Shinedown joins Musicians On Call and HCA Florida Healthcare to launch volunteer music program at UCF Lake Nona Hospital
This month, Musicians On Call (MOC), the nonprofit dedicated to delivering the healing power of music in healthcare environments, officially launched its bedside music program in the Greater Orlando area. Through this program, Volunteer Guides and Musicians will visit UCF Lake Nona Hospital, part of HCA Florida Healthcare, and HCA Florida Osceola Hospital to go room to room, bringing live, personal performances directly to patients’ bedsides. The expansion marks a new opportunity to bring comfort, connection, and joy to patients, families, and caregivers throughout the Greater Orlando community.
To celebrate the launch of the MOC Bedside program in Orlando, MOC welcomed Brent Smith and Zach Myers of the multi-platinum rock band Shinedown to UCF Lake Nona Hospital. Hospital and MOC leadership joined the event, which included the presentation of a commemorative Gibson guitar honoring the new partnership. Smith and Myers performed for guests before visiting patients at the bedside, offering one-on-one moments filled with music and connection. With more than 8.3 billion global streams, a record-breaking 24 #1 rock hits, and 10 million albums sold worldwide, Shinedown’s participation added star power to an exciting day for the Greater Orlando community.
“UCF Lake Nona Hospital is excited to launch Musicians On Call,” shared Wendy Brandon, UCF Lake Nona Hospital’s chief executive officer. “We know music can be a powerful part of the healing process, and we are delighted for the opportunity to further enrich our patient experience with live, bedside music programming."
"By bringing our live music programs to these hospitals, we can create meaningful moments of healing for patients, families, and caregivers in the Greater Orlando Area," said Musicians On Call President & CEO Pete Griffin. "Music has incredible physical, emotional, and mental benefits in healthcare, and we are grateful to HCA Florida Healthcare, UCF Lake Nona Hospital and HCA Florida Osceola Hospital for making this initiative possible. We were thrilled to have Brent Smith and Zach Myers of Shinedown join us in launching this special program. They’ve provided considerable support to Musicians On Call on their latest tour, and now they’re bringing that same generosity to hospital patients. This was an exciting way to launch the MOC Bedside program in the area."
Smith and Myers also had a special presentation to MOC during the event. “When we were putting together our tour for this year, which was called the Dance, Kid, Dance Tour, we did two different legs of that tour. One dollar from every single ticket that was sold went directly to Musicians On Call. Shinedown Nation raised $300,000 for Musicians On Call,” Smith announced to the crowd. “Every night we would talk about why they’re so important. Music is very healing, we know that firsthand. I think everyone in this room understands how powerful music is. We’re really honored to be a part of the organization and to be able to help in any way we possibly can.”
The expansion of MOC’s programs is possible thanks to a collaboration with HCA Healthcare that included a $1 million gift to fund the creation and launch of MOC’s proprietary online platform designed to enhance its program delivery and enable the organization to reach more hospital patients and healthcare workers nationwide.
Musicians On Call is looking for musicians and music lovers to help share the joys of live music in Orlando as certified MOC Volunteers. Volunteer Musicians are local, professional-caliber musicians who perform uplifting songs during the bedside programs. Volunteer Guides act as the "eyes and ears" of MOC, leading the musician through the experience of playing for patients and liaising between families and staff, both at the bedside and virtually. Anyone who is interested in volunteering can learn more at the Musicians on Call webpage.
For more than 25 years, Musicians On Call has used music to promote and complement the healing process through bedside, virtual and digital streaming programs that are available across all 50 states. As the nation’s leading provider of live music in hospitals, MOC volunteers have performed for more than 1.2 million people in healthcare facilities nationwide.