The Music and Wellness Program has been a mission of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra since 2013. It began with monthly visits to Acadia Hospital by the BSO’s Juniper String Quartet. In 2018, the program was expanded to St. Joseph Hospital with duo musicians until the Pandemic. In 2022, the Maine Community Foundation provided financial support for the BSO to hire a music therapist. Carla Tanguay of Modulation Therapies joined our team to give our players specialized guidance. The program resumed at St. Joseph Hospital, and in 2023 expanded to the Lafayette Family Cancer Institute.
The goals of the Music and Wellness program are to enhance the well-being of patients through targeted musical performances, contribute to a positive hospital environment for staff and visitors, and create community connections through music and conversation.
Currently, musicians visit health care facilities in the Bangor area thanks to generous funding provided by The Healing Arts Program of St. Joseph Hospital, Versant Power and generous donors of the BSO.
If you have recently been a patient or staff member who witnessed a visit from the Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s Music and Wellness program, we would love to get your feedback. Post Visit Survey
Thank You to Program Supporters:
Helping at Home: Bangor Area Homeless Shelter
Since 2015, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors, staff, and musicians have worked together to prepare and serve meals at the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter (BAHS) twice per year. Bringing live music to BAHS became part of our service visits starting in 2018.
For information on how you can help or volunteer at the BAHS, contact them at bangorareashelter.org