Every year, hundreds of local care home residents are immersed in the lush sounds of orchestral music, in our annual care home concerts. This unique programme is designed to give residents of the city’s care homes the chance to hear the best orchestral music live, something which would otherwise be difficult for them to access.
This highly successful initiative began in 2021, when a moving performance by the LSO and Sir Simon Rattle was live-streamed to care home residents across Bristol.
Since then we have continued to bring the joy of live orchestral music to the elderly through a variety of concert formats.
In 2023, Bristol Beacon welcomed residents and staff from six care homes to Bristol Cathedral for a unique musical encounter with Aurora Orchestra, to celebrate care in Bristol with the generous support of Bristol Care Homes. In 2024, we continued the programme welcoming 200 residents for an intimate concert in Bristol Cathedral, performed by our orchestra in residence, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
In 2025 we are excited to host the first Care Homes Concert at Beacon Hall, with Sinfonia Smith Square Orchestra.
Walter, a resident with a deep passion for classical and orchestral music, was completely captivated by the concert, enjoying his favourite melodies in the stunning setting of the cathedral.”
Bristol Care Homes Manager
The impact we make
The Care Homes Concerts initiative has significantly enhanced the lives of older adults in the community. Below are some of the key impacts:
- Emotional connection and memory – The concerts evoked personal memories, as some audience members reminisced about their families’ musical backgrounds or childhood experiences
- Enhanced wellbeing and joy – Care home residents were visibly joyful and moved by the live orchestral music, smiling, laughing, dancing and swaying along to the music
- Strengthened sense of community – Care Home staff reported that the opportunity to attend the concerts promoted a deeper sense of community amongst the residents, their carers, and their accompanying family members
- Lasting memories – The concerts left a lasting impression, becoming a topic of conversation across the care homes for a long time. Wonderful photographs were captured and these have since been displayed in care homes
Stories from Bristol Care Homes
Stories from Bristol Care Homes
A manager from Bristol Care Homes spoke to us about the life-changing impact that the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra concert had for the care home residents. As well as providing entertainment and joy, the experience fostered a profound sense of connection and community.
Get involved
Get involved
To find out more about our care home concert opportunities, please contact us.
community@bristolbeacon.org
0117 204 7103
Creative Health & Wellbeing
Creative Health & Wellbeing
Projects, groups and events that use music to support people’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing at every stage of life.
Care Experienced Young People
Care Experienced Young People
An award-winning programme empowering care-experienced young people and their carers through transformative music-making.
More community programmes
More community programmes
Our community programmes – Creative Health & Wellbeing, Care Experienced Young People, Music & Disability, Festivals & Events – bring people together through the power of music.