“As well as entertaining in concert halls, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra works in the community promoting health and wellbeing through music,” writes Martin Lea in Monday’s (12/4) Dorset Echo (U.K.). “Musicians have visited dementia patients at Dorset County Hospital to run workshops as part of the pioneering music engagement programme, Music for a While. For this and other work the BSO was praised at the Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friendly Awards. It won in the Dementia Friendly Organisation of the Year—Small and Medium category…. A fundamental part of the BSO’s mission is to work beyond the concert hall, and BSO Participate offers people … the opportunity to engage with and experience music through distinct strands of activity…. Over the last 12 months the BSO has delivered 92 separate sessions to 3,243 people aged from five months to 100 years old … from people living in the community to those in residential and hospital care. The Cake Concerts is another project run by the BSO to improve the lives of those living with dementia—a small number of musicians perform a classical music concert for those living with dementia and their friends, family and carers, with added cake.”
Posted December 7, 2017
