This organization has so many successful programs. Especially pop-up piano project is most creative and wonderful project among the NewYork non-profit art projects
Sing for Hope is a wonderful organization that organizes volunteer artists (musicians, dancers, actors, etc.) to present (and sometimes teach) their art form in underserved schools, hospitals, assisted living facilities and other such venues. They also organized two years of Pop up Pianos on the streets of NYC with the aim of making music available to everyone. The pianos were then donated to organizations that could use them for their communities. Sing for Hope exudes enthusiasm, artistry, and (yes) hope! They certainly deserve recognition, and our thanks for making the world a brighter place to be for those whom they serve.
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I have attended the concert given by Sing for Hope in Houston, Texas, every year for the past 15 years, to raise funds for organizations working with people who have HIV/AIDS organizations. The concert is fabulous, with eight or nine young opera singers who donate their time; many of them return year after year, and together they have build a community of supports who also return year after year. This is a great example of art and artists making a huge difference in people's lives. The entire city of Houston benefits from Sing for Hope's efforts to make a better world.
Sing for Hope an incredible organization that brings Hope and Joy to the people who need it so much. I'm working as a music therapist in Coler-Goldwater Hospital and I know how benificial music can be. Sing for Hope comes to our fasility every other week. These extraordinarily giftet performers entertain our residents whith their angelic voices. Sing for Hope working with individuals on 1:1, who requires individualized activities.Most often, these individuals will be those who are severly impaired in both cognative and physical functioning areas. The residets enjoy musical sessions very much and fill happy and blessed.The manner in which Sing for Hope shows up and gives 1:1 attention to bed bounded residents fills a very specific need for our community.I
As a Licensed Social Worker and Recreational Therapist working on a major New York hospital's orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation unit, I am continually seeking alternative and creative modalities that promote healing. Lacking any musical abilities myself I contacted Sing for Hope several months ago to explore the potential of collaborating with them. In August 2010 I met with Christopher Herbert, who was the Director of Advancement at that time, and by the next month we were scheduled for our first performance. Little did I know how positively significant that day would be for patients and staff members alike.
On the day of the inaugural performance, Christopher and the scheduled volunteer singer, Julianne Park, went room-to-room and simply astounded everybody. Their caliber of talent and diverse repertoire was amazing and became the high standard future performers followed. Christopher, Julianne and the volunteers who have since visited our hospital, have brought smiles and even tears of joy to the faces of our patients. One memorable moment was when volunteer singer Monique McDonald sang a beautiful Italian aria to a patient who was a frequent visitor to the Metropolitan Opera. She cried because it brought back pleasant childhood memories and was appreciative not only for Monique’s gift of music but also for her generosity of spirit.
Bringing entertainment, providing distraction from physical pain, and creating an atmosphere of conviviality all contributed to our patients’ and families’ sense of wellbeing. I have witnessed moments where minimally responsive patients with brain injuries smiled in reaction to hearing the singers’ wonderful voices. I have seen overwhelmed family members transported, even if only for a brief moment, from the stress that sometimes coincides with a loved one’s hospitalization. “You just made my night” has been uttered from more mouths than I can count. In short, the healing Sing for Hope volunteers promote through their music transcends words and is immeasurable. I am truly grateful that a program such as Sing for Hope exists.
Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital & Nursing Facility is a member of the NYC Helath & Hospital Corporation and serves the New York City community with medical services for a variety of populations and cultures. SIng For Hope has made a significant impact on the quality of life for many of our patients. The professional volunteers who offer their musical talents bi-weekly provide professional quality performances at bedside and in group concerts taliored to the interests and cultures of those being served. Some of our patients have taken to naming them their singing angels and look forward to their visits. Thier music heals and inspires, evident by the expressions of appreciation and improved outlook and demeanor of those they visit. The services provided by Sing For Hope have been delivered through professional and organized processes with consistently top quality performers. The artists have made efforts to develop relationships and provide interactions that touch people's hearts and sense of self. Their Christmas Concert received rave reviews from attendees due to the selection of music, high caliber performaances and positive energy shared with the audience. Through their piano on the street program they donated a baby grand piano to our facility that is now used in our Atrium for musical programs. This organization works deligently to fulfill their mission in bringing the healing arts to those in need. I would recommend the organization for any health care setting that would benefit from the healing properties of music and interaction with positive, caring people.
