All invited to free, weekly Thursday Arts Experiences at UAB Hospital

New performances have just been announced for March in the UAB Hospital North Pavilion.

musical notesGuests and patients at UAB Hospital can enjoy performances and more each week with a new season of free “Thursday Arts Experiences,” a noon performance series.

The UAB Hospital Auxiliary, in partnership with the UAB Institute for Arts in Medicine, presents the series with support from UAB Medicine. The series will take place in UAB Hospital’s North Pavilion, 1802 Sixth Ave. South. It will offer performances by a diverse array of UAB faculty, staff and students, as well as local and national musicians and performers.

Featured groups will include the UAB Faculty Brass Quintet from the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Music, and the department’s Faculty Jazz Quintet. Also scheduled are The Wholeness Project, a collaboration between AIM and UAB Pastoral Care, and performances by Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theatre as part of a week-long residency at UAB's Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, pianist Michael Savela, and more.

UAB students, staff and faculty may submit requests to perform, along with a YouTube sample of their material, to artsinmedicine@uabmc.edu.

The music will be selected specifically to enhance the healing environment at UAB Hospital by promoting the well-being of patients, staff and guests and providing a positive distraction for patients and families experiencing difficulties related to illness. 

The March lineup includes:

March 3 Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theatre

Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theatre will present free workshops and performances to students, patients and the community as part of a weeklong residency presented by UAB's Alys Stephens Center. Along with UAB departments, SPDT will work with professional and family caregivers, patients, and residents of independent and assisted-living facilities.

This residency is designed to serve and promote creativity in aging.

March 10 UAB Faculty Brass Quintet

The UAB Faculty Brass Quintet, led by James Zingara, is made up of two trumpets, trombone and tuba, and horn or euphonium. This ensemble has performed at several regional music conferences as well as taking two international tours to Latvia, Germany and the Czech Republic in 2012 and 2014.

March 17 UAB Faculty Jazz Quintet

Featuring UAB Department of Music faculty Steve Roberts, trumpet; Gary Wheat, saxophone; Carlos Pino, guitar; Brandon Peeples, bass; and Michael Glaser, drums.

March 24 The Wholeness Project featuring Chaplain Drexel Rayford

The Wholeness Project is a collaboration between AIM and UAB Pastoral Care. This collaboration builds on the unique strengths of both departments to enhance the needs of a person’s mind, body and spirit at UAB Hospital.

March 31 Michael Savela, piano

Michael Savela is a composer, pianist, organist, recording artist and motivational speaker who has been playing music since he was 7 years old. As an organ transplant recipient, he also enjoys sharing his story of overcoming adversity through music.