We are proud to be involved in the So Many Beauties dementia-friendly music festival taking place at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester this Friday 20 September.
The event will involve more than 30 organisations that support people living with dementia across Greater Manchester. We are delighted to be hosting the café stage with our professional musicians, who are skilled in sharing live music with people in hospitals, day centres, and care homes.
We will also witness the premiere of new music composed by people living with dementia and performed by an ensemble of musicians from The Hallé and Manchester Camerata orchestras, So Many Beauties, and students from the Royal Northern College of Music.
The So Many Beauties project was established in 2016 by local musician Holly Marland, who has been working with Music in Hospitals & Care for over ten years visiting dementia and critical care settings with her Kora, a West-African harp. Holly is passionate about working creatively with people living with dementia and elevating their voices.
Holly said: “There’s been so much love and laughter in the making of this festival, and I really hope people go home with a sense of positivity about living well with dementia. Society tends to forget that these wonderful people have so much wit, wisdom, and creative energy despite the different diseases affecting their brains.”
The event is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with fantastic organisations that share Music in Hospitals & Care’s belief in the power of music to create connections and help build feelings of community. It will celebrate the amazing creativity of dementia groups from across Greater Manchester, bringing people together to share experiences, while helping to change perceptions and break down barriers.
Andrew Nesbitt, Community Engagement Manager from The Bridgewater Hall, said “We’re so pleased to be hosting the So Many Beauties Dementia Friendly Music Festival at the Hall again. Showcasing the music of dementia groups from across Greater Manchester is really special for us – we can’t wait to welcome So Many Beauties and the hundreds of participants, performers and festival-goers to The Bridgewater Hall.”
Although tickets for the full-day festival have sold out, there are still some tickets available for the lunchtime premiere showcase at 12.45pm in the main auditorium. Please visit The Bridgewater Hall website to book.
A memorable evening of Wine, Music and Song
Thank you to everyone who joined us and supported the Wine, Music and Song event. With music spanning centuries, the evening was a celebration of music in its many different roles.
Arts in Care Homes Day: Thanking Bert Smith
This Arts in Care Homes Day, we’re taking the time to thank Moyness Care Home’s Activities Coordinator Bert Smith, who has championed live music for care homes in Dundee for over 30 years. As Bert approaches retirement, he is looking back on his career and years of work with Music in Hospitals & Care.
World Alzheimer’s Month: Lifting spirits in Cumbria
Our musician Andy McKay has been visiting wards and care homes across Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, where we have been able to share 29 hours of live music between September 2025 and May 2026. One of the spaces Andy visited is the Ramsey Unit at Furness General Hospital, an assessment unit for patients with organic illnesses such as dementia.