Steve Franklin, Musicians On Call volunteer at Children’s Hospital Denver
Musicians On Call is excited to announce that we are launched in Denver! The program kicked off with a Virtual Bedside Performance from longtime MOC supporter Gavin DeGraw at the Children’s Hospital Colorado, in collaboration with Seacrest Studios, where DeGraw performed several songs in the studio that was broadcast to the patients throughout the hospital via closed circuit TV.
We are looking for Volunteer Musicians to help us deliver the healing power of music in Denver. As a volunteer with Musicians On Call, you can brighten the days of patients – a truly rewarding experience.
As we continue to expand in Denver, financial support is needed. You can help support our program in Denver and expand to more facilities making a gift or starting a fundraising page with your community. Because Musicians On Call is a nonprofit organization, we rely upon the incredible generosity of supporters like you!
https://www.musiciansoncall.org/expansion/
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Meet Steve Franklin, Our Featured Volunteer from Denver!
Get to know our volunteers! Do you volunteer at a specific hospital? I volunteer at Children’s Hospital of Denver. How long have you been volunteering […]
Do you volunteer at a specific hospital? I volunteer at Children’s Hospital of Denver.
How long have you been volunteering with Musicians On Call? I have volunteered with musicians on call for one year.
Are you a Volunteer Guide or Volunteer Musician? Musician
What is your favorite song to play for patients? “I love to play “On Top of Spaghetti.”
Have you ever been part of an impromptu jam session with patients or family in a hospital room? “I take requests and encourage everyone to sing along.”
Do you perform anywhere else besides with MOC? “I also perform at the Denver VA Hospital.”
What is your occupation outside of MOC? “I am an elementary school band teacher.“
What is your story? What connects you with music and why do you volunteer with MOC? “I grew up playing the guitar and performing. I have accompanied fiddle players, played bluegrass in Telluride and traveled the country performing music. Later in life, as I became a father, I saw the amazing things Children’s Hospital does for kids and their families. When I got an opportunity to volunteer with Musicians on Call I jumped at the chance! ”
Has your life changed because of your experience with MOC? “My volunteer experience with Musicians on Call has changed my perspective on music. It is an amazing feeling to share music with people who need it the most. “
What is your favorite #MOCmoment? “A patient asked me to play a song as he asked his girlfriend to prom. My first performance at the VA hospital, a patient began to cry tears of joy in the middle of a song. Thank you Musicians on Call! “
Do you want to help us deliver the healing power of music? Apply to volunteer as a guide or a musician today!
APPLY NOW
https://www.musiciansoncall.org/volunteer/
Photo: Steve Franklin, Musicians On Call volunteer at Children’s Hospital Denver
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THE DAYS FOLLOWING 1 OCTOBER
One week after the tragedy at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, Musicians On Call teamed up with the Country Music Association, CMT and Southwest Airlines® to bring members of the country music community, Charles Esten, Michael Ray, The Railers, Brandon Ray and Filmore to visit hospitals in Las Vegas, including Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, to bring joy through music in a time of need.
Musicians On Call did not have regular programs in Vegas at the time but saw the need to deliver the healing power of music. On Tuesday, October 10, Charles Esten, The Railers, and Filmore visited Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center to visit the patients, families and caregivers in patient rooms and offer impromptu serenades at hospital desks. Later that evening, The Railers and Filmore made an inspiring visit to the Emergency Room staff to thank the caregivers who were working the night of the tragedy, and performed a heartwarming rendition of “Lean on Me” among others, which was received with hugs, tears and kind words of gratitude.
On Wednesday, October 11, Michael Ray and Brandon Ray, joined the lineup for a “Concert for Healing” at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center. Michael and Brandon performed at the Route 91 Festival, making them the first singers from the festival to go back to Vegas to perform for survivors of the tragedy. Patients, caregivers and first responders who were affected by the tragedy were invited for the performance to heal together through music. After the performance, patients were surprised with a video call from country music icon, Reba McEntire, who gave well wishes for a speedy recovery.
“These hospital visits were some of the most emotional ones I’ve ever been a part of, “ said Pete Griffin, President of Musicians On Call. “Because the patients we played for were injured during a concert just down the road, it made the songs and reactions to them even more powerful and emotional for everyone. These visits also highlighted a group of people in need of healing who many people don’t think about: our caregivers. The first responders and civilians did an incredible job rescuing the victims from danger, and the caregivers had to then begin to diagnose and treat an overwhelming amount of people, some of them their friends. Being able to bring music and healing to the caregivers was an incredibly important piece of the trip.”
With the profound connections we made on this trip, we knew we wanted to return and bring more joy from music to Las Vegas.
In April Musicians On Call launched our first ongoing Bedside Performance Programs at Sunrise Health System hospitals, thanks to a $150,000 grant from ACM Lifting Lives®, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music. Michael Ray returned to kick-off the new program with a concert for the hospital. To date, we’ve played for more than 700 patients, families and caregivers in Vegas and have welcomed 10 more volunteers into the Musicians On Call family, including Volunteer Guide, and Route 91 survivor, Nadine Lusmoeller.
“I am proud to say that I’m actually part of Musicians on Call now, to be able to volunteer and give back means so much to me,” said Nadine, “The tragedy of 1 October had me in one of those hospital beds, but music helped me heal. Now it is on me to keep spreading the healing vibes of music – with the help of Musicians On Call!”
A CELEBRATION OF SURVIVAL
On September 14th, Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center welcomed back past patients from Route 91 to celebrate their survival, reconnect with their care team and remember those who lost their lives in the tragedy. More than 50 survivors and their family members were joined by hospital leadership, care team members, physicians, first responders and other community partners who played an integral role in care delivery the night of 1 October, as well as in the days that followed.
Musicians On Call volunteers, Ivy and the Wall, returned to Sunrise Hospital following their 2017 emergency response performance in the aftermath of the shooting. Once again, Jonathan and Cassandra Lawson brought the healing power of music to our patients and caregivers to commemorate the 1-year anniversary.
Sergeant Todd Kammer and his wife, Sheriff Deputy Lori Kammer, with the LA County Sheriff’s office attended the festival together off-duty. Lori recalled how Todd carried her to safety after she was injured. The Kammers returned to Sunrise Hospital for this event, where they shared how much the visit from Michael Ray meant to them.
We are eternally grateful to all the community partners, artists and volunteers who have helped us spread the healing power of music in Las Vegas over the past year. We look forward to continuing to be a part of the Las Vegas community and sharing unforgettable moments of joy through song.
MOC Celebrates Bobby Bones, Charles Esten and the Healing Power of Music in Nashville raising $150,000
Brandon Ray: Photo from https://www.bandsintown.com/en/a/293225-brandon-ray
Brandon Ray was born in the small West-Texas town of Big Spring. Raised on Rock n’ Roll, Country and Motown he picked up the guitar at the young age of 13. At 18 he was out on the road touring with his first band. They played 750 shows in 3 years including supporting the likes of Fall Out Boy, Switchfoot and grueling summers on Vans Warped Tour. Brandon moved to Nashville in 2008 to pursue a career in songwriting. After arriving in Nashville, Brandon landed a publishing deal, played guitar for Brett Eldredge on tour (including Taylor Swift’s Red Tour) and lent his vocal to numerous demos for various publishers and songwriters in Nashville…. all while developing his own sound. During the past year Ray has opened for artists such as Kip Moore, Jon Pardi, Martina McBride, Frankie Ballard, Craig Morgan, A Thousand Horses, Chase Rice, Craig Morgan, Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots and David Nail. Ray’s recent release “Ends of The Earth” (Produced by Ross Copperman and Keith Urban) is available now.