Celebrating Three Years of the Friends’ Music Project
The Friends of the Royal London Hospital are celebrating three years of the Friends’ Music Project, which has delivered over 300 live recitals for patients, staff and visitors since 2023.
Musicians at the Royal London Hospital following a harp and flute recital on the children’s wards
Created to brighten the hospital environment for patients, staff and visitors, the performances have become a familiar and uplifting part of life at the Royal London, with an estimated 130,000 people having heard the music so far.
To mark the milestone, a special lunchtime recital will take place on Wednesday 18 March at 12:30pm in the hospital’s main foyer. The performance will feature students from the Faculties of Medicine & Dentistry (Barts and The London) and Pharmacology & Innovative Therapeutics at Queen Mary, presenting a varied programme including a string quartet, piano and vocal performances, a flute trio, a piano and saxophone duo and a brass quintet. The recital will be introduced by Professor Sir Mark Caulfield, Vice Principal for Health at Queen Mary, and will conclude with remarks from Professor Ian Jacobs, Chair of Barts Health NHS Trust.
Over the past three years, recitals lasting around an hour have taken place in the main foyer, on the wards and elsewhere in the hospital. To date, at least 130,000 hospital users have heard the musicians, and responses have been encouraging and overwhelmingly positive. Research suggests that even a few seconds of suitable live music can trigger positive responses in the brain. Live music appears to benefit hospital patients, visitors and healthcare staff alike. It can break down barriers and soften what can be a stressful hospital visit.
One patient, who said she had had a very upsetting day, walked into the foyer when some of her favourite music was being played. She found the experience moving and revitalising, and the musician was delighted to have helped her cope. Many members of our diverse community have told us they have enjoyed hearing the music and seeing the musicians, even if their own musical preferences differ. Staff have commented that although they cannot always attend recitals because of their duties, they feel that having music in the hospital makes it a more friendly place.
Many of the musicians are talented hospital staff and students, joined by performers from Queen Mary, music academies, local schools, amateur choirs and professional musicians. These exceptional musicians provide music of which any concert hall would be proud. Whatever the music, as long as it is not too loud or intrusive, people like it.
There have been countless moments of unexpected pleasure and joy. A young schoolgirl singing the Panis Angelicus with beautifully clear enunciation was described by a patient as ‘having the voice of an angel’. On another occasion, a Japanese student responded to a request for a difficult classical piece by finding the score on her iPad and playing it at sight. The patient was thrilled, and everyone present was amazed.
The project also relies on the support of generous donors, including the Kusuma Trust UK, the Marie Celeste Samaritan Society and individual supporters. Elior UK, the hospital caterers, kindly provide refreshments for visiting school performers.
The Friends would like to thank Barts Health NHS Trust, QMUL and the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, the Music Schools and Academies, the local schools & amateur choirs and the many individuals who have offered their enthusiastic support. The Friends hope to continue this unique project indefinitely.
A list of the many performers can be found on the Friends website, along with clips of their recitals on YouTube.
Prof. Trevor Beedham, President
Mr Richard Gardner, Treasurer