A pianist who volunteers to play music for terminally ill patients at Meadow House Hospice in Ealing is organising an afternoon musical fundraiser on Friday (12 July 2024) to support the hospice.
Miu Shimizu, a music therapist, started volunteering with the hospice which is next to Ealing Hospital in 2023 and visits Meadow House once a week to play a mixture of jazz, rock, and rock songs depending on the mood.
Ms Shimizu, who was born in Tokyo said: “We open up patients’ doors so they can hear me play who came to the UK several years ago to study.
“I do take requests and patients and families often ask for a music with a particular mood rather than a specific artist or song title. I’ll often find myself chatting to patients about music and how it makes them feel.”
Ms Shimizu will be performing the fundraiser with her landlady and fellow musician and bassoonist Joanna Burley, flautist Nanako Nakamura, and singer Sophie.
Ms Burley added: “We’re quite a musical household and I’m a great believer in music’s ability to positively influence mood and feeling. This is especially important when people are going through tough times.”
Tickets for the fundraiser cost £10 and can be booked here.
