Über die trö­stende Kraft der Musik

Bei einem welt­wei­ten „Par­kin­song“-Con­test wurde der Sie­ger gekürt. Hin­ter dem Pro­jekt steckt der selbst von der Krank­heit betrof­fene Gerald Gangl­bauer.

Kleine Zeitung Kaernten
Von Bernd Melichar 09 Jan. 2026

„Par­kin­song“. Die Wort­schöp­fung ist ori­gi­nell, die Krank­heit dahin­ter heim­tückisch. Das Wort setzt sich aus „Par­kin­son“ und „Song“ zusam­men, dahin­ter steckt ein von Gerald Gangl­bauer gegrün­de­tes Musikla­bel. Der Gra­zer Autor und Ver­le­ger erhielt bereits 2006, damals erst 48 Jahre alt, die Dia­gnose, an Par­kin­son im Früh­sta­dium erkrankt zu sein. Eine tiefe Zäsur in sei­nem Leben, aber kein Grund, untä­tig zu sein. Ganz im Gegen­teil: Neben zahl­rei­chen ande­ren Akti­vi­tä­ten und Enga­ge­ments in Selbst­hil­fe­grup­pen grün­dete Gangl­bauer das Label „Par­kin­song“ und pro­du­zierte 2019 eine erste CD, auf der Rock­mu­si­ker mit von der Krank­heit Betrof­fe­nen Duette san­gen.

Im Jahr 2021 erschien eine zweite CD, die eine Auf­nahme des „Par­kin­son Blues“ des Drah­di­wa­berl-Sän­gers Ste­fan Weber bein­hal­tete. Inzwi­schen hat die Krank­heit Gangl­bauer aber so fest im Griff, dass er einen End­punkt sei­ner „Par­kin­son-Kar­riere“, wie er es selbst aus­drückt, kom­men sieht. „Aber bevor es soweit ist, wollte ich noch etwas Neues auf die Beine stel­len.“ Und das ist ihm gelun­gen.

Und wie­der ist es eine Wort­schöp­fung, die hin­ter dem Pro­jekt steckt: „Par­kin­Song­li­nes“. Dies­mal ist die Krank­heit kom­bi­niert mit Bruce Chat­wins Buch „ Song­li­nes“ (dt.: Traum­pfade). Die Idee dahin­ter laut Gangl­bauer: „Damit wollte ich die Schmerz­li­nien, die sich über alle Kon­ti­nente erstrecken, sym­bo­li­sie­ren.“ In der Folge begab sich Gangl­bauer welt­weit auf die Suche nach Songs, die in Zusam­men­hang mit der Par­kin­son-Erkran­kung ste­hen. Er sam­melte Musik aus den USA, Austra­lien, Europa. „Ich war über­rascht und berührt, von welch hoher Qua­li­tät die Bei­träge sind“. Die CD „Par­kin­song­li­nes“ wird Ende Jän­ner erschei­nen.

Auf der Grund­lage der Son­g­ Aus­wahl von Gerald Gangl­bauer orga­ni­sierte die „World Par­kin­son Disease Coali­tion“ Ende 2025 den Par­kin­song-Wett­be­werb. Die Regeln waren ein­fach: Die Stim­men wur­den über Likes auf die You­Tube-Videos der ein­ge­reich­ten Songs ver­ge­ben. 18 Songs schaff­ten es auf die Short­list – und diese Woche stand der Sie­ger fest. Die Wahl fiel mit großem Abstand auf den in Deutsch­land leben­den ame­ri­ka­ni­schen Sin­ger/ Song­wri­ter Rob Georg und den Song „Climb This Moun­tain“.

