Volunteer musicians are bringing live performances to the bedsides of veterans at the DC VA Medical Center. Through the non-profit organization Musicians On Call (MOC), performers like Dante Ciolfi visit the hospital’s hospice unit to provide what the group describes as the “healing power of music.”
Bringing music to the bedside
Ciolfi, who works as a computer science instructor when not volunteering, coordinates his visits with MOC guide Ellen Morris. Morris is responsible for training volunteers on hospital protocols and escorting them to patient rooms. During their rounds, the pair asks patients if they would like to hear a song before performing.
For 93-year-old Army veteran Lawrence Ludden, the visit provided a moment of connection. After Ciolfi performed “Desperado” by the Eagles, Ludden shared stories about his own past as a performer in light operas. The visit was a highlight for Ludden, who is often visited by his daughter and keeps mementos of his family and a recent meeting with Prince Harry in his room.
The impact of musical therapy
According to Nicolette Rubin, the music therapist overseeing the program at the Washington, D.C. VA, music serves as more than just entertainment. She explains that it acts as a restorative treatment, helping patients cope with physical and emotional trauma. Rubin noted that even for non-verbal patients, such as Marine veteran John Fay, music can elicit a profound physical and emotional response, evidenced by Fay tapping his heart while listening.
Ciolfi describes his volunteer work as an attempt to establish a “conduit” of energy between himself and the patient. He intentionally avoids reading patients’ medical charts before entering their rooms, preferring to remain focused entirely on the music and the interaction. He has observed various reactions, ranging from tears to smiles, noting that music often communicates what words cannot.
A gesture of gratitude
The experience is also deeply personal for Ciolfi, who views his performances as a way to honor those who have protected the freedoms he values as the son of Italian immigrants. “If I can do one tiny thing like play a song, my gosh, I’m there,” Ciolfi said.
Musicians On Call was founded in 1999 and has performed for over one million patients across the United States. Volunteers typically visit hospitals three to four times per month, offering performances both in person and virtually. During a recent visit, the volunteers also performed for Air Force veteran Sidney Nichols, who joined in by mouthing the lyrics to Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love.”
Following the reporting of this story, the DC VA Medical Center confirmed that Sidney Nichols has passed away.
