South County Health and Kingston Chamber Music Festival Celebrate the Healing Power of Music
On Wednesday, July 29, the main lobby of South County Hospital featured patients, staff, and volunteers all gathered to enjoy a morning of world-class music. The special performance featured violinist and 3x Olympian Elizabeth Beisel, of Rhode Island, and Zachary DePue, Concertmaster for the Naples Philharmonic.
The intimate concert was presented through a collaboration between South County Health and the Kingston Chamber Music Festival, highlighting how partnerships between healthcare and arts organizations can enhance community well-being and enrich the patient experience.
"Excellent healthcare is about more than just treating an illness—it's about helping people heal," said South County Health President and CEO Aaron Robinson. "Through partnerships like this with the Kingston Chamber Music Festival, we're connecting patients to experiences that support emotional well-being, foster community, and remind us that healing happens in many forms. Live music creates moments of comfort, connection, and hope that complement the high-quality clinical care our teams provide."
Following the performance, Robinson and Beisel shared a memorable exchange when Beisel revealed her own connection to South County Health, smiling as she said, "I was born here."
The partnership extends far beyond a single performance. Through a Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA)-funded Social Prescribing Grant, South County Health oncology providers can prescribe complimentary tickets to Kingston Chamber Music Festival performances for patients undergoing chemotherapy. The initiative recognizes that arts and community engagement can play an important role alongside traditional medical care, offering patients opportunities to experience the therapeutic benefits of live music, including reduced anxiety, improved mood, and a greater sense of connection.
By integrating music into the healing process, South County Health is embracing a holistic approach to care, treating not just the illness, but the whole person. The warm smiles, tapping feet, uproarious applause, and moments of quiet reflection during the performance were a testament to the power of music to comfort, inspire, and heal.
This collaboration demonstrates that healing can take many forms. Sometimes, it begins with exceptional clinical care. Sometimes, it begins with the first note of a violin. Together, they create something truly meaningful.
