Musician Overcomes Hearing Loss, Helps Create ‘Hamilton’

For some, disabilities are seen as a challenge to not only live with but also to conquer. Despite being deaf and blind, Helen Keller became a renowned activist and scholar. Despite physical handicaps, Paralympic competitors are world-class athletes. Despite his hearing loss, Beethoven wrote some of world’s most beautiful symphonies. For Alex Lacamoire, his gift of music is also closely linked to his hearing loss.

“I often wonder if my handicap is actually an asset. My hearing loss makes me listen a little harder … I can really focus in on music and tune out the world around me.”Alex Lacamoire

To Lacamoire, his hearing loss wasn’t a disability, but a gift. Although he has difficulties in conversation, he is not bothered. In fact, he stated in an interview, “I often wonder if my handicap is actually an asset. My hearing loss makes me listen a little harder. It allows me to live in my own bubble. I can really focus in on music and tune out the world around me.”

Thanks to that ability, Lacamoire became a successful music director, arranger, orchestrator and conductor for Broadway. His most recent and notable accomplishment was his arrangement for the musical score for this year’s Broadway phenomenon, Hamilton!

When he was a child, Lacamoire’s family recognized his curiosity and talent for music when he learned to play piano at the tender age of 4. The realization of his talent was made alongside the discovery of his hearing loss. He was diagnosed with at least 15% hearing loss. At the time his family could only afford one hearing aid. This did not hold him back from his passion for listening to and creating music.

Originally from Cuba, his family’s love for music was what helped them support his education from piano lessons to music school. His piano teacher touted his musical skill saying, “He was absolutely phenomenal from day one. You know the ones that have it. When you’ve seen and taught thousands of kids, the great ones rise right to the top.”

In his youth, Lacamoire decided he wanted to pursue music professionally after he performed at various hotels, community theater events and cocktail receptions. When graduating from high school a year early, he earned a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston. From there, he paved his way toward a career in Broadway by studying orchestral music.

Lacamoire’s pursuits lead him to become a music director, orchestrator, arranger and conductor for Broadway performances and other musicals. Lacamoire and his friend Lin-Manuel Miranda collaborated to create music for In the Heights, which went on to garner four Tony Awards. And that was just the beginning.

When Lacamoire was asked to collaborate with Miranda on a song to perform at the White House, they created the start of what would soon become a new musical, Hamilton. In the last year, Hamilton became one of the biggest Broadway hits taking theaters by storm and nominated for 16 Tony Awards—it won 11 Tonys by the end of the ceremony.

Lacamoire’s hearing loss might have also been the reason his talent bloomed into what it is today. In an interview, he says, “It’s about overcoming a disability to the point where you don’t feel it’s a disability anymore.” From his point of view, Lacamoire’s hearing loss forced him to listen harder to music.

Hamilton’s Broadway success took the musical theatre scene by storm. It’s a unique musical telling about the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton using hip-hop, rap and, most uniquely for a historical musical, a multi-ethnic cast.

Songs from the musical climbed the top of Billboard charts in two very different genres: musical and hip-hop. According to the show’s producers, Lacamoire was the key to their huge success. Tommy Kail, director for the musical, stated, “I don’t even know how to imagine how the show would be without [Lacamoire]. There’s so much of Alex’s spirit and heart in the show. He’s part of the DNA of the show. It is full and complete because of him.”

Are you experiencing changes in your hearing? Do you believe you may be experiencing a hearing loss? There’s no reason to let this stand in the way of your passions. Contact us at one of our My Hearing Centers locations today to schedule an appointment.