Zoë Keating fuses her unique background as a cellist and information technologist to sample and loop her cello onstage, creating a digitally enterprising experience for her audience. Zoë is famous for releasing her albums independently, reaching #1 on the iTunes classical chart without a traditional record label. While staying true to a grassroots approach to music, Zoë has composed for several television, film, and performing arts ventures. In 2014, Zoë paused her music career after her husband was diagnosed with stage IV non-smoker’s lung cancer, documenting their struggles with healthcare and insurance on her blog. Named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, she serves on the boards of the Magik Magik Orchestra and CASH Music, and she continues to advocate on her late husband’s behalf for patients, data portability and the simplification of medical insurance.

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About This Talk

Zoë Keating was working as a successful cellist and composer when her husband, Jeff, got sick with stage IV non-smokers lung cancer. Her life was turned upside down—she put her career on hold, stopped creating music, and pivoted the focus of her music blog to document their struggles dealing with health insurance companies and navigating the complex American health care system. 

After Jeff's death, it took Zoë time to start making her own music music again. But when she did, it became her lifeline—music helped her to grieve, to communicate what she was feeling, and to begin the healing process. Watch Zoë's TEDMED 2017 Talk below, and listen to the beautiful cello piece, "Possible," that she composed in conjunction with developing her Talk. 

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