Conference 2026: Orchestras in Health and Well-Being, From Intention to Practice

Speaker(s): Penny Brill, former member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; Founder, Musacor; Sarah Hoover, Associate Dean for Innovation in the Arts and Health at The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University; Jotaro Nakano, Music Director, Longwood Symphony Orchestra; and Julie Nolan, Director of Community Engagement, Institutional Giving, and Associate Director of the Academy, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and Academy

Orchestras’ emerging work in healthcare settings—from hospitals and nursing homes to outpatient and community health contexts—is highlighted in the League’s recent Catalyst Guide, Orchestras in Health and Wellness. As interest in this work continues to grow, many orchestras are asking not why music belongs in healthcare, but how to do this work well, in ways that support everyone involved.

This session focuses squarely on the practical realities of designing and delivering music programs in health and well-being settings. Topics include:

• Identifying where your orchestra has the capacity to make a meaningful difference
• Working safely and responsibly within healthcare environments
• Ensuring that musicians, patients, and healthcare staff are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and clearly defined roles they need
• Creating strong, interdisciplinary partnerships that underpin successful work in these settings
• Developing training, supervision, and evaluation models that can uphold artistic integrity and the well-being of everyone involved

Walk away with concrete guidance to help your orchestra build music and health programs that are thoughtful, effective, and aligned with both community needs and organizational capacity.

Photo Credit: Amy Raab Photography