Noteworthy

At the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, we believe music has the power to connect, inspire, and enrich lives—reaching people of all ages and stages, from children to seniors, and across diverse cultural communities. In TSO Touchpoints, a series celebrating the many ways the TSO makes an impact beyond the stage, we’re shining a light on the programs that bring music to life in unique and meaningful ways.

How often does this happen to you? You’re eating at a restaurant, browsing in a store, or listening to the radio while driving your car—and a song comes on. It’s an old favourite, one you haven’t heard in years, maybe even decades, but still it’s immediately familiar, transporting you back to the moment it etched itself into your memory. 

And in an instant it feels as though no time has passed at all.

Listening to music of any kind can be immensely enjoyable. But hearing a tune we know and love has added physiological and emotional benefits: studies have shown that nostalgic musical encounters cause our brains to release dopamine—the neurotransmitter that brings about feelings of pleasure and reward—boosting our moods and combatting depression.

The promise of this positive response was one of the driving factors behind the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s groundbreaking and highly successful TSOUND Connections program. Developed and launched during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic—and generously supported by TD Bank Group and the George C. Hunt Family Foundation—it brought intimate musical experiences into the homes and lives of socially isolated senior citizens in the GTA by connecting them with TSO and Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra musicians over Zoom and Google Meet for virtual performances and conversations. 

During the pilot stage of the program, the TSO partnered with like-minded organizations Baycrest and Room 217 Foundation to reach seniors in long-term-care, retirement, and assisted-living homes. Baycrest is a global leader in geriatric residential living, healthcare, research, innovation, and education, and Baycrest@Home specifically employs technology “to deliver clinical expertise, recreational programming, and caregiver support directly to [clients].” 

“They send people from the TSO who are so wonderful,” said one Baycrest client. “We hear them talk and hear them play, and for us it is just a wonderful joy!” 

Room 217 Foundation is “a social enterprise changing the culture of care by making music a more primary approach to health and well-being.” Through its detailed “Music Care” training, Room 217 prepares participating musicians for their interactions with seniors in care settings.

A third organization was added to TSOUND Connections’ pool of partners in its second year—Alzheimer Society Peel (ASP)—with our musicians performing for participants of ASP adult day programs. For people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, hearing music that is personally meaningful has been shown to improve memory. So the impact of the TSO program on this cohort of participants is especially profound.

A member of the ASP’s staff recently shared a touching example: “Our days can be busy and unpredictable, especially with clients who like to explore and stay on the move,” they explained. “One client in particular rarely sits for more than five or ten minutes…but during the TSOUND Connections program, something shifts. He’ll sit down, close his eyes, and just listen. It’s quiet, calm, and, honestly, quite powerful. It may seem like a small thing, but for him, that stillness is a big success. It tells us that the music is reaching him in a really special way.”

While TSOUND Connections was, out of necessity, entirely virtual at first, over the last five years, it has grown to include a large number of in-person performances as well. This has added an enriching social dimension to the program. According to Ruth Watkiss, a Certified Music Therapist who works for ASP, “It’s a great way to engage people, lift their spirits, and give them a chance to express themselves. Plus, it helps create a sense of community and encourages social interactions among everyone involved.”

To date, TSOUND Connections has brought a total of 225 performances to over 300 Ontario seniors—but the true impact is immeasurable. “When the music starts, everything feels calm,” said one participant. “I close my eyes and just listen. It’s peaceful…like I’m in the right place.”

Your generosity brings the magic of music beyond the concert hall and into the heart of our community. Thanks to donors like you, programs like TSOUND Connections promote health and well-being by bringing enriching musical experiences to seniors. Help us continue this important work by making a donation today at TSO.CA/Donate.