Ress Family Hospital Performance Project

Last Friday was a very special Ress Project performance - our inaugural performance at UHealth Solé Mia ! Charlie Schmitt, trumpet, Forrest Fowler, guitar, and Ben Mini, bass, brought a program of jazz classics to the lobby of Solé Mia, and patients, staff, and families alike enjoyed tunes to start their morning on their way to and from medical appointments. The trio even got to meet with the Ress family, who generously funds all of our outreach performances. Thank you to Solé Mia for welcoming the Ress Project, and thank you to our musicians for sharing your gifts!

Ana-Sofia Canchola, a junior studying viola performance at Frost treated residents at The Palace in Coral Gables to a solo viola recital last week! Residents and staff enjoyed selections by Forsyth, Bach, Price, Glazunov, and more. Ana-Sofia also spoke with residents all about the viola, and shared that not only was the audience lovely, but even sang along when she played some familiar folk melodies. Thank you for sharing your music with the community!

Melissa Percilla, a senior studying music therapy returned to HCA Florida Hospital Kendall to perform for patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the lobby of the burn unit, and in various patient rooms. She performed patient favorites and classical works, and shared that she can't wait to return for another Ress Project performance. Thank you, Melissa!

Last week's Ress Project performer was Mingyu Shao, DMA student in keyboard performance who played at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center! Mingyu played all six pieces of Brahms' masterwork for piano, Opus 118. Thank you for bringing beautiful music to the patients and families in the lobby of SCCC.

This week, senior Melissa Percilla performed for patients on the Pediatric Burn Unit and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at HCA Florida Hospital Kendall. Melissa, who is majoring in music therapy at Frost, shared classical violin pieces as well as popular songs that the patients knew and loved. Thank you Melissa for your bringing your music and positivity to these patients!

Graduate students Charlie Schmitt and Forrest Fowler and undergraduate student Ben Mini brought an exciting set of jazz standards to the patients at Miami Cancer Institute. Combining classic tunes with lesser-known modern gems, the trio shared that the audience welcomed them enthusiastically, and they loved getting to perform for the patients, staff, and families.

Thank you for sharing your musical gifts with the community!

Thank you to undergraduate student, Samuel Rose, for sharing his musical skills with patients at the Lennar Foundation Medical Center!
Samuel brought his unique blend of original compositions, standards from the American Songbook, and classic songs reimagined for solo piano.

Enjoy this Samuel playing clip of "Summertime", by George Gershwin.

Barbershop quartet, Just Ionation, made their Ress Project debut this week at South Miami Hospital! The quartet, made up of undergraduate Frost musicians Sara Desimone, Jason Fieler, Jacob Dern, and Vincent Casal, wowed patients with their romantic arrangements of classic standards. Sara shared:

"My face hurt from smiling! Everyone on each floor was so happy to hear us - patients, family, and staff. We even sang happy birthday for one of the patients on request from his family. Also upon request from family, we sang for another patient, who was nervous about an upcoming procedure. Overall, the experience was nothing but positive all around!!

Thanks for sharing your talents, Just Intonation!

Thank you to doctoral piano student, Mingyu Shao, for performing at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center! Mingyu played a variety of repertoire by Brahms, Chopin, and Mozart.

Mingyu shares:
"The atmosphere was very warm and comforting. Patients came up to me to say thank you and shared their own experiences related to the piano, which deeply moved me."

Jazz studies graduate students Charlie Schmitt and Forrest Fowler treated patients, family and staff to a selection of jazz standards at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital! They shared that their music had staff and patients dancing along in the halls, and could tell the music was a bright spot in people's day. Thank you Charlie and Forrest!