Reviewed by: Callie Puryear
How one local program is helping families + patients in Birmingham now
Reading time: 4 minutes
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There’s more to the Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO) musicians than what you see during their beautiful concerts. Behind the curtain is a caring group of musicians with a community mission to fulfill in Birmingham.
One exciting way ASO demonstrates deep commitment to Birmingham is through an initiative called Music Meets Medicine. Keep reading to learn how this program showcases the transformative power of music in healthcare settings.
Music Meets Medicine started summer of 2020
During the challenging summer of 2020, when local hospitals were grappling with record-high numbers of COVID-19 patients, members of the ASO wanted to help bring people comfort and healing.
A group of six ASO musicians volunteered to collaborate with hospital staff to find a way to provide patients and families with perfectly orchestrated music as a therapeutic escape. That summer, the Music Meets Medicine program began as musicians performed solo recitals of uplifting and comforting melodies for COVID patients in the medical intensive care unit at UAB.
Support the ASO’s Music Meets Medicine Program with a donation today.
ASO is bringing comfort, healing + a sense of unity to Birmingham
Once there were fewer COVID patients, the music therapist at UAB connected ASO’s Music Meets Medicine and UAB’s Arts and Medicine program for further partnership. ASO now streams full orchestra performances to patients on various campuses including the UAB Women and Children’s Center and UAB Psychiatric Center.
“It’s been a beautiful experience where the patients have coloring pages that they were working on while we play music at Shelby Baptist. It’s really special to be involved in patients’ days and a beautiful reminder of why we do this.”
Valerie Sly, Member, Alabama Symphony Orchestra
Fast forward two years and the ASO chamber groups have performed for Shelby Baptist through the Brookwood network providing once-a-week concerts in May in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. The group of talented musicians have played for their Adult Senior Care and Adult Psych Units.
“Music Meets Medicine has expanded and become a program that local hospitals have championed for us. They’ve gone to their administrators and higher ups, asking how can we (the hospitals) incorporate it (Music Meets Medicine) into offerings at the hospital. It’s been really rewarding working with the administration of these hospitals to make music happen for their patients.”
Maria Wilson, Director of Education, Alabama Symphony, Orchestra
Donate today to Music Meets Medicine.
Music Meets Medicine expands into more Birmingham hospitals
ASO is expanding into more hospitals as the program grows. The Music Meets Medicine chamber group plan to play in person for the Children’s of Alabama’s Behavioral Health Unit once a month and St. Vincent’s. The ASO group has also been in contact with UAB’s Oncology Unit and Palliative Care Unit as well, discussing future opportunities to reach more people.
“Birmingham is a huge medical community and music has such a healing effect on people. I think Music Meets Medicine is a really great avenue for ASO to use what we do, what we love, and what we train for decades to do to have an impact within our own community.”
Brad Whitfield, Member, Alabama Symphony Orchestra
ASO would like to thank Medical Properties Trust and Protective Life for their support to help programs like Music Meets Medicine exist in the Birmingham community.
Check out ASO’s website today to learn more about wonderful performances by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.
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