Forget gowns, tuxedos, and fancy shoes. Stretchy pants, cozy sweaters, and comfy shoes are welcome at this new concert series at Carnegie Hall.
The iconic venue will host five intimate concerts this winter, combining elements of mindfulness and meditation with world-class musical performances. These one-hour wellbeing concerts range from $15 to $30 and will run through April.
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During the show, audience members are encouraged to get comfortable by leaning on floor mats and cushions. The host shares prompts, teaches breathing exercises, and asks guests to share their thoughts and reflections with other viewers. Guests may be encouraged to sing.
This unique series comes after Carnegie Hall worked for 10 years in diverse and high-stress public spaces, including hospitals, senior care centers, and schools. Carnegie Hall staff is collaborating with academics to investigate the relationship between music and health in real time.
The performance series was also prompted by research showing that many Americans suffering from anxiety and depression do not receive care due to a variety of barriers, including cost and lack of behavioral health providers. This disparity disproportionately affects people of color. Inspired by the evidence that music helps people heal and grow, the Wellbeing Concert Series was born. Carnegie Hall’s Weill Institute of Music first piloted the program last season.
Music can be a powerful tool to support connection, health, and joy.
Some series aim to create feelings of connection, while others explore the concept of self-care. Depending on the performance, audience members may be invited to sit on either side of the musicians. The lineup includes kora, trumpet, clarinet, percussion, and more.
Each performance aims to amplify the social, physical and emotional benefits of music in different forms.
“We are excited to bring you this special concert series that nourishes the soul this season.” Sarah
Johnson, chief education officer and director of the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall, said in a press release. “Music can be a powerful tool to support connection, health, and joy. …Given all the circumstances people are navigating in today’s world, we believe that attending performances can be a powerful tool. We wanted to intentionally create a collaborative musical experience to maximize health benefits.”
Upcoming health concerts
Tuesday, January 16th, 6:30pm
Explore music’s ability to bridge cultures, expand traditions, and unite individuals with Senegalese kora master and Geri Abreu Sissoko and French accordionist Cyrille Blot. This intimate performance in the Resnick Education Building aims to create a new sense of connection and give the audience a long-lasting uplift. Ticket cost is $15.
Sunday, February 4th, 6pm
This performance on Zankel Hall Center Stage brings you an up-close experience of jazz improvisation. It’s an intimate setting where the audience can sit on all sides of the performers. Renowned trumpeter, composer, bandleader, and educator Sean Jones leads the New York Jazz All-Star Quartet in a performance focused on the concepts of self-care and mindfulness through music. Masu. Tickets cost him $30.
Sunday, February 11th, 5:00 p.m.
Clarinetist Kinan Azmeh and his genre-bending City Band create a dynamic blend of classical music, jazz, and the music of their native Syria. At Weill Music Room, expect elements of spectacular improvisation and audience interaction to be an especially powerful communal experience. Ticket cost is $15.
Friday, March 15th, 6:30 p.m.
Hear from Natalie Joachim, a Grammy-nominated performer who works in pop, electronic, and classical genres. She infuses her work with a commitment to storytelling, relationships, social change, and cultural awareness, inspiring audiences to forge powerful connections and find sustenance in her music. The show will take place in the Weill Music Room. Ticket cost is $15.
Sunday, April 14th, 5:00 p.m.
Anat Cohen, along with her Quartechinho Band, invites three genre-bending musicians to explore new musical worlds spanning numerous global traditions in the Weill Music Room. In addition to Cohen on clarinet, you’ll hear performances by Vitor Gonslaves on keys, James Shipp on percussion, and Tal Maciach on bass, with Ian Koebner serving as master of ceremonies. Ticket cost is $15.
