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[Enjoy your own personal concert by clicking on the video above.]
Yesterday at noon, Baroque music could be heard pouring out of the cafeteria on the 17th floor of North Central Bronx Hospital in Norwood.
In that lofty location, hospital employees, volunteers, patients and other local residents sat down to enjoy a half hour concert. It’s part of a new program that Carnegie Hall created, called Musical Connections.
“This new program offers world-class performances by various artists free of charge to audiences who may not normally have the opportunity to enjoy such performances,” said Barabra DeIorio, the director of marketing and public affairs for Jacobi Medical Center. Musical Connections holds concerts at other community-based locations as well, including homeless shelters, senior centers and prisons.
“I don’t really get to go to many concerts, so this was something very special,” hospital volunteer Shirley Dunbar said.
DeIorio said several concerts have already been held at Jacobi Medical Center, however today is the first concert held at NCBH.
“I use to go to the concerts at Jacobi,” said Janice Phillips, a patient at NCBH. “I’m so glad they brought it over here.”
The concert featured the musical talents of Bridget Kibbey on harp and Joseph Brent on mandolin. They began the performance with Bach. In between movements, Kibbey explained some of elements to the audience, emphasizing the call and response relationship between musicians. “It’s as if the instruments are having a conversation,” She said.
“We really like playing together and this is just a really cool program,” Brent added.
“The performance was very enlightening,” former hospital employee Milton Guest said.
“In bad times, its nice to be able close your eyes and relax,” said hospital employee John Petriello.