Bangor, ME – July 8, 2024 – Versant Power presented the Bangor Symphony Orchestra with a grant in the amount of $5,000 to continue its Music and Wellness Program in area hospitals.
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. Currently, musicians visit St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Lafayette Family Cancer Institute.
“The talented musicians at Bangor Symphony Orchestra are bringing hope and joy to local cancer patients by visiting them in hospitals,” said Versant Power President John Flynn. “We appreciate the opportunity to support this program and know it will continue to have a positive impact in our community.”
BSO musicians Lynn Brubaker and Marisa Solomon currently engage in this program. Lynn Brubaker studied violin at the Oberlin Conservatory, Rice University, and Northern Illinois University. She has worked with the San Diego Symphony and the Houston Symphony, and has now been a longtime member of the Bangor Symphony. She has taught at the University of Maine at Machias, in the Maine public school system, and now teaches privately at RDL strings in Bangor. Marisa Solomon is a longtime member of the Bangor Symphony cello section, holding degrees from the Oberlin College and San Francisco Conservatories. Additionally, Marisa is Director of the Kneisel Hall Program for Maine Students, a member of the Chamber Music Society board at the Collins Center for the Arts, and a Lecturer at the University of Maine.
“The power of music as a healing force is clear to anyone who has ever felt happiness just by listening to a song, which I believe is every one of us.” says BSO Executive Director Renia Shterenberg. “The peace, happiness and simple joy of life can get easily lost when in a difficult physical situation, such as an infusion room or a recovery room at a hospital. Our musicians meet patients where they are and play songs upon request, from Mozart to Star Wars. The positive emotional benefit to patients and nursing staff is huge. We are grateful to Versant Power and their support which helps us continue this program.”
For further information about the Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s Music and Wellness Program, please contact Katie Hardy, Education and Community Programs Manager at katie@bangorsymphony.org
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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.