Hobby Energizes Heart and Soul for Dr. Anaya
December 3, 2024By: Joel Francis
Categories: We are NKCH and MH
Mauricio Anaya, MD, was eight years old when he observed a family friend putting an accordion in his father’s hands at a party. The young Dr. Anaya would soon discover his father was an experienced musician.
“My mind exploded,” remembered Dr. Anaya, with Meritas Health Cardiology. “I had never experienced music like that before.”
The moment was also pivotal for Enrique Anaya, Dr. Anaya’s father. After playing for many years, Enrique sold his accordion to buy a motorcycle, which meant Dr. Anaya had grown up with no musical instruments in the house. Enrique decided he could no longer be without an accordion.
“That was the day music returned to our lives,” Dr. Anaya said with a smile.
It wasn’t long before Dr. Anaya got the bug as well. The first time he held a guitar, Dr. Anaya’s young hands were too small to work the stiff strings. His father got discouraged trying to teach him how to form chords and play notes.
A few years later, Dr. Anaya’s cousins asked him to learn how to play guitar with them. This time, the instrument stuck.
“When I was in my early teens, I started playing with my cousins,” Dr. Anaya said. “I fell in love with it. By then my hands were stronger.”
While many players relish the volume and aggression of rock guitarists or the moody dexterity of jazz guitarists, Dr. Anaya was smitten with the emotion of classical guitar. Latin American composers and guitarist Augustin Barrios from Paraguay captured his imagination. Decades later, Dr. Anaya is still in love with playing classical guitar.
“When I’m with my guitar, I cannot play for five minutes. It’s either two or three hours or nothing,” Dr. Anaya said. “Sometimes, I will not play anything for months and then one day there is an opportunity, and I will grab the guitar for three hours. Even after I’m on call, it gives me energy and releases stress.”
When asked to name his favorite composer, Dr. Anaya doesn’t hesitate.
“(Johann Sebastian) Bach,” he exclaimed. “He is perfection. He keeps my mind always alert. Sometimes it’s very challenging and overwhelming to listen to Bach, because I think there is a divine connection in the music. It can take you to places you cannot describe.”
Growing up in Bolivia, Dr. Anaya came to the United States for his residency and fellowship.
“I never really intended to stay,” he said. “Now I have a family with a wife and two kids, and I’m a happy, proud U.S. citizen.”
Since joining the medical staff several years ago, Dr. Anaya does his best to stay on top of Kansas City’s vibrant classical music scene. He enjoys going to performances at the Kauffman Center, Johnson County Community College and Folly Theater. He’s also traveled to St. Louis to watch classical guitarists.
For someone as passionate about music as Dr. Anaya, he must be aware of when he listens to his favorite pieces.
“For me, playing Bach at midnight will give me insomnia,” Dr. Anaya proclaimed. “It will wake up my soul and all my senses.”
