A look at how a Brazilian orchestra is bringing harmony to hospitals
Project: delivering health concerts in healthcare environments
The Purpose
To create a series of performances in healthcare settings that would improve the hospital environment and lead to a greater sense of well-being in both patients and staff.
The Challenge
To alleviate the stress associated with hospital visits, the Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy and the Secretariat of Health have worked together to bring live orchestra music to the hospitals of Brasília.
By the end of 2019, the Orchestra had played in every public hospital and healthcare centre in the Federal District of Brasília
The Solution
The project was first launched in 2018 with a series of performances by the Claudio Santoro National Theatre Symphonic Orchestra (OSTNCS), the official orchestra of the Federal District. The performances took place when the Orchestra’s home was closed for refurbishment, and it was keen to reach audiences beyond its walls. The programme became more formalised the following year, with 30 performances at 15-day intervals for those seeking medical treatment in Federal District public hospitals.
Alongside these full orchestra events, smaller groups of musicians also gave performances in health venues across the city. String quartets, jazz trios, violin and cello duos, and small groups of brass and woodwind players have performed at outpatient clinics and inpatient hospital wards.
The Impact
By the end of 2019, the Orchestra had played in every public hospital and healthcare centre in the Federal District, developing a much closer relationship between OSTNCS as a cultural institution and a wider segment of society. The outcomes of this program include a visible improvement in the hospital environment, with greater well-being and a decrease in tension. Some patients even showed signs of an improved clinical outcome after exposure to classical music. The work also has the potential to develop new audiences who may seek out similar experiences in more traditional venues after first encountering it in a hospital.
In 2020 and 2021, performances were suspended due to the pandemic, but the OSTNCS began filming performances and sharing weekly recordings online via its YouTube channel. In-person performances in healthcare settings began again in November 2021 at the Children’s Hospital of Brasília.
This type of collaboration is unprecedented in Brazil, both in offering a full-scale cultural experience in health settings, and bringing together two City bodies to improve wellbeing.
Source: World Cities Culture Report 2022
Images Courtesy @ City of Brasília, Getty/Canva
