REACH #TBT: Music and Wellness Program

Through the REACH chamber music program, NJSO musicians perform at nearly 150 community events throughout the state each year. On “throwback Thursday,” we look back at a highlight from the 2015–16 season—the creation of the Music and Wellness Program:

Through the NJSO’s new Music and Wellness Program, musicians have performed chamber music programs at patients’ bedsides and in common areas at several medical centers. The Music and Wellness Program is made possible by partnerships with Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBIMC) and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey (CHoNJ), Hackensack University Medical Center and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

NJSO bassoonist Marc Timmerman (pictured right) says: “As a musician, performing in hospital rooms for the patients at Beth Israel has been a uniquely rewarding musical experience. We performed duos on bassoon and violin, but ‘perform’ doesn’t seem like the right word, since our audience was three feet away, and we were able to talk to them and see their reactions to our music. I would say ‘sharing’ music is more apt. It was wonderful to bring a bit of brightness to the patients as well as the staff; the experience definitely strengthened my belief in the healing power of live music.”

Flutist Kathleen Nester (pictured left) says: “The people we played for in the reception areas seemed to respond a lot to it—they were singing along, and I hope it was lifting their spirits. One of the founding doctors came down to listen, and we played at patients’ bedsides. It was healing for me, and I hope it made a difference. Music is a great communicator. It’s always really good to play music for people, and I like playing in a chamber setting where you can [see that impact] up close. It’s a great program, and I’m glad we’re doing more of it.”

» RELATED: NJ.com features Music and Wellness performance

» Read a feature on the Music and Wellness Program.

» Learn more about the NJSO’s REACH chamber music offerings.