Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

South Coast Orchestra Honoring Local Healthcare Heroes Through Music

Courtesy of Santa Barbara Symphony

We may not be able to attend concerts in person, but a South Coast orchestra has found a way to both honor healthcare workers AND bring live music into our homes.

The Santa Barbara Symphony is honoring the medical community in a live-stream concert this weekend.

It’s not the first time the Santa Barbara Symphony have brought their music into our homes, during this pandemic.

But it IS the first time, they’ll be honoring health-workers with their performance.

Maestro Nir Kabaretti returns to the podium and he says that the link between music and our health is one to be acknowledged now, more than ever.

"Music and medicine got a long way back together. While it may be seen as two opposite fields, they have a lot in common," he told KCLU. 

"I thought it would be a wonderful idea to honor the medical community - the heroes that protect us, and make sure we are safe and healthy - always - but especially at these challenging times," said Kabaretti. 

It’s not just a mere nod to the health care workers on the front line, the concert includes local physician-musicians who will join the Symphony on the stage at the Granada Theatre. 

It includes a performance from award-winning pianist and local Sansum Clinic specialist Dr. Toni Meyers - for whom music runs in the family – she’s the sister of acclaimed violinist Anne Akiko Meyers. 

"For me music just feeds my soul. We usually have music playing in the house," Dr Meyers told KCLU. 

"Classical music is, to me, very relaxing. It can really help with stress and anxiety quite a bit as well. 

"I'm really grateful to the Symphony to think of having this concert.  It's been a pretty long journey that we have been on with the pandemic and there have been a lot of doctors - and not only doctors - support staff and nurses, that have put in some extra hours to help people make it through the pandemic," Meyers said. 

"It's a very nice gesture from the Symphony," she said. 

The Santa Barbara Celebration takes place on Saturday. 

Caroline joined KCLU in October 2020. She won LA Press Club's Audio Journalist of the Year Award in 2022 and 2023.

Since joining the station she's won 7 Golden Mike Awards, 4 Los Angeles Press Club Awards and 2 National Arts & Entertainment Awards.

She started her broadcasting career in the UK, in both radio and television for BBC News, 95.8 Capital FM and Sky News and was awarded the Prince Philip Medal for her services to radio and journalism in 2007.

She has lived in California for ten years and is both an American and British citizen - and a very proud mom to her daughter, Elsie.
Related Stories