Concerts In Care Ontario

Concerts in Care is the primary program of Health Arts Societies. Nationally, we offer almost 2000 concerts per year across Canada in more than 350 facilities in 82 communities. Our 45-minute concerts offer transformative musical experiences that give these elderly citizens a moment of beauty through high-quality music, and a social experience to share with their new friends and family. Even in a residence full of people, many feel isolated. Sharing the experience of a live concert can help build new relationships. Our audiences are made up primarily of frail elders and others isolated in long-term care residences. Many people were previously regular concert-goers. Some are unfamiliar with the repertoire and are discovering the joy and richness of first-class live music for the first time. Family and friends also attend the concerts, which can provide an excellent focus for their visits. Staff members enjoy the concerts, too, and often comment on how residents are more relaxed, cheerful, and positive following a Concerts in Care performance. Concerts in Care pays special attention to facilities where financial resources to support live professional performances are scarce or stretched thin, and to facilities in areas where there are excellent musicians available to perform. Health Arts Society of Ontario was established in 2011, based on the model of Health Arts Society in British Columbia (est. 2006) to bring the work of professional musicians to audiences sequestered in long-term care. Thanks to generous foundational support from BMO Financial Group, the societies now serve audiences in care in all ten provinces. To date over 14,000 concerts have been delivered to audiences in care across Canada by the Health Arts Societies, reaching an audience of over 500,000.