Annual report 2023/24: 75 years of joy through live music

Banner with the text '75 years of joy through live music' and an image of Music in Hospitals & Care's Chief Executive Barbara Osborne.

We have had a fantastic year celebrating 75 years of our amazing Music in Hospitals & Care community. From a legacy of the Entertainments National Services Association (ENSA), who shared live music with wounded service people in military hospitals, to sharing live music with people of all ages living with mental and physical health problems within health and care and the community. There have been thousands of moments of joy, laughter, singing, fingers tapping and all kinds of participation and expression in that time.

Thank you so much for all of your support, whether you have been with us for the past 75 years or are new to the
charity. None of this would be possible without our generous funders, donors, volunteers and health and care partners. I am pleased to share another great year of joy through live music with you.

Barbara Osborne
Chief Executive

Portrait photograph of Sheila McCreery.

1947: Arts Council employee Sheila McCreery has the idea to share live music in hospitals following the closure of ENSA. The first
meeting of the Council for Music in Hospitals takes place on 13 November, leading to the creation of the charity the following year.

The Council of Music in Hospitals logo.

1955: The Council for Music in Hospitals becomes a registered charity.

Archive photograph of a woman playing guitar and a man singing and dancing for male patients sat in chairs in a hospital ward.

1963: Building on research into the benefits of live music for people in hospitals, our musicians begin to stay for refreshments and to chat with their audience. Some hospitals experiment with more intimate live music experiences for smaller groups.

Portrait photograph of Sylvia Lindsay.

1972: After 25 years with the charity, Sheila steps down and Sylvia Lindsay takes over as Secretary, working from her dining room to arrange live music. After consulting hospital staff and doctors, the music policy is revised to include more informal music.

Archive photograph of a flautist and harpist playing at the bedside of a lady who is sat up.

1980: The first live music takes place in Scotland. It proves so popular that the Scottish committee is established the following year. In 1984 musicians go on an introductory tour in and around Belfast.

Archive photograph of a guitarist and bagpiper, both wearing kilts, performing to older ladies sat in armchairs.

1998: The Council for Music in Hospitals, which has now been sharing live music for 50 years, develops more partnerships, including in Jersey and Guernsey with tours of hospitals and care homes. The first live music takes place in intensive care units and an office opens in Wales.

Photograph taken over the shoulders of two musicians who are not facing the camera, one is playing an accordion. HRH The Duchess of Gloucester is facing the camera smiling at them.

2008: Now called ‘Music in Hospitals’, the charity celebrates its 60th year with a Royal Gala in the presence of new Patron HRH the Duchess of Gloucester.

Two women standing with a sign bearing the new logo of Music in Hospitals & Care.

2017: The charity expands its name to ‘Music in Hospitals & Care’ to better reflect the range of places it shares live music. From 22 in its first year, over 4,500 live music experiences take place in 2018 as the charity reaches 70 years of sharing the healing power of live music.

A montage of screenshots from Music in Hospitals & Care live streams, consisting of musicians smiling in their homes.

2020: Music in Hospitals & Care explores live streaming for the first time after the global pandemic puts a pause on in-person music. Our fantastic musicians really step up to the plate, reaching over 60,000 people with weekly public live streams and personalised private sessions.

Two male musicians, an accordionist and a fiddle player, pose with their instruments while wearing Music in Hospitals & Care branded fleeces, lanyards and infection prevention masks.

2021-2022: We begin to return to health and care settings to share live music in person. Our #BackToLive appeal helps to bring more musicians back with the correct PPE and protocols.

Annual report 2023/24: 75 years of joy through live music

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