Der Musi­ker

ist selbst nicht erkrankt, hat aber seine Kar­riere unter­bro­chen, um sei­nen an Par­kin­son lei­den­den Vater zu pfle­gen. Für Rob Georg bedeu­tet der Sieg mehr als nur Aner­ken­nung. Er ist auch eine Mög­lich­keit, das Ver­mächt­nis sei­nes Vaters wei­ter­zu­tra­gen. Der Song sei eine Bot­schaft der Liebe und des Erinnerns, ein Zeug­nis der unzer­brech­li­chen Bin­dung zwi­schen Vater und Sohn. Auch Gerald Gangl­bauer ist mit der Wahl zufrie­den, für ihn geht es beim Par­kin­song-Wett­be­werb aber nicht nur um Musik, „son­dern darum, die Geschich­ten von Men­schen zu wür­di­gen, die mit Par­kin­son leben.“ Sei­nen Sie­ger-Song wird Rob Georg im Mai die­ses Jah­res beim World Par­kin­son Con­gress in Phoe­nix, Ari­zona, live prä­sen­tie­ren.

„Musik hat

erwie­se­ner­ma­ßen eine posi­tive Aus­wir­kung auf das Ner­ven­sy­stem“, so Gerald Gangl­bauer, der das Leben mit Par­kin­son auch in sei­nem Buch „Kopf­bahn­hof“ geschil­dert hat. In die­ser Zei­tung wurde Gangl­bauer ein­mal so beschrie­ben: „Die­ser Mann hat viele Bega­bun­gen, das Nichtstun gehört nicht dazu.“ Trotz Rück­zugs­ge­dan­ken und Ein­schrän­kun­gen wird sich daran wohl nichts ändern in der nahen Zukunft. Es gibt schließ­lich noch viele Berge zu erklim­men.

Rob Georg’s ‘Climb This Mountain’ Wins the 2026 Parkinsong Contest:
A Story of Legacy and Triumph

December 24, 2025 7 Mins Read

In a touching moment of connection, Rob Georg’s winning song at the Parkinsong contest carries a deeply personal message about resilience and legacy.

When Rob Georg received an unexpected email notifying him that his song “Climb This Mountain” had won the 2026 Parkinsong contest, he couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion. This wasn’t just any victory,  it was a moment that intertwined his personal story with a global movement. The song, written for his father during his battle with Parkinson’s disease, had been entered into the contest without his knowledge. And yet, it was his father’s spirit and legacy that ultimately propelled the song to triumph.

The Parkinsong contest, organized by Gerald Ganglbauer, seeks to amplify voices through music, offering a platform for artists whose works explore the Parkinson’s experience. Since its inception in 2019, Parkinsong has become a beacon for artists and individuals to share their stories through the power of song. This year, entries flooded in from across the globe, with 18 songs selected for the final shortlist from countries such as Australia, Austria, and Belgium. The contest was especially close to the heart of Parkinsong’s CEO, Gerald Ganglbauer, who remarked that the contest was a natural progression for the organization, built upon his previous experience with duets, awards, and grants.

The rules of the contest were simple: votes were cast through likes on YouTube videos of the submissions. In a testament to the emotional power of “Climb This Mountain,” the song quickly captured the hearts of voters, garnering enough support to claim the top spot. Now, Rob Georg’s song will be featured in a professionally produced album and performed live at the 2026 World Parkinson Congress in Phoenix, Arizona.

Recent Award Recognition

In addition to his Parkinsong contest victory, Rob Georg has recently been honored as the “Best Singer-Songwriter for Parkinson’s Awareness in the United States of 2025”. This prestigious recognition was announced on BestofBestReview.com, a leading authority in the music industry. The award underscores Georg’s significant contributions to raising awareness for Parkinson’s disease through his music, and it serves as a testament to his unwavering commitment to the cause. You can read more about this award and his recognition on BestofBestReview.com.

A Song Born from Love and Loss

“Climb This Mountain” was more than just a song for Rob Georg,  it was a love letter to his father, a man who had fought a valiant battle against Parkinson’s disease. Georg explained that he wrote the song together with his producer Kristin K. Smith during one of his father’s hardest moments, pouring his heart into each lyric and note. The song speaks of strength, resilience, and the power of love in the face of adversity. For Georg, the song was a way to cope with the emotional toll of watching his father battle the disease, and it became a piece of his soul captured in music.

