In March 2024, Britten Sinfonia joined CUH Arts for a 3 day Residency collaborating with patients and staff.
Below is a short film sharing the music created during this residency:
Britten Sinfonia Residency at Addenbrooke's Hospital.
Link: https://youtu.be/meXS1z_-fgU
Britten Sinfonia have been a long-time collaborator with CUH Arts in delivering music in the wards and public spaces of Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Whilst this work continues through the CUH Sounds programme, a residency created opportunity to explore how the partnership could develop the use of music and expand the ways in which patients, visitors and staff engage with music delivery.
It felt good being part of a group. Very interesting to see the music formed, the way it grew. Very inclusive and encouraging...
CUH Patient
CUH Arts initiated a collaborative process with Britten Sinfonia and the CUH’s Therapy Teams for Speech and Language, Occupational and Physical Therapy to deliver 3 days of music making workshops with patients undergoing speech and language, occupational or physical therapies due to injury or other conditions affecting brain function.
Music delivery in this instance was not presented as music therapy, but arts engagement, with the broader understanding of the benefits that could be acquired by patients, that in turn may compliment their therapeutic process, and provide positive memories of their time in hospital.
It was fantastic to hear and be involved in the music, it has been a long time since I played the piano!
CUH Patient
For the creative team, the residence provided meaningful insight into the patient experience, and practical understanding of therapeutic delivery, that would inform on going practice by CUH Arts and the Sinfonia.