Tafelmusik has partnered with Michael Garron Hospital and University Health Network to offer four digital concerts for the physicians, learners, and staff free to access from their homes.
The series will be available starting February 1, 2022, and will refresh every Monday until March.
- Café Counterculture, a program ranging from Bach to Buffy Sainte-Marie with guests Alex Samaras and Andrew Downing
- Music & Magic, which blends two art forms to create a world of illusion with magician Nicholas Wallace and contortionist Quinten Melo
- Il Seicento, a program of music by Italian composers of the 17th century
- The Gull, the Racoon, and the Last Maple, an environmentally-themed digital concert narrated by actor Amanda Cordner
Both the health and arts sectors have been through the wringer
“For almost two years, MGH staff have faced the challenge of caring for patients during a pandemic while being unable to recharge their spirit outside of work with interests and hobbies,” said Christine Devine, Wellness Specialist at Michael Garron Hospital.
“As a Toronto-based orchestra and choir dedicated to sharing beauty and joy through music of the past, we hope this partnership can bring some comfort and joy to the teams at MGH and UHN, said Tafelmusik’s Executive Director Carol Kehoe.
“Music is, for many, a balm to the soul, and given what TeamUHN has been through over the past two years, this will be of comfort to many,” said Gillian Howard, UHN Vice President. “We also know that musicians have had a very difficult time with no live performances, and I hope that this partnership will open the Tafelmusik experience to a whole new audience.”
Arts communities in action
With events impacted by the pandemic, arts organizations like Tafelmusik have found themselves uniquely positioned to contribute to their communities in new ways.
Last April, Sistema Toronto, a non-profit organization that provides after-school music education to underserved Toronto neighbourhoods, started an initiative to leverage their network to provide increased vaccination rates in vulnerable areas.
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra launched programs in 2021 to help brighten the days of older adults who have been isolated. The TSO presented over 100 virtual performances for members of the Alzheimer Society of Peel and residents of Baycrest, a long-term-care home.
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