Spotlight On – CSO Ki te Hapori In the Community

Christchurch Symphony Orchestra's Ki te Hapori In the Community work weaves CSO throughout our community, so people who don't ordinarily have access to us – do. 

Demand for our Ki te Hapori In the Community programme continues to grow. Over the next twelve months we will undertake a minimum of 130 free activities, engaging with 36,000 participants, with an emphasis on working with young people, people with disabilities, and others from our community who, for a range of reasons, may experience barriers that would otherwise prevent them from engaging in accessible music-based experiences.

Our Ki te Hapori In the Community work makes up 60% of what CSO does – so we're busy off the stage more than we are on it.

We want to highlight some of our anchor projects that are bringing our community together and the spotlight is on our pilot programme for 2024: Music and Movement for Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's.

Pictured: Participants getting involved with the drums at our second session hosted at BrainTree Wellness Centre

Music and Movement for Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's

We're excited to highlight our ground-breaking collaboration with the wonderful team at Southern Music Therapy and Multiple Sclerosis & Parkinson's Canterbury for members of our community who are living with Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's.

Over the past two months, CSO and Southern Music Therapy (SMT) have been running weekly music and movement sessions at BrainTree Wellness Centre, featuring a rotation of CSO musicians, for a group of returning participants. Participants and music therapists from SMT interact and work through a series of different activities, from marching and stepping to playing different instruments alongside CSO musicians, who maintain steady music throughout each activity. Each session provides an opportunity for participants to build upon their improvements from the previous session, whether that be standing a little taller, swinging their arms a little further, or working on improving balance.

Pictured: Kimberley Wade, Director and Founder of Southern Music Therapy, and a participant engaging in dance during a session

"Even after two weeks we can see the difference that it's making to participants, and we’re hoping that that intervention will be able to be maintained and built on in subsequent classes that we develop, and also in their own lives. For them to be able to put on the radio or their own CD and think how did that happen at class and how can I make it happen now... blending that physical side and that balance and mobility and flexibility with something that feeds their soul, which of course is music, it’s a win, win, win... It’s really amazing, and it has an immediate and direct impact on people" – Amelia Davis, Manager of Multiple Sclerosis & Parkinson's Canterbury

Pictured: CSO Principal Clarinet David McGregor and CSO Assistant Concertmaster Sarah McCracken

Having CSO musicians involved makes this experience all the more enriching for everyone. Participants are excited to see the instruments and hear different types of music being performed live, and there is a greater human connection because participants can interact with our musicians, and vice versa. If participants are marching, then our musicians can march with them, and if our musicians are smiling, then participants smile too.

"It’s great. I’m new to this, and I’m just captivated by it; there’s actually a real bassoon!... It's also brought together an amazing cross section of people who I’d never have thought would be in a programme like this" – Participant

Pictured: Esther Simpson, Music Therapist at Southern Music Therapy, drumming with a participant

Having live music at sessions like this also allows for another level of therapy as the SMT team can focus on interacting with participants during activities, knowing that CSO musicians will take care of the music. Two musicians are at every session to provide continuity, with different instruments each time to keep the sessions fresh and interesting, and build relationships with the group. 

"Having CSO musicians here means we can bring a different style and a different type of music in that's more flexible to the group... I can just raise my hand and Sarah or Ro or David can change the music depending on what the individual needs, like making it faster or slower, or just keeping it going instead of letting the music end, which allows for that next element of individualised therapy from our team... and live music just brings much more essence than recorded music" – Kimberley Wade, Director and Founder of Southern Music Therapy

Pictured: CSO Associate Principal Percussion Roanna Funcke and a couple of participants

It's incredibly rewarding for CSO to be involved in this work as we get to be out in our community engaging in ways that make an immediate positive difference to people's lives, and it connects us to members of our community who we might not otherwise reach.

"I love being part of the team working at BrainTree. The energy generated through the challenging mental and physical work of the participants, combined with the rhythms we create together, is inspiring. It's a humbling experience to witness the journey each week" – CSO Associate Principal Percussion Roanna Funcke

This collaboration between CSO, Southern Music Therapy, and Multiple Sclerosis & Parkinson's Canterbury exemplifies the power of music positively impacting mental and physical health and wellbeing of people with neurological conditions, as well as fostering a sense of community, empowerment, and most importantly, joy among participants.

Pictured: Group photo of our CSO musicians, the SMT and MS&P team, and the participants

This collaboration with Southern Music Therapy and Multiple Sclerosis & Parkinson's Canterbury would not be possible without the support of our Ki te Hapori In the Community partners, but especially our Hauora Wellbeing strand partner, Wynn Williams, and specific project support from NZ Charitable Foundation. 

If you have any questions or want to find out more of what's involved in setting up a session for your community, please contact:

Selena Prior
Head of Programme Development Ki te Hapori In the Community
E selena.prior@cso.co.nz
P 027 497 9299

If you are not already supporting our Ki te Hapori In the Community programmes, and would like to know how to get involved, please contact:

Rosamund McDonald
Partnerships & Relationships Manager
E rosamund.mcdonald@cso.co.nz
P 022 461 7736

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This work is just the tip of the iceberg of how we're engaging with our community. To find out more, head to our Ki te Hapori In the Community page, or follow us on Facebook or Instagram, and help us spread the word that we're In the Community!