Updates from our Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program Residency
Long time no talk! We are here, giving you an update on our recent work with Boston Medical’s Healthcare for the Homeless Program and the Music Gram Project. In the past year, we’ve been honored to perform for many different patients of the program, and we would like to share some pictures and a video from a recent trip:
“Before you came to play your music, I wasn’t able to feel for months, and now I can feel.”
video posted with permission
“The family wanted the musician’s of the Citizen’s Artist Orchestra to know that they were comforted in knowing their father did not die alone, for the music was their with him till the very end.”
Artwork by Roscoe Jun, Inaugural Visual Artist in Residence
Roscoe Jun, our Inaugural Visual Artist in Residence, sketching a new design for Music Gram cover art.
“I was homeless for 9 months in Boston until the Citizen’s Artist Orchestra commissioned me to design 10 Music Grams, which enabled me to be able to find a permanent home and a second chance.”
In addition to working with members of the BHCHP community, we have also extended our arms to include young artists. Vivian Jalet has been creating artwork and donating her proceeds towards organizations helping the homeless community. We are currently working with her to add her artwork to our original Music Gram Cards.
“I know that not everyone is as fortunate as I am, and I hope my art will brighten people’s day. I am happy to help however I can.”
All proceeds go back into supporting our work with Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, communities and individuals in dire financial need, and employing homeless artists and musicians.
Boston Healthcare for the Homeless
Since last year, our partnership with the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless has blossomed into a truly beautiful weekly series. Every Sunday morning the musicians of the Lyrica Orchestra have been attending the BHCHP Church service and performing music for the Prelude, Hymnal, Prayer Meditation, and Postlude. Our work with BHCHP has been extremely touching. Thanks to our wonderful Pastor, Suzanne Woolston- Bossert, the residents of BHCHP and our musicians have both received the benefit of her wise words and poignant analysis of religious texts. In addition to her work, we, too have been able to directly connect with the members of the BHCHP community by delivering our Music Grams both virtual and brick and mortar cards and collaborating in real time on a traditional Christmas Carol with a resident piano player.
It has been a great joy to initiate a partnership with such a creative and compassionate group as the Lyrica Orchestra-Citizen’s Artist Orchestra. I am an ordained Protestant minister who has worked with the homeless population at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless for several years. BHCHP is an extraordinary program which seeks to meet the myriad, complex needs of the unhoused population in greater Boston. When the Covid pandemic caused such a wrenching shift to normal life in 2020, many volunteer support programs were paused for safety reasons at BHCHP.
In November 2020, in an effort to bridge some of the social gaps of quarantine, a Sunday worship service was suggested to try to address the spiritual needs of patients. It was then that Lyrica Citizens Orchestra director, Laura Bossert, stepped forward with a generous offer of a quartet to partner with me in creating high-quality live music for the services.
The level of expertise and excellence from this talented group of musicians creates a magical environment on Sunday mornings, transporting all of us away from the superficial limitations of zoom screens. Covid restrictions include a prohibition against public singing in indoor locations, so without the presence of this beautiful orchestra, the liturgy would be reduced to just the spoken word, a severe limitation indeed.
Bossert, along with Administrative Director, Leah Froyd, work with me weekly to create liturgy with integrity—they are always ready to play the great hymns of the Christian tradition, as well as arranging selections during a period we call “music for meditation,” which I know the patients greatly enjoy.
Even so, just how effective can remote services be? Well, almost every Sunday patients stand up during a time of prayer and express deep gratitude for the experience of the service. We have heard moving stories from people struggling with addiction, tough medical diagnoses, loneliness, and anxiety.... they talk about being transported by the music (I recall one gentleman stood up and even thanked God “for the wood of these beautiful instruments”); many state how being able to hear scripture and communal prayers and beloved hymns gives them real hope. There are a range of patients, some who grew up in traditional church settings and others who are still on a seeker’s journey, but no matter why they chose to attend the Sunday gathering, many state that they feel ministered at the soul level. The lushness of the string instruments conjure reverence at the deepest level in all of us who hear it.
The gift of music at BHCHP is only just beginning. I am hopeful that the musicians can be supported in an ongoing way in their endeavor to create collaborative relationships with patients, a vision that Laura Bossert and her partners will bring to fuller life as covid restrictions ease in the coming year. Music has the power to change the world, one person at a time, and I’m thrilled to be on this journey with the Lyrica Citizens Orchestra.
