NYC Health + Hospitals today announced an expansion of its live concert series, Music for the Soul, in partnership with Sing for Hope. For the first time, the program will offer concerts during the night shift and in locations throughout the hospital beyond the main lobby. The live concert series began as virtual performances in 2020 in partnership with the Mayor’s Office as a way to honor the work of NYC Health + Hospitals frontline staff during the height of the pandemic and support local musicians while music venues were closed. The program has since transitioned to in-person concerts and includes New York City-based musicians who perform a variety of genres, including Jazz, Classical, Folk, Hip Hop, and Latin music. With Sing for Hope's leadership and community-focused curation, programming has reached thousands of staff, caregivers, patients, and community members throughout the NYC Health+Hospitals network, the largest public healthcare system in the county. Notable events include performances for Doctor's Day, Nurse's Appreciation Week, and Mental Health Awareness Month; reaching thousands of doctors from across the country at the 2024 Jacobi Hospital Trauma Symposium; and, a first for NYC Health+Hospitals, evening performances for staff on the night tour between 7 PM and 2 AM. Music for the Soul is run by the health system’s Arts in Medicine department and funded by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.
“The name of this program says it all,” said Laurie Tisch, founder and president of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. “Music for the Soul brings so much joy and fun and laughter everywhere there is a concert. The music enlivens the atmosphere and helps staff, patients, and the community alike feel good when they need it most – on their way in and out of the hospital. We’re proud to help these concerts expand to reach people on the night shift alongside all of the other exemplary programs of the Arts in Medicine department.”
“Music interventions can significantly improve mental health and psychological quality of life,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Assistant Vice President of Arts in Medicine Larissa Trinder. “Convening music concerts in our lobbies and public spaces at NYC Health + Hospitals brings the community together and enhances joy. Growing our partnership with Sing for Hope is very exciting because it will enhance our offerings, including night concerts and bedside experiences for patients.”
“We’re so thrilled to resume our collaboration with NYC Health + Hospitals after the disruptions of the pandemic, at a moment when our world can really benefit from a bit of hope and harmony. Sing for Hope is deeply grateful to the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund for bringing our two organizations together and for its transformative support of our Public Health and Wellbeing initiatives,” said Sing for Hope Co-Founder Camille Zamora.
Sing for Hope Co-Founder Monica Yunus said, “It has been a joy to witness the launch of our partnership over the past year, and we have no doubt Music for the Soul will exceed our expectations in terms of positive impact on the deserving staff members, caregivers, and patients served by hospitals in the NYC Health + Hospitals network.”
“The Music for the Soul Sing for Hope concert at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens was an uplifting experience for all who had the opportunity to hear it,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens Chief Experience Officer David Weisman. “The group performed in our atrium, which allowed our staff, patients, family members, and all others to enjoy the beautiful music. I was able to see the looks on the faces of those who were present, and I was told time and time again throughout the concert, that they were touched by the performance.”
Scientific evidence reveals that music can have a profound effect on health. Music reduces symptoms of depression, supports pain management, provides a safe environment to contribute to healing from trauma, and builds resilience while decreasing anxiety and blood pressure. Music improves our sleep quality, mental alertness, memory, and overall health and well-being.
