Symphony Brings Healing Power Of Music to St. E’s

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — On Sunday, the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra opened its Stained Glass Concert Series in Finnegan Auditorium at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.

Patients and their families, community members, donors and employees attended the hour-long performance, which featured both classical and popular music. Closed-circuit television allowed patients unable to attend in person to access the performance.

“We are delighted to be invited by Mercy Health Foundation to bring the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra to St. Elizabeth Hospital, Youngstown,” said Patricia Syak, executive director of the Youngstown Symphony Society. “The over capacity crowd attending last year’s performance in the hospital chapel spoke to the healing powers of music and we are thrilled to partner again with the Foundation in our mutual community outreach efforts.”

The opening performance for this season’s series was held at Finnegan Auditorium in anticipation for the large audience, according to a press release.

“Our goal is to care for the whole person – body, mind and spirit – and music is one of the few things that is able to do all of that. It calms the mind and lifts the spirit, so the body can heal,” said Paul Homick, president of Mercy Health Foundation. “We are extremely pleased to bring the symphony here to St. Elizabeth to share that healing power with our patients and their families, and with our community at large. Everyone is welcome.”

The Stained Glass Concert Series is part of the Youngstown Symphony Society’s Community Outreach Program. The performances, led by Randall Craig Fleischer, music director, are intended to strengthen ties between the community and the orchestra, as well as introduce music to new audiences.

The series is underwritten in part by the Charles W. and Sarah J. Syak Foundation and the Howard and Jeanne Karr Charitable Foundation. Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley provided financial support to bring the symphony to St. Elizabeth for a second time.

Pictured: Dr. John Luellen, left, president Mercy Health-Youngstown; Kathleen Harley, president of St. Elizabeth Youngstown; Patricia Syak, Youngstown Symphony; Randall Fleischer, conductor and music director, Youngstown Symphony Orechestra; Paul Homick, Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley, president.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.