BANGOR — The Bangor Symphony Orchestra has been presented with a $5,000 grant from Versant Power to continue the work of their Music and Wellness Program.
The Music and Wellness Program has been a mission of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra since 2013 with the goal of helping provide comfort and community connection to patients and visitors in local healthcare facilities through one-on-one interactions with music. Currently, musicians visit St. Joseph’s Hospital weekly to provide music to patients and caregivers.
“The musicians of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra are bringing comfort, connection and moments of joy to local patients and their families during some of life’s most challenging times,” Versant Power President Erica Young said. “We are proud to support a program that demonstrates the power of the arts to uplift our communities, and we appreciate the meaningful impact these performances continue to have on the well-being of those they touch.”
Four musicians currently participate in this program; violinists Lynn Brubaker and Richard Hsu, and cellists Marisa Solomon and Sarah Hoskins. These musicians play everything from Bach to the Beatles and often take requests. Many patients say that they experience lightness, happiness, and that this music brings them joyful and peaceful feelings during their time of difficulty. This gift from Versant Power, along with additional underwriting from The Healing Arts Program of St. Joseph Hospital and individual donors, helps fund these weekly visits to St. Joseph Hospitals in Bangor and other performances for healing through music in locations in the greater Bangor area.
“Musicians love to serve their community through music, and the relationship that our musicians have established with patients and caregivers at St. Joseph Hospitals has been life-changing for those experiencing health-related issues,” BSO Executive Director Renia Shterenberg said. “The performances our musicians bring right into the hospital uplifts spirits and provides the healing power of music to those around them. This grant from Versant Power helps us to continue this meaningful and important work, and we are grateful for their support.”
For further information about the Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s Music and Wellness Program, please contact Katie Hardy, director of education and outreach, at 207-942-5555 ext. 4 or katie@bangorsymphony.org
The Bangor Symphony Orchestra is one of the nation’s oldest continually operating professional orchestras, dedicated to enhancing the cultural landscape of Bangor, Maine, through exceptional live performances, music education and community engagement. Join us as we continue to perform and celebrate the transformative power of music.
For more information about the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, please visit our website at bangorsymphony.org. Follow us on social media to join our vibrant community and engage with our musicians and fellow music enthusiasts.