Home > Media Relations > Mercy News Archive

Media Relations: Mercy News Archive

The Maryland State BoyChoir performs a benefit concert May 7th to support the programs of the Prevention and Research Center at Mercy

The Healing Power Of Music — A Benefit Concert For The Prevention And Research Center At Mercy Medical Center And The Maryland State Boychoir, To Be Held Thursday, May 7^th, 2009

The Maryland State Boychoir (www.marylandstateboychoir.org) will perform a benefit concert to support the clinical, outreach and research programs of The Prevention and Research Center at Mercy and the scholarship program and activities of The Maryland State Boychoir on Thursday, May 7th, at 7:30 pm.

In addition, both silent and live auctions will be featured as part of a special VIP pre-concert reception.

The concert will be held at The Maryland State Boychoir Choir Center for the Arts, 3400 Norman Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21213

Tickets are $25 general admission, $50 VIP (includes pre-concert reception and preferred seating). Call (410) 554-8644 or email info@marylandstateboychoir.org.

How the proceeds will be used:

Proceeds from this event will support the clinical, outreach, and research programs of The Prevention and Research Center and the scholarship program and activities of The Maryland State Boychoir. Specific examples of these initiatives and programs follow.

The Prevention and Research Center at Mercy

• Be Well Stay Healthy is a successful mind-body medicine program to treat persistent fatigue after breast or other cancer treatments. Physical activity, nutrition, relaxation techniques, and positive patterns of thinking are used to facilitate the patient’s wellness journey.
• Be Well, Stay HealthyKIDS! was initiated in 2008. This group-based program offers children and teens whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer, an opportunity to meet and talk in a mutually supportive, safe, and supervised environment.
• Cancer Survivor Consultation Service provides cancer patients and their caregivers with an individualized survivorship care plan to optimize recovery and overall health.

The Maryland State Boychoir

• Scholarship funding
• Purchase of uniforms and choir robes
• Tours and music scores
• Choir camp expenses

The Prevention and Research Center is extremely excited to collaborate with the Maryland State Boychoir for the innovative program “The Healing Power of Music.” We will bring to the project expertise regarding the therapeutic uses of music and work with the Maryland State Boychoir to develop the combined lecture and music format. Our research has demonstrated the benefit of mind-body medicine on the healing process for cancer survivors and others facing the challenges of serious or chronic illness. This program will show in a tangible and enjoyable way the potential benefit of music as part of the healing process. Recent research has begun to investigate and demonstrate the impact of music not only on emotions, but also on clinical responses such as blood pressure, respirations and pain – i.e. the mind-body connection.

All proceeds from the concert will go to support research and cancer survivorship programs at the Prevention and Research Center and the scholarship program and activities of the Maryland State Boychoir.

The mission of the Prevention and Research Center is to “promote health through research.” A major focus of the Center has been on improving the health and quality of life of cancer survivors and their family. Through the Cancer Recovery Program, launched this year, we are helping patients and their families get back on track to recovery following the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Through its research activities, the Center has developed and demonstrated the benefit of a program called Be Well Stay Health, which has demonstrated a significant reduction in the persistent fatigue that affects up to 40% of breast cancer survivors. In addition to this program we are discovering ways to minimize or prevent the side effects of treatments such as musculoskeletal symptoms and “chemo brain” – the cognitive dysfunction that can happen with chemotherapy. We have initiated programs for children of cancer patients (Be Well Stay Healthy KIDS!) and family members (Be Well Stay Healthy Families).

The proceeds from this concert will allow us to continue our services for cancer survivors and their families which are currently offered at no cost to patients, and to support our research activities to improve the health and well-being of cancer patients. We are adeveloping a major initiative for patients who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or other gynecologic malignancies. These patients, particularly those with ovarian cancer, often undergo long-term chemotherapy treatment. We are investigating the special needs of these patients and their family members and using the information to develop treatments to prevent or decrease the physical and psychological side effects of treatment.

An equal beneficiary of this fundraising event will be the Maryland State Boychoir, supporting their scholarship and outreach programs. Founded in 1987 by current Artistic Director Frank Cimino with just 14 boys, The Maryland State Boychoir’s (MSB) mission continuestoday with over 140 young men, ranging in age from seven to eighteen. The boys are as diverse culturally as they are geographically. They reflect a wide range of backgrounds, ethnicities, and races. The boys come from nine Maryland counties, Baltimore City, Virginia, and Washington DC. The current membership truly represents the diversity within the State of Maryland and beyond!

Celebrating its 21st year, the MSB performs over 60 times each year. Throughout the state of Maryland, the MSB has performed at the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, the United States Naval Academy Chapel, the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, the Lyric Opera House, the State House, the Governor’s Mansion, College of Notre Dame, and Loyola College. Throughout the U.S., the MSB has performed at the White House, the Kennedy Center, the PGA Presidents Cup, the National Cathedral in Washington DC, St. Patrick's and Holy Trinity Cathedrals in New York, Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, Capitol University in Ohio, The University of Central Arkansas, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Ireland, and Coventry Cathedral in England.