Sing for Hope has been an invaluable experience, and I would venture to say even life changing. I began volunteering as a singer in August of 2010. The first day, I recall a woman who was blind. The nurse said she had not said a word for over a week. Tentatively and sensitively, I began to sing "Over the Rainbow" for her. By the repeat of the chorus, this precious woman was singing along with me. The nurse began to cry and I fought the tears back. The woman reached for my hand and through tears, said, 'Thank you so much.'
This is just one of many instances. At various hospitals, reality and present ailments are temporarily alleviated as patients escape within the sublime music provided by world class performers.
Another beautiful thing is watching the transformation of the volunteers. Every week, extraordinarily talented performers from so many backgrounds come to the hospitals with all the stresses of being an artist in NY and immediately, they leave their worries at the door to serve, whole-heartedly, and meet the needs of the patients. It always excites me to see how the skills of the performers organically meet the patients requests. Be it a Russian woman who requests a Russian aria (sung in Russian) from a Tchaikovsky opera or a man from the Bronx who wants to hear some blues; the diverse performers from all genres of music, satisfy these various requests.
I have now become a project manager with Sing for Hope, where in addition to performing, I keep track of statistics, facilitate performers to the bedsides of patients and correspond with officials within the nonprofit and hospital. It is an absolute joy.
We have seen a number of patients and staff benefit for the music that sing for hope singers bring to the stressful setting of the hospital. Many are suffering physically and emotionally with their illnesses and the singers of Sing for Hope bring beautiful music and entertainment and some needed distraction to many very distressed patients, families and staff.
I have been a professional opera singer for the past 10 years. I heard about Sing for Hope's bedside hospital singing visits 2 years ago from a wonderful singer friend. I thought, what a fantastic opportunity to volunteer with something I'm actually good at and bring joy to people who need it more than most! And, though you wouldn't think so, it is really difficult to volunteer in NY, there are so many hoops to jump through with getting approved and background checked and everything. So I took the plunge last year and it has been amazing. They have a coordinator who walks through with the volunteers and is a liason between patients, staff and volunteers so it is so easy and inviting. I volunteer on an almost weekly basis and it is one of the most rewarding activities in my life. I get to marry what I love doing with helping people. I am so grateful for this organization
We had a terrific experience with Sing for Hope. I represent a non-profit social service agency in New York City. Sing for Hope helped us secure three incredibly talented performers to sing at our 75th anniversary gala as well as the baby grand piano and accompanist. Was truly one of the highlights of the event!
You may want to discount my review, as my daughter, Camille Zamora, is the person who founded Sing for Hope, and taught her Dad and Mom what giving to the community is about. When Camille she graduated from music school in 1991, she returned to Houston, our home, and continued to work on her voice, supporting herself by teaching students. She also decided to do volunteer work at a local AIDS hospice, changing beds and attending to dying patients. It was still early in the AIDS epidemic, and we were concerned that she might become infected (ignorant as most members of the public were back then). But the AIDS hospice, Omega House, was such a caring, well-run agency that our fears quickly subsided. She worked at Omega House for a couple years, and when her best friend from high school -- another talented singer -- contracted AIDS, he was admitted to Omega House, where he died a peaceful death. As her friend Frank neared death, Camille decided to organize a benefit to support Omega House, and she convinced a few other singers to join her in the effort. The first event was small, but raised several thousand dollars. Every year since then, she has organized a benefit for Omega House, and that benefit -- Sing for Hope -- has grown into a major effort to benefit AIDS patients throughout the Houston area. This annual benefit raised over $300,000 per year to benefit Bering Omega Community Services. When Camille moved to New York, she continued her annual Houston benefit, but decided to try to replicate it. With her good friend, fellow singer Monica Yunus, she founded Sing for Hope, to support arts activism nationally. So, again, you may wish to discount my rave review, considering the Proud Papa factor. Even discounted, however, it's a pretty amazing story. I won't detail all that Sing for Hope does, but it has tapped a vein of outstanding artists who want to give to their communities -- a unique thing, and for that reason it has been so successful
I took responsibility for one of the many pianos is NYC in June 2010. The organization were always available to answer any questions and the exhibit therefore became a huge success. They also do some of the most innovative performance art concepts I've seen in a long time.
Thanks
Mathias Sorum
Black Sky Records
Sing for Hope is an incredible organization that provides music to those in need. It is an organization that is extremely well-run with the best intentions, and that achieves marked results accordingly. Sing for Hope truly does give people HOPE, and that is priceless.
I have worked with Sing for Hope on several occasions over the past year and a half.