SOV-Express: music in the Children's Hospital UZ Gent
The music we make is a basic right for everyone. Flanders Symphonic Orchestra is socially committed and also looks at the world outside the concert hall! Under the name FSO-Express, our musicians go out and build bridges through music.
Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen en UZ Gent slaan de handen in elkaar. Muzikanten trekken naar de verschillende afdelingen van het kinderziekenhuis en de dienst kinder- en jeugdpsychiatrie. Een hele dag verrassen ze kinderen en jongeren met intieme mini-concerten en interactieve muziekworkshops. Vol enthousiasme dompelen we hen onder in onze wereld van creativiteit en fantasie.
Outside of the concert hall
This project is part of a series of outreach initiatives during which the musicians of the Flanders Symphony Orchestra go outside and use music to build bridges.
General director Frederik Styns:
“The music we make is a basic right for everyone. We have to play a social role and therefore do not only focus on the audience that we can reach from the stage, but we also like to include those whom, for various reasons, we cannot reach in the concert hall. With a lot of pleasure, enthusiasm and a warm heart, we plunge the children who are staying in the Children’s Hospital of the UZ Gent into our world of imagination and fantasy. What we offer is not a cure, but we hope it will bring a (healing) smile to their faces. Among other things, UZ Ghent is known for the quality of its care and services. Our music also serves to provide care to our fellow human beings. I am very pleased that, from our shared values, we can mean something to each other.”
The outside world inside the Children's Hospital
UZ Ghent has a good care plan for children who are admitted to the Children's Hospital or in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department: daily, pedagogical employees prepare the children for examinations and treatments, in a playful way ... But when an organization such as Flanders Symphony Orchestra applies, it is welcomed with open arms: bringing music to a hospital really takes the mind off being sick.
Prof. Sabine Van daele, head of the Children's Hospital: “I think everyone feels that art is comforting and can trigger a lot. It often puts a big smile on our little patients' faces. We also find it important to bring the outside world inside the hospital. This allows classical live music to become accessible here too. ”
© Thomas Verfaille
About UZ Gent
UZ Gent is one of the largest and most specialized hospitals in Flanders with over 3000 patients a day and almost 6000 employees. Patients can trust in highly specialized, quality care in a full range of medical expertise. As a university center, UZ Gent makes targeted investments in quality, scientific research, training and customer-friendly services. The hospital works closely with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Ghent University. More information on www.uzgent.be.
Over het UZ Gent
Het UZ Gent is met ruim 3000 patiënten per dag en bijna 6000 medewerkers een van de grootste en meest gespecialiseerde ziekenhuizen in Vlaanderen. Patiënten kunnen er terecht voor hooggespecialiseerde, kwalitatieve zorg in een volledig aanbod van medische expertise. Als universitair centrum investeert het UZ Gent gericht in kwaliteit, wetenschappelijk onderzoek, opleiding en klantvriendelijke dienst- verlening. Het ziekenhuis werkt intensief samen met de Faculteit Geneeskunde en Gezondheidswetenschappen van de Universiteit Gent. Meer info op www.uzgent.be.
Outreach
Muziek kent geen grenzen en dat neemt Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen heel letterlijk. Met de SOV-Express trekken we er in groepjes op uit om muziek naar de leefomgeving van mensen te brengen, ver buiten de muren van de concertzaal. Ons speeldomein voor deze outreach-projecten is de woonwijk Nieuw Gent. We waren al te gast in het kinderziekenhuis, in de crèche, de lagere scholen, het open huis voor jonge moeders en het sociale buurtrestaurant. Ons doel? Drempels wegnemen, nieuwsgierigheid aanwakkeren en klassiek toegankelijk maken voor iedereen.