ESO program brings soothing sounds to Sherman Hospital

Dale Lonis knows something about music's healing properties.

Elgin Symphony Orchestra's chief executive officer discovered just how important a role music plays in the healing process during his tenure with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, which partnered with a hospital to bring in musicians to play for patients.

“Music transcends the moment. Listening to a beautiful cello sound as you're having chemotherapy or radiation can take you away from the immediate problem you're facing,” said Lonis, a cancer survivor who believes music would have helped him through difficult times during his treatment.

The success of Winnipeg's program inspired Lonis to introduce a similar one here. He approached Jennifer Tscherney, executive director of the Sherman Health Foundation, — the charitable arm of Elgin's Sherman Hospital — about small ensembles playing to patients.

The idea intrigued Tscherney, who submitted the proposal to other foundation members. They approved the ESO-Sherman initiative, called Musicians Care.

“It didn't take much convincing at all,” Tscherney said of the foundation members who agreed to fund the program for a year.

Each performance costs about $1,000, with the money going toward musicians' salaries, Lonis said.

Medical personnel embraced the proposal as well, Tscherney said. One nurse manager specifically requested the musicians play on her floor, knowing it would help the patients, Tscherney said.

The performances began in November, with string and woodwind musicians playing chamber style on the second and fourth Thursday of every month. Trios or quartets play in the atrium from noon until about 12:45 p.m.

At that time, the ensemble splits up. One musician continues to play in the atrium while the others head to the common areas in various units, where they play for patients, visitors and medical personnel until about 2 p.m.

Only ICU and the emergency room are off limits, Lonis said.

The repertoire has consisted of works from the classical and romantic eras, specifically Mozart, Haydn and Brahms, Lonis said.

“But our musicians are very flexible,” he said. “They'll even take requests.”

Feedback from patients and hospital personnel has been positive, Tscherney said. In fact, the day after last month's inaugural concert, the ESO received a $1,000 donation to the program, Lonis said.

Every dollar “goes right back into the program,” said Lonis, who is in discussions with hospital administrators to bring ESO musicians to other facilities and hospice centers.

Tscherney hopes the initial success will prompt an expansion that includes additional dates and performances broadcast throughout the hospital on closed-circuit television. Eventually, she hopes to bring a music therapist on board.

“We see this as the beginning,” she said.