Rev. Suzanne Woolston Bossert
United Church of Christ Minister
All proceeds go back into supporting our work with Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, communities and individuals in dire financial need, and employing homeless artists and musicians.
Fall Family & Friends Concert
On a perfect Sunday afternoon, Lyrica Musicians Laura Bossert, Leah Froyd, Geofrey Cua, Emily Lane, Aleksandre Roderick-Lorenz, Mia Tsai, Tyler James, and Buddy Bossert set out to perform not one— but two concerts for their neighbors. In efforts to keep the surrounding community united and to give a sense of reprieve, the group programmed a large variety of works ranging from the Beatles to Brahms. Inspired by Guest Artist, Joan Farrenkopf, they played with ambition and gusto allowing the gentle fall breeze carry their sound across the lake. Under the porch from which they played sat the audience, seated 6ft apart. Despite the unusual seating arrangement, the seats allowed the audience to be immersed in the surrounding nature and allowed for the scenic view of Farrar Pond. All in all, it was the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon…
Thank you to all our supporters for their generosity in this concert. It was a great pleasure to be able to play live for an audience once again, and to finally meet some of our neighbors who we hadn’t met before. Knowing the success of this outdoor concert, we hope to bring back more in the future!
Welcome to Vijay Gupta
Boston, Massachusetts
Former violinist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Founder of Street Symphony, and a 2018 MacArthur Genius Fellow, Vijay Gupta is a critically acclaimed and powerful advocate for the arts. His guidance over the past month has been absolutely integral to the growth of Lyrica Boston Inc. His inspiring ideals of using music and art as a conduit for social change has truly enhanced the vision of Lyrica. We are thrilled to announce that Mr. Gupta has recently agreed to partner with Lyrica Boston as our Chief Artistic Advisor. He was truly inspired by our projects and the work we have done thus far.
Through our meetings, we have felt a symbiotic connection— it is clear that we hold the same dreams about building a healthy and resilient network of artists which provides them with all the necessary materials and audiences to express their voices. Over the next few years, Mr. Gupta is planning to help illuminate different methods that he has cultivated over his own career in order to guide us to our goals of becoming a more effective advocate for the musical world. From the past, present, and future, we know that there is a lot to gain from his mentorship and the tools he has already provided.
However, his exciting announcement couldn’t have been made without you. We have been so thankful for our current community of neighbors thus far —LyricaFest could simply not exist if it wasn’t for our surrounding community. Our neighbors up and down our streets took in our students variously to board, host ensembles for coaching, daily rehearsals, and individual practice and many bring a meal or an individual dish for 30 students and or offer to help cook with us during Lyricafest. Now, you continually show your support through sending notes of encouragement and excitement for our new projects. The enthusiastic responses we get from our friends and patrons shine a bright light onto our future.
“In the face of all that is broken, we are the laborers of wholeness”
—Vijay Gupta The 33rd Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy
Our first big project this year was Music Grams, which we unveiled last month. Many communities have already been fragmented due to the effects of COVID-19 and the pressure it places on the health, happiness, and financial wellbeing of the most vulnerable populations. In order to help these communities continue to foster a place for the performing arts, we have decided to dedicate ourselves to performing for these neighbors free of charge. Two upcoming socially-distanced performances will be held in the gardens of the Cambridge and Boston Homes. In addition to these free live performances, we are also providing the option for our community to order Virtual Music Grams in the case that they would be unable to host a concert safely. In October, we will be premiering excerpts of our performances online to be viewed free of charge, for anyone. Too often the performing arts are categorized as privileges— on the contrary, they are essential facets of the human existence. They possess the power to reunite and reinvigorate our community and we truly hope that we can play a supporting role to this anthem.
“The work of the artist and the citizen is one: to model the practices in our smaller every day actions the world we long to live in.”
—Vijay Gupta The 33rd Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy
Another way in which we are immediately enacting social change is by meticulously constructing concerts based around local musicians, visual artists, and writers. The inaugural concert will be Sunday October 18th, at 5pm. These concerts will give a unique platform for artist’s voices while simultaneously creating an enriching experience for the orchestra, soloist, and audience. The orchestra will benefit by experiencing an entirely new perspective and will refresh their repertoire, the soloist will gain access to an entirely new audience and connections to further share their art, and the audience will gain a completely new source of knowledge and expression which will be perpetually be refreshed in each set.
