In 2016, the Owensboro Symphony and Owensboro Health partnered to launch the “Music on Call” program. This is a community engagement initiative made possible through OH’s Community Health Investments Grant Program.
Part of OH’s ‘Arts in Healing’ programme, the initiative sees ensembles of musicians and small musicians found in ‘rare and often highly visible locations’ throughout the community, where both children and adults can ‘ live music.”
Designed to “enhance and transform lives and bring hope and comfort to those in difficult situations,” Music on Call was born out of an attempt to think of an outreach effort. I was.
“When brainstorming where musicians would play in communities where people don’t ‘normally’ come into contact with groups and ensembles, we wanted to come up with the places where the most people come and go. Gwynne Payne, CEO of the Owensboro Symphony, said: “This is where we decided to play in the hospital lobby all December.”
OH’s Director of Community Engagement, Debbie Zuerner, said the organization’s focus on ‘Arts in Healing’ was long before the Owensboro Health Regional Hospital opened in June 2013.
“…there was a vision cast to enable the health system to include certain components in the Arts in Healing program, and they actually cast that vision,” she said. “…part of what was included in their vision was to bring the art experience into the public spaces of our healthcare system….”
Zuerner said one of the tools the organization uses to impact community health is the Community Health Investments Grant Program. Assessments and community health improvement plans.
“We expect both the service and arts organizations that submit grant applications to contribute their expertise, but not the impact of improving the health of the communities we serve. This is the second half of our mission,” she said. “…science tells us that art has a role to play in helping us fulfill our mission….”
When the grant program received the “music on call” application, Zuerner said:
“They created this program not only to bring it to hospitals, but to expand it into the community,” she said.
Payne said the program and its partnership with OH “have grown significantly over the years.”
“I never dreamed it would be what it is today,” she said. “Each year, the ‘Music on Call’ program expands and constantly evolves into new offerings. We are always looking for new venues to present random acts of music.”
The program has also expanded its reach beyond the Owensboro border to operate at other facilities in the OH area, including Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital in Greenville and Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center in Leachfield. .
Payne said the place is “always changing.”
“I’ve seen woodwind trios in the Davies County Public Library and cellists playing for residents in nursing homes, as well as playing outside Davies County in libraries, nursing homes and schools. I might,” she said. “Programs such as Beverly Hearty Slice, Wendell Foster, Farn Terra, Signature Healthcare, Friday After 5 are at Kendall Perkins Her Park and the list goes on and on.”
Zwerner said musicians in the program put their “heart and soul” into their performances.
“We know music is an intervention, so it’s ‘music on call,'” she said. It’s a real intervention.”
Zwerner added that the organization was “inspired” by the program and feels it has made the community aware of “how important music is to us,” especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
“So many different aspects and genres of music, art and theater were very important to us. Being able to help us was our lifeblood…” she said. “It has empowered individuals, focused on the art of community as a way to have truly healthy and vibrant communities, and built relationships.”
For Pain, she’s happy that she and Symphony can give back in this way.
“I truly believe that music can heal and help people during difficult times,” Payne said. “It feels great to have this opportunity to help make this happen.” Told.