Montreal Symphony Orchestra brings holiday cheer to hospital patients

The Montreal Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is hitting the road and offering the gift of music over the holidays.

On Wednesday, they took their music to Sainte-Justine Hospital.

“It’s really nice to see how the kids are smiling on what might otherwise be a really stressful day,” musician Florence Rousseau said.

A team of 33 musicians and staff serenaded patients in the hospital’s day surgery wing, playing classics like “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night.”

“Of course, it’s the holiday time. We’re supposed to have joy and, you know, music and hope,” music director Rafael Payare said.

He adds that music can play a key role in the healing process.

“It’s important to maybe give a little bit of hope for the parents. Also for the kids, because they don’t know what’s going on,” he said.

Three year-old Mateo has been battling appendicitis in hospital for 45 days, so his father, Sebastien Lazure, says they welcome the musical visit.

“The days are always the same. I think Mateo loves music, so it’s good for him,” he told CTV News.

Eleven year-old Éloane is also in hospital for appendicitis. She’s been at Sainte-Justine for 10 days so far, and it’s unclear how much longer she’ll have to stay.

Her mother, Esther Thomassin, said they’ll take anything they can to lift their spirits.

“The power of music is there, you know, when you feel stressful and you have pain, it helps you literally to relax physically, mentally, makes you think about something else. [...] I believe it’s lightening our lives,” Thomassin said.

That’s why the MSO has played for children around the holidays for roughly 20 years, and why they plan to continue to do so for years to come.