Ronald Braunstein began his music career at New York's prestigious Juilliard School and went on to apprentice at the Berlin Philharmonic.

His career as a conductor, however, has endured both high notes and low.

Braunstein's professional track was derailed by bipolar disorder. He says his colleagues in the music business seemed little to understand his condition and that he suffered discrimination as a result.

Now he hopes to use his talent to help others. He conducts the ME2 orchestra in Vermont where amateur musicians coping with mental illness come together with those supporting their cause to create music without worrying about the stigma.

Produced by the BBC's Franz Strasser and David Botti.