Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Launches New Music and Wellness Website

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will launch its new Music and Wellness website today. The site is a free and comprehensive resource center for musicians, arts administrators, healthcare providers and other individuals interested in starting or accessing music and wellness programs in their communities. Visitors can explore this informative and inspiring website at http://wellness.pittsburghsymphony.org.

During the past year, the symphony's Education and Community Engagement Department collaborated with musicians, music therapists and other healthcare professionals in the Pittsburgh community to create the site. The website provides multiple handbooks for people interested in designing, implementing or evaluating music and wellness programs. It also includes a gallery with photos of the Music and Wellness Program in action, as well as video interviews of personal Music and Wellness experiences. Finally, site visitors can enjoy a weekly blog written by Jessica Ryan, manager of education and community programs, and various guest bloggers who work in the arts and healthcare field. The blog will inform and encourages anyone interested in using music to live a healthier lifestyle.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra would like to recognize and thank the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation and the League of American Orchestras, the Michael Baker Corporation and the Scaife Family Foundation for their generous support of the Music and Wellness Program.

Through the Music and Wellness Program, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra works with music therapists and other healthcare professionals to bring therapeutic, live music to individuals at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, and other facilities in the Pittsburgh area and abroad. PSO musicians lead music and wellness sessions for small yet diverse groups of participants, including patients, their families and healthcare staff. By interacting with participants and performing relevant and meaningful music, PSO musicians help participants meet their physical, emotional and social needs.