Celebrating care and community: Presenting our third Care Homes Concert for the first time in Beacon Hall

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Thursday 29 May 2025

Bristol Beacon, Bristol Care Homes and Sinfonia Smith Square Orchestra unite to celebrate care through live music

On Tuesday, May 27 2025, around 200 care home residents from across Bristol were welcomed to Beacon Hall for a special orchestral concert. This event was delivered in partnership with Bristol Care Homes and performed by Sinfonia Smith Square Orchestra, and part of our programme of work bringing live music experiences to older people across the city.

For the first time, we were able to accomodate 40 wheelchair users (quadrupling the usual 10 spaces) in this specially-designed accessible concert.

The performance by Sinfonia Smith Square Orchestra – a dynamic ensemble of early-career musicians trained in engaging older audiences – blended traditional repertoire with interactive elements, developed through their work with the City of London Sinfonia. This included a pre-concert ‘meet and greet’ with the performers, and exciting improvisation throughout the concert too.

The concert was also enjoyed by local hospital patients and further care homes across the city after being recorded and broadcast by Bristol Hospital Broadcasting Service.

Photography by Jessie Myers (Soul Media)

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Seventeen care homes from across Bristol participated in the concert today. There was a great sense of engagement and embrace and enjoyment of this wonderful music. Thanks to all for making that possible”

Geoff Crocker, Chair, Bristol Care Homes

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Here at Bristol Beacon we really believe in the power of music and this concert fits well into our health and wellbeing programme. Music, particularly for those who might be living with dementia, is a really powerful tool to support with wellbeing, calmness and with memories. Today is just one part of bringing people together and being able to share with their loved ones and carers.”

Adam Kent, Director of Creative Learning & Engagement

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Thank you

Thank you to all of our audiences and partners who made this event truly unforgettable!

Thank you also to our project supporters: Bristol Care Homes, The Anchor Society, and Christie & Co. We are also deeply grateful for the ongoing support of our wider work with older people from Paul Hamlyn Foundation, The Grateful Society, The Dolphin Society, and St Monica Trust.

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