New York, NY: NYC Health + Hospitals’ Arts in Medicine department today announced the placement of six artist-designed Sing for Hope Pianos across the health care system. The program has placed over 700 pianos to schools, hospitals, and community centers around the world. The Sing for Hope Pianos are now in lobbies and waiting rooms and can be played by patients, staff, and visitors. They can be found at NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter; NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur; NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County; NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney; NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens; and NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health. The initiative is supported by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.
A large body of scientific research has shown that music can have a profound effect on health. Music reduces symptoms of depression, supports pain management, provides a safe environment to contribute to healing from trauma, and builds resilience while decreasing anxiety and blood pressure. Music improves sleep quality, mental alertness, memory, and overall health and well-being.
Sing for Hope also collaborates with NYC Health + Hospitals on its Music for the Soul program, a series of free concerts in and around the health care system. In 2025, the program held 80 free concerts and reached over 13,000 attendees. The concerts featured New York City-based musicians who performed a variety of genres, including jazz, classical, folk, hip hop, and Latin music.
Martha Kato sharing her talent on the new Sing for Hope Piano at South Brooklyn Health.
“We are proud to support the work of NYC Health + Hospitals’ Arts in Medicine department and partners like Sing for Hope, who share the belief that creativity belongs in hospitals and clinics,” said Laurie Tisch, President of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. “Our Arts in Health initiative was created to help bring creative engagement into the lives of people across New York who might not otherwise have access to the arts in healthcare. When a piano appears in a hospital, it invites people to pause, connect, and experience the space as inviting and warm. We’re thrilled to see these six joining other Sing for Hope pianos in our public hospitals where they can provide the healing power of music to those who need it most.”
“At NYC Health + Hospitals, we believe in the extensive evidence base for the arts to address staff burnout and uplift spirits,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Assistant Vice President of Arts in Medicine Larissa Trinder. “These artist-designed pianos are an invitation for patients, staff, and visitors to connect with music’s profound ability to reduce stress, support recovery, and promote well-being. Through partnerships like Sing for Hope we are proud to bring joy and comfort into our healthcare spaces to foster resilience and support human connection.”
Music Makes Us Fly, a piano designed by artist Vanessa Alvarez, is now at Kings County Hospital.
“As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, Sing for Hope is honored to continue to partner with NYC Health + Hospitals to integrate the Sing for Hope Pianos into these vital healthcare environments,” said Sing for Hope Co-Founder Monica Yunus. “We view the arts as an essential component of the care continuum, providing active creative engagement that supports the wellbeing of the entire community.”
Sing for Hope Co-Founder Camille Zamora added, “By providing a space for creative expression and healing, these Sing For Hope Pianos serve as therapeutic interventions that help reduce clinical stress for patients and staff alike. Our goal is to foster a more resilient healthcare ecosystem, utilizing the power of the arts to enhance the experience across the NYC Health + Hospitals system.”
The following Sing for Hope Pianos were recently placed at NYC Health + Hospitals:
Nectar Network, a piano designed by artist Double Yolk, is now at McKinney.
“The partnership with Sing for Hope has been an uplifting experience for Carter staff, patients, residents, and just about every visitor who walks through our doors. Each musical performance feels like a private concert, and we have front row seats,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter Chief Executive Officer Floyd R. Long, LNHA, MBA. “From promoting wellness to supporting healing, music continues to have a profound impact on our community. We are grateful to Arts in Medicine and Sing for Hope for this generous donation, and Carter is thrilled to be the new home for this one-of-a-kind piano.”
“We are thrilled to be part of this incredible initiative with Sing for Hope. The integration of these artist-designed pianos into Gotham Health, Gouverneur provides a unique therapeutic opportunity and promotes well-being among our patients, staff, and visitors,” said Dr. Morris Gagliardi, Regional Medical Director of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health. “This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to enhancing patient care and supporting the holistic health of our community.”
“This piano was a transformative gift,” said Chantal Georges, LCAT, RDT, Director of Mental Health of the Therapeutic Rehabilitation Department at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. “It brightens up our space. The team truly appreciated the donation, and we’re so excited to see how the children will react to it.”
“We are deeply grateful to Sing for Hope for this generous piano donation. Music has a unique ability to bring comfort, inspiration, and connection, especially in a healthcare setting,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney CEO Daveth Forbes-Thomas, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, CPHQ, LNHA. “This generous contribution highlights the importance of community partnerships and the positive impact of music in enhancing the well-being and quality of life for our nursing home residents.”
Svetlana Lipyanskaya, the CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health, commented, “I would like to thank the NYC Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine Department, Sing for Hope, and the Laurie Tish Illumination Fund for donating this beautiful artist designed piano to South Brooklyn Health. As research demonstrates, music has a profound effect on our mood, health and wellness. The music this piano will bring to patients, family, staff and visitors will help them heal, and for that we are truly grateful.”
Dr. Manjinder Kaur, Chief Operating Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health shared, “Yesterday at NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health, we celebrated the arrival of our new piano with a ribbon cutting. Before the remarks had even finished, some of our youngest patients were already filling the space with music and joy, a powerful reminder of how meaningful moments of creativity and connection can be in a healthcare setting.”
(All photos courtesy: NYC Health+Hospitals)
