More than 100 aged Queenslanders experienced the benefits that music brings at Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s recent Healthy Ageing Concert. Conducted by Carlo Antonioli and featuring classical favourites such as Rossini, Overture to The Barber of Seville and Debussy, Clair de lune, the concert forms part of a Health and Wellbeing Program that was supported by a $60,000 grant from the Eastern Star Foundation.
The Chair of Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Mr Rod Pilbeam, said that music is known to deliver powerful benefits for the elderly, particularly those living with dementia.
“The social, cognitive, emotional, physical, and spiritual benefits of music are significant,” said Mr Pilbeam.
In addition to two large-scale performances at the Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s studio in South Brisbane, the program includes small ensemble performances in aged care homes across regional and south-east Queensland.
“Our first visit after receiving the grant, was to OzCare in Port Douglas in May, which was attended by Her Excellency The Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AM PSM, Governor of Queensland,” said Mr Pilbeam.
The grant from the Eastern Star Foundation will not only support these visits and performances but will also help to fund the development of an evaluation framework to measure the Program’s impact.
“Building on a global Health and Wellbeing Literature Review in 2021, QSO has again partnered with Griffith University, led by Professor Brydi to develop an evidence-based evaluation framework to measure the impacts of the Program,” said Mr Pilbeam.
Eastern Star Foundation Chair, Jonathan Nantes, and Secretary, Beth Littler, who attended the recent Healthy Ageing Concert, said that the performance was captivating.
“Listening to Claude Debussy’s Clair de lune as a symphonic piece and the 1st Movement of Beethoven’s 6th Symphony Pastoral to name but a few items, was awesome to say the least,” said Mrs Littler.
“I certainly found myself being transported into a relaxed, calm and quiet place.”
“After experiencing the performance firsthand, I am confident that this program will continue to be of great benefit to aged Queenslanders and we look forward to learning of the program’s impact,” said Mr Nantes.
The grant to the Queensland Symphony Orchestra was part of the Eastern Star Foundation’s latest grant round, totalling $335,000, which provided grants to help five Queensland charities enhance the lives of their elderly clients.
“We are so grateful to the Eastern Star Foundation for providing a grant to not only support the orchestral performances but to also help us to better understand the impact that music makes on the aged.”
Caption: Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s Healthy Ageing Concert held in June (photo supplied by Geordie McGrath)
