NJ Symphony Gratitude Performances Healthcare Workers Music Wellness 2026

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The New Jersey Symphony is conducting a statewide series of “gratitude performances” in healthcare settings, bringing live classical music directly to hospitals, health centers, and nursing schools across New Jersey as a way to support the emotional well-being of healthcare workers and improve the patient experience.

The 2026 Gratitude Performances for Health Workers series, now in its fifth year, started in May during National Nurses Month and Mental Health Awareness Month and continues through the end of the year. The initiative is supported by a Music & Wellness grant from Johnson & Johnson.

The program is being held at 12 sites statewide, including a continued presence in New Brunswick and an expanded footprint in southern New Jersey. In Union County, the symphony has performed at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick and Saint Peter’s Family Health Center’s Women’s Health Center.

At Saint Peter’s Women’s Health Center, D’Juana Clark, APN lead supervisor, witnessed the direct impact of live performance on clinical environments. “Live music has a unique ability to shift the energy of a clinical environment in a positive way,” Clark said.

The impact on vulnerable patient populations has been particularly striking. At The Children’s Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, nurses have observed significant benefits from the performances. Maria “Cyd” Mejorada, RN, BSN, CCRN, nurse manager of the NICU, explained the calming effect on newborns: “When the Symphony performs, you can see how the babies love it. They settle in and stop crying for the whole time the Symphony is performing.”

According to Chris Guiton, Head of Home State Initiatives at Johnson & Johnson, the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to community health: “Johnson & Johnson is proud of our longstanding support for the New Jersey Symphony, which brings music directly into care environments where it can have a real human impact.”

Terry D. Loftis, New Jersey Symphony President and CEO, emphasized the broader mission: “The New Jersey Symphony is proud of the work we do in so many communities across New Jersey, including healthcare environments where our musicians perform, bringing their energy and talent to patients and staff, which in turn brings calm to often stressful situations.”

The gratitude performances represent a unique approach to healthcare worker wellness and patient care during a time when emotional support in medical settings has become increasingly recognized as essential to healing and staff resilience.

FAQ:

Q: What is the Gratitude Performances for Health Workers series?
A: A statewide initiative by the New Jersey Symphony that brings live classical music performances to healthcare settings. The program recognizes the contributions of nurses and healthcare teams while promoting emotional well-being for caregivers in high-stress environments.

Q: How long has this program been running?
A: The Gratitude Performances are now in their fifth year. The 2026 series started in May during National Nurses Month and Mental Health Awareness Month and continues through the end of the year.

Q: Which Union County locations host performances?
A: The symphony has performed at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick and Saint Peter’s Family Health Center’s Women’s Health Center in the New Brunswick area.

Q: Who funds the program?
A: The Gratitude Performances are supported by a Music & Wellness grant from Johnson & Johnson.

Q: How many healthcare sites are participating?
A: The 2026 series includes 12 locations across New Jersey, with a continued presence in New Brunswick and expanded reach in southern New Jersey.

Q: What have healthcare workers said about the impact?
A: Healthcare professionals report that live music shifts the energy of clinical environments positively and has a calming effect on patients, including newborns in intensive care settings.

Q: Can patients and visitors attend the performances?
A: Yes, the performances benefit both healthcare workers and patients. Contact Saint Peter’s healthcare facilities or the New Jersey Symphony for specific performance schedules and details.