The story
Every hospital room holds untold stories of perseverance, heartache and hope. For patients enduring the challenges of lengthy hospital stays, moments of joy may feel few and far between. That’s where Musicians On Call (MOC) steps in, armed not with medical supplies, but with guitars, voices and a ripple effect of healing. Since its founding in 1999, this nonprofit has been dedicated to bringing live and recorded music to hospital rooms, lifting the spirits of patients, their families and health care workers.
The inspiration for Musicians On Call began at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, when its co-founders witnessed how live music could transform hospital environments. After losing their loved one to cancer, Michael Solomon organized a concert in the hospital lobby, a small gesture of gratitude to the people who gave so much to her care. Vivek J. Tiwary, Solomon’s friend, attended the concert for support and healing, having also recently lost his mother to cancer.
With dozens of patients gathered around to appreciate the concert, the hospital staff mentioned how uplifting it could be to bring music directly to patients who were unable to leave their beds. With this sentiment and their partnership, Musicians On Call was born.
“They just knew that this was something they really needed to replicate and do more and more,” said Melinda LaFollette, Director of PR and Events at the nonprofit. “And so that idea became Musicians On Call.”
LaFollette, who started as a Musicians On Call Volunteer Guide, has witnessed firsthand the profound impact personal performances have on patients. As part of the flagship MOC Bedside program, LaFollette’s role as a Guide involved escorting musicians around a hospital and acting as a liaison between the performers and the patients who were interested in receiving this gift of music.
“Every time I did a shift, I left feeling better than I had going into it,” LaFollette said. “And if you ask any volunteer, they’ll essentially say the same thing. The volunteers get just as much, if not more, out of going into the hospital as patients do.”
Over the years, Musicians On Call’s programs have expanded to ensure as many patients as possible can benefit from this important experience. Its MOC Bedside program brings Volunteer Musicians and Guides directly to patient rooms. The organization’s MOC Virtual program, ramped up during the pandemic, uses video conferencing tools to broadcast live performances to multiple hospitals across the country at once. The MOC Streaming program taps into curated music playlists, allowing patients to choose sounds that soothe or energize them in quiet moments. Lastly, its MOC Songwriting program guides patients of all ages in channeling their emotions into original songs.
In addition to these primary programs, Musicians On Call also connects celebrity musicians with patients who would appreciate their performance the most.
“Sometimes it starts with an artist reaching out to us and wanting to visit the hospital – and some artists may want to visit veterans specifically, or some may want to perform for children. We’ve also had artists volunteer when they’re on tour and they happen to be going through a city where we have bedside programs,” LaFollette said.
Whether it’s pairing pediatric patients with professional songwriters or arranging a surprise performance with a veteran’s favorite country star, their scope is wide yet deeply personal.
Behind the scenes is a small but mighty team of 26 full-time and 10 part-time employees supporting the work of hundreds of volunteers across more than 20 major cities, including Nashville, Tennessee, Dallas, Texas, Los Angeles, California, and Chicago, Illinois. Volunteer Musicians and Guides are the frontline heroes ensuring these moments come alive.
Community impact
Beyond the notes played at hospital bedsides, Musicians On Call builds meaningful relationships that ripple across the community. LaFollette recalled how the impact of this work was able to grow through one man who became a volunteer after experiencing Musicians On Call, himself.
“He wasn’t a patient, but his wife was treated for cancer in the hospital, and they had received a visit from a Musicians On Call volunteer. He got to experience it from the family member side,” LaFollette said.
“She, unfortunately, passed away,” she continued. “But a friend they had met during her treatment was volunteering as a Musician and so, being connected to him, he encouraged this man to sign up and become a volunteer. Now he volunteers in the same hospital where his wife was treated and is able to bring that music back and pay it forward from what he received.
“Even from the caregiver side,” LaFollette said, “We have some staff members who have come from working at hospitals and know about our program and want to be a part of it. It definitely sticks with people when they experience it.”
From her own experience, transitioning from a volunteer to employee, LaFollette shared how deep the impact of this work goes – and how it starts with a team that has a deep calling for this kind of work.
“We always like to say that we are a small but mighty team, because everybody is really passionate about the work that we get to do,” La Follette said. “It’s people that want to help others, people that just want to see good in the world and people who love music.”
Looking to the future, Musicians On Call is hoping to bridge gaps in care by expanding its reach.
“For us, success is reaching the more underserved markets. We’re in a lot of the really big cities all over the country, but there are so many rural hospitals and smaller community hospitals that could benefit just as much,” LaFollette said.
“More than 1.2 million people have now been touched by having music in the hospital at their bedside because of Musicians On Call.” LaFollette said. “We’re just really wanting to continue that momentum to reach the next million even sooner than the first.”
This year, Musicians On Call has been honored as an Insperity Community Hero, reflecting its incredible contribution to social good. The $5,000 charitable donation associated with this recognition will help fuel Musicians On Call’s vision of making its programs accessible in every community across the U.S. For more about the group’s inspiring work or to volunteer as a Musician or Guide, visit Musicians On Call’s website.
“More than 1.2 million people have now been touched by having music in the hospital at their bedside because of Musicians On Call.”
Melinda LaFollette
Director of PR and Events
Musicians On Call