What makes this victory even more remarkable is that Georg had never submitted the song to the contest. In a twist of fate, someone,  perhaps a fellow patient, a caregiver, or even his father’s spirit,  had entered the song on his behalf. Georg’s reaction was a mix of disbelief and awe. “Maybe a patient who’s fighting that same battle? Maybe a caregiver who recognized the truth in that song? Maybe a Dad who still moves mountains in ways I’ll never fully understand?” he mused. Whoever had submitted the song, it was clear that “Climb This Mountain” had struck a chord with a wide audience, resonating deeply with those who have experienced the challenges of Parkinson’s firsthand.

A Celebration of Resilience and Unity

The Parkinsong contest is not just a competition; it is a celebration of resilience, a platform for those whose lives have been touched by Parkinson’s disease to share their stories and connect. The contest’s ability to bring together a global community of artists, patients, caregivers, and advocates is a testament to the power of music to heal and unite. Georg’s victory is emblematic of this spirit of collaboration, and it shines a spotlight on the strength of the Parkinson’s community, which continues to fight together with unwavering determination.

Ganglbauer, the CEO of Parkinsong, spoke fondly of the contest and the exceptional quality of submissions. He mentioned that his personal favorite was the animation video of another entry by René van Helsdingen, calling it “the highest quality and creativity.” He went on to describe “Climb This Mountain” as a “catchy, feel-good tune” reminiscent of “The Sound of Music.” He praised Rob Georg for his gentle voice and likable personality, calling him someone they would “want as our son.” For Ganglbauer, this contest was not just about music; it was about honoring the stories of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

The Power of Music to Tell a Story

For Georg, the victory means more than just recognition; it is a way to carry his father’s legacy forward. Each listen, each vote, and each person touched by the song is a tribute to his father’s fight. “With every listen, every vote, every heart touched… it all carries my Dad’s legacy and his story forward,” Georg reflected. It’s a message of love and remembrance, a testament to the unbreakable bond between father and son.

This is the miracle of art,  it takes the pain and love of one person’s life and transforms it into something that can resonate with others. “Climb This Mountain” is more than just a song; it is an anthem for anyone who has faced hardship, who has lost a loved one, or who is battling their own struggles. Its uplifting melody and heartfelt lyrics offer hope and comfort, reminding listeners that no mountain is too steep to climb, no journey too difficult to endure.

A Momentous Year for Rob Georg

As Rob Georg prepares for his performance at the World Parkinson Congress in Phoenix, he reflects on the extraordinary journey that brought him to this point. Winning the Parkinsong contest is a dream come true, but it is also a call to action for Georg. “This is a moment wrapped in something bigger than us,” he says. It is a moment that will carry him forward as he continues to share his music with the world and support the Parkinson’s community.

For Georg, this contest win is just the beginning. He plans to continue his mission to create music that inspires, uplifts, and connects. His platform, which boasts over 1.3 million followers on Facebook, will undoubtedly help spread the message of hope that “Climb This Mountain” embodies. With a bunch of professionally produced songs  on the horizon and a show at the World Parkinson Congress, Georg is ready to take this journey to new heights, sharing his story and his music with even more people around the globe.

Join Rob Georg in Celebrating Resilience and Legacy

Rob Georg’s victory in the Parkinsong contest is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. “Climb This Mountain” is not just a song,  it’s a movement, a celebration of love, loss, and the unbreakable bonds that connect us all. As Rob takes the stage at the World Parkinson Congress in 2026, he invites you to join him in this celebration of life and music. Stay connected, share the song, and be part of a community that stands together in the face of adversity.

To learn more about Rob Georg and his music, visit his official website. To follow his journey and stay up-to-date on future performances, connect with him on Facebook at Rob Georg Music.

Resources:

• Parkinsong Contest
• World Parkinson Disease Coalition
• World Parkinson Congress 2026