“Listening is one sure act of love.”
—Vijay Gupta The 33rd Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy
Our long term goal has been expanded as well. In reflection of our work in Syracuse, NY, we were inspired with the idea of creating our own space for our ensembles and soloists to rehearse and nurture their work. As we did in Syracuse, our long term goal is to repurpose spaces and work with local businesses in order to provide safe spaces for artists to cultivate their work without the pressures of making rent as we have already done in Syracuse. While this program will not be instated immediately, it is a clear goal that we are aiming to achieve within the next decade.
With Mr. Gupta on board and you, our audience by our side, we feel no hesitation to continue this mission of infusing the arts and community together. We know the hard work which lay ahead, but we are equally as certain that we will commit ourselves to making it happen.
Sincerely,
Laura Bossert, Terry King, and Leah Froyd
Music-Grams
Boston, Massachusetts
This August, we began a free special service for all our community members in the Boston area. Due to the COVID crisis, many arts organizations were forced to cancel all their live performances in order to keep everyone safe. While these precautions have been absolutely necessary to maintain the health of our city, it is without a doubt that we are all lacking the privilege of having exposure to the arts. When we realized this enormous gap in society, we realized that as a chamber collective, we could take immediate action. We began a grassroots campaign to spread live music to our neighbors while still keeping everyone safe. Our short Music-Gram performances were created to lift the spirits of those who contacted us as well as build up our own musical family. Many people who may not have already the means to access classical music concerts can now enjoy them from their doorstep.
Sincerely,
Lyrica artists Laura Bossert, Tyler James, and Aleksandre Roderick-Lorenz perform the Brahms B flat Sextet Op. 18 at the 4th of July Music Gram
Music Gram on September 6th at 2pm at The Boston House
Testimonials
“Your music fed my soul.”
—Resident at the Boston Home 9/6/2020
"I was having a very bad day, no sleep last night with ongoing nightmares, and hearing your music turned my day around— thank you for what you did for me.”
—Resident at the Boston Home 9/6/2020
The Art House
Syracuse, New York
In 2017, after many years of teaching at the collegiate level, I felt a renewed charge and mission to help communities in dire economic and societal crisis using music and art as a means for transformation. To that end, I help found the Art House Alliance. With 16 university students and members of the downtown Syracuse community, I set out to fix up an abandoned drug house. It took a month and half to get it livable for the first residents: a violinist, violist and cellist which coincidentally and fortunately made up a beautiful string trio. The Art House Ensemble, (as it became to be known), presented a multitude of concerts including performances at the Cancer Center of Upstate New York, the Veterans Association, Civic Morning Musicale Community Concerts, the Everson Art Museum and numerous assisted living centers as well as the Art House itself.
The Art House Alliance provided housing for the initial residents, who were also in dire need of financial assistance, in exchange for giving back their gifts as performers and teachers to their surrounding communities . Thus began the beginning of a poignant partnership between artists and community who have the ability to influence social and economic change. Since the inception of The Art House Alliance I have witnessed a wealth of significant metamorphoses in the community. Providing a hot meal for hungry children and adults with musical and artistic instruction coupled with live performance literally fed my neighborhood in need’s souls and tummies. I have observed first-hand the power of music and art to transform people’s lives, whether it is giving them inspiration or igniting their own inner musician and artistry.
The art that has been created by the community members themselves has touched all of us more than we could have ever anticipated. The drawings and paintings hang in and outside of the Art House not only creating beauty but serve as a reminder of the creative gifts that are embodied within in all of us. The Art House has been filled with music whether it be improvisatory singing and playing gatherings with the residents of the house and community, composing, open rehearsals, sound healing workshops and spontaneous poetic renderings to music.
There is an area of downtown Boston dubbed “Methadone Mile” which is a district in crisis now at the height of the opioid epidemic. I am a dreamer that music and art can inspire and create change even if “the onset starts small” with one person, and that one person becomes two people, then three, and eventually a neighborhood and community that believes in the collaborative power of change through artistry will realize itself.
Today, the Art House is a fully functioning center for the arts, hosting a myriad of different cultural events, artists, and workshops. Click here to explore their website
Sincerely,
Laura Bossert-King
Artistic Director