Cape Breton University is collaborating with Dalhousie Medical School to celebrate its Ambassador Program, by being a host venue for Music – the Best Medicine, a province-wide concert series that will be on stage at the Boardmore Theatre on Tuesday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and available at the door.
The goal of the concert tour is to raise awareness of the Keys-to-Caring project, which has been created by CBU honorary degree recipient Dr. Ron Stewart, and is set to launch this fall. The concert features two medical student ensembles – The Vocal Chords and the TestosterTONES. The Ambassador Program is an initiative to bring the medical school, its students and mission to the Maritime community.
Dr. Thomas Marrie, Dean of Medicine, Dalhousie Medical School, will also accompany the group to CBU.
“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Thomas Marrie to our campus for what I expect will be a wonderful evening of music. This event will add further strength to our relationship with Dalhousie, particularly with its Medical School, and provide an informal opportunity to identify additional areas for collaboration. At CBU we know the value of community outreach and I applaud Dr. Stewart for implementing this project. I’m pleased that Dalhousie medical students will have a chance to explore the CBU campus, and interact with our students as well.”
The idea for the Keys-to-Caring campaign came about during a musical tour in 2004 when the TestosterTONES visited 64 long-term care facilities and found that many of them needed help with providing in-tune pianos for their many recreational activities which often included music. The Keys-for-Caring project will conduct local and online campaigns that invite individuals and groups to donate one key to a new digital piano with a donation of $35. Donations can be made in honour of a past or present resident of a nursing home, in memory of a loved one, or in honour of a person or group in a community.
The group travels to various communities within the Atlantic Provinces performing a mix of solos and duets from a variety of genres ranging from Bach to Cape Breton fiddle music. Dr. Ronald Stewart says, “The evening will be filled with musical variety that promises to interest people of all ages. Music is a great outlet and there are many proven benefits to incorporating the arts into programs that might not otherwise require them. Our students have really enjoyed performing, and through this program they have acquired skills that will enhance their practice of medicine.”
For more information please contact Sheila Wilson, Coordinator of Music for Dalhousie Medical School, at 902-237-1024 or Dr. Ron Stewart at rondald.stewart@dal.ca.
