Transforming experiences of healthcare and hospital for children and young people with complex needs

April News!

STUDENT VOICES IN PRACTICE

Welcome to our April newsletter!

We’re constantly inspired by the brilliant students we get to work with—who never fail to surprise us with their creativity and generosity. Poppy, who studied with us last year, has been busy organising a fundraising concert in support of Songbirds. Thanks to her incredible efforts, she’ll be helping bring our Music Festival to life this August—a day filled with vibrant music, energy, and celebration at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

We’ve also loved hearing from Ellie, one of our medical students, who reflected so thoughtfully on her experience with us. Her words beautifully highlight the value of engaging with music during medical training, and the real difference it can make for young people facing health challenges.

We hope these stories spark a little inspiration for you, just as they have for us.

Ros, Mark, Juliet and Gloria

Lead Musicians, Co-Founders, Co-Directors and Project Support,

Songbirds Music UK

This Month’s Focus

• Medical student at RMCH and online session

• Fledglings Take Flight

• Poppy’s Creative Project
  

Below: Ros attending the Eid Party

Medical student at RMCH and online sessions

Ellie Kendall

Ellie Kendall is a fifth-year medical student at the University of Manchester. She shares her reflections on joining Songbirds Music UK in the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital atrium and through Zoom-based sessions.

“I have had a great time joining Songbirds Music UK in the RMCH atrium and via Zoom calls. The sessions I observed were led by Ros and Mark, whose work as lead specialist musicians has shaped and developed the approach used by Songbirds.

The music itself is beautiful and evokes a strong sense of peace while also infusing fun into the experience. Playing in the atrium of RMCH was a magical experience. I witnessed how every person's face (child and adult!) lit up instantly when crossing the threshold into the musical world Songbirds created. Inviting children to get involved with playing instruments and dancing was so fulfilling and filled me with joy; for just those few moments together, I could tell their worries subsided and they completely forgot they were in a hospital. I felt blessed to be a part of it. Parents also got involved, and you could see the stress melt away as they watched their children engaging so positively in this often scary environment.

Music has such an innate way of moving people and allowing them to process whatever emotion is evoked. One moment in particular really stayed with me: a mother began to cry as she watched us all playing around her immobile child in a powered wheelchair. We didn’t know what condition this young boy was living with; however, his evident disability is often all-consuming for both patient and carer. For those few minutes, it became the least important thing about him, and you could see her feeling this shift as she began to cry. It felt important to let those emotions sit in the space between us, acknowledging that parents often feel they have to stay strong for their children, so this may have been the only time that day she was able to let go.

Dancing on Zoom with Cairan has been such an uplifting experience. We watched as music drastically opened up the world to this lovely young man, giving him the freedom to move and the autonomy to choose exactly what he wanted to hear next — something that is often a daily challenge for people who are non-verbal. Songbirds is extremely inclusive and has found beautiful ways to connect with Cairan in formats he can engage with, even developing personalised songs that align with his interests. I found these sessions incredibly uplifting, and nothing demonstrates this more than the huge smile on Cairan’s face by the end.”

Below: Feedback from patients, children, and medical students during an Atrium session

Fledglings Take Flight:

Independent session delivery

In 2026, Songbirds and the RNCM continue their professional development programme supporting musicians to work in hospital settings. Following training and shadowing with Ros and Mark, this year’s Fledglings have begun their Residency, delivering independent sessions across Greater Manchester hospitals alongside Health Play staff.

Here, they share highlights from their first few visits:

Adele

We had the loveliest session today. The energy on the first ward was incredible—it turned into a joyful call-and-response with patients, visitors, and staff all joining in, even drawing people in from nearby bays.

One highlight was a baby who had just turned one. She greeted us with a tambourine, so we began with an impromptu “Happy Birthday.” After lots of dancing, the atmosphere softened as she became overwhelmed, and we gently shifted to humming and quiet sounds before ending with Twinkle Twinkle.

On the surgical ward, one patient had sung Billie Jean all the way to surgery, so we had a brilliant time singing and playing percussion together. I was really grateful to the play leader for helping us connect with everyone.

Stella
A memorable moment was singing for a child celebrating his birthday—Adele on flute and me singing. It felt special to bring a small moment of joy to his day.

The session showed how important it is to adapt. When one patient lost interest, we softened the music and gently stepped away. Each patient responds differently—some join in, some prefer to listen, and some need space. Next time, I’d like to follow the patients’ lead more closely, responding musically to whatever they offer.

Confidence before: 3/5 | after: 5/5

Oscar
Our second independent visit brought a wide range of experiences, from one-to-one interactions in corridors to larger, informal performances in waiting areas.

It was great to see patients getting involved, and building connections—especially through personalised songs—worked really well. Next time, we’re considering starting in corridor spaces to gradually build engagement before moving into larger areas.

Overall, a really positive visit with Abigail, and we’re looking forward to developing our approach further.

Below: Two 2026 Fledgling musicians preparing for their session.

Poppy’s Creative Project

Swopera – Opera Reimagined

“I wanted it to feel open and accessible to everyone.”

Through her final-year Creative Project, RNCM student and Songbirds alumna Poppy Worthington Harris raised an impressive £470 for Songbirds Music UK—using opera as a creative, accessible way to bring people together.

The idea grew directly from her experience with Songbirds:

“I’ve always been interested in the connection between healthcare and music… the sessions in paediatric ICU over Christmas were really powerful. It made me want to raise money through a concert.”

The result was Swopera – Opera Reimagined, performed on 1 March at NIAMOS in Hulme. Featuring 10 RNCM singers and the Lirica String Quartet, the concert reworked well-known opera scenes with gender-swapped casting, offering a fresh, playful perspective on familiar repertoire.

Coming from a background where opera felt distant, Poppy was keen to break down barriers:

“Where I’m from, you don’t really come across opera very often… swapping the genders felt like a fun way to make it more engaging and approachable.”

The performance embraced a relaxed, informal style. With minimal staging and just a few visual cues, audiences were invited to imagine their own version of each scene. Well-known works—including Nessun Dorma, reimagined through a female voice—helped shift expectations in a simple but striking way.

Moments of surprise and humour—such as a performer appearing in the balcony—created a shared, lively atmosphere, while the inclusive NIAMOS venue supported the project’s open and welcoming feel.

Accessibility remained central throughout:

“It was nice to see people enjoying opera for the music itself… because it wasn’t heavily staged, it became more personal.”

Despite being her first time organising an event on this scale, Poppy coordinated a large group of performers, managed logistics, and led the project from concept to performance:

“It was all very new… but it turned out to be a really positive experience.”

The project exceeded its initial fundraising target, with support from audiences, donors, and collaborators helping to reach £470.

Reflecting on the experience, Poppy sees Swopera as just the beginning:

“It showed me that it’s possible to make opera feel more accessible, even though it’s often seen as exclusive.”

Thank you to Poppy, to Three Rivers Rotary Club for their generous £300 donation, to Ronnie and Marie at NIAMOS, and to Annie Meaden and the Lirica Quartet for their support in making the event possible.

Below: Singers and musicians at the end of Swopera, taking their final bow.

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