Most people look forward to retirement, often without knowing what they\u2019ll do with their time. Penny Anderson Brill knows. She\u2019s eager to retire from the Pittsburgh Symphony after 40 years because it will free her to devote even more time to a cause that has consumed her for nearly 20 years.<\/p>\n
She loves bringing live music to kids in hospitals.<\/p>\n
Her commitment isn\u2019t limited to UPMC Children\u2019s Hospital and other local institutions. When the symphony goes on tour, Brill makes it a point to take her viola to children\u2019s hospitals in cities around the world. Just as her advocacy for music therapy has contributed to expanded programs locally, Brill also serves the cause on the boards of national and international organizations.<\/p>\n
\u201cPenny is so passionate about music therapy and live music in the hospital because she wants the best for everybody,\u201d says Kory Antonacci, program coordinator of Creative and Expressive Arts Therapy at Children\u2019s Hospital. Antonacci has worked with Brill for a long time, first at the Woodlands Foundation for children with special needs and other local non-profits. She\u2019s played for kids at Children\u2019s Hospital since 2010.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think what makes her so effective with kids is that she gets right down on the child\u2019s level,\u201d says Antonacci. \u201cShe\u2019ll get down on her hands and knees and speak to a child with the utmost respect. She\u2019d be the first person to hand her viola or bow to a child.\u201d<\/p>\n Personal experience taught Brill the value and importance of music in a healthcare context.<\/p>\n \u201cI was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 and had to undergo several diagnostic procedures, then a mastectomy, and a year-and-a-half later, reconstructive surgery,\u201d she says. \u201cI wanted to see if playing music and listening to music would make a difference in my anxiety or just kind of coping. I found it made a huge difference. So did the people who were caring for me, who asked what I had done because I recovered so much faster than expected.\u201d<\/p>\n After wondering why music therapy was not used more often in hospitals, she connected with music therapists and began the advocacy part of her crusade. Her first success was with local foundations, which funded two hospital music therapy positions.<\/p>\n Brill\u2019s pioneering work has led to more official and expansive music therapy efforts at local institutions. Children\u2019s Hospital\u2019s infrastructure now enables her to expand from one-on-one contact to sessions with a small group of kids. Those sessions can be broadcast into the rooms of patients who are immunocompromised.<\/p>\n After about 12 years of independent work with music therapists and advocacy, often with volunteer help by other orchestra musicians, Brill says the Pittsburgh Symphony \u201ckind of adopted it.\u201d It\u2019s a natural extension of the symphony\u2019s community engagement efforts. Brill helped implement the Pittsburgh Symphony\u2019s Music and Wellness program.<\/p>\n Between patient contact and advocacy work, not to mention her symphony job, Brill leads an exceptionally active life.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I have successful interactions with patients, it\u2019s strengthening and gives me more energy,\u201d she says. \u201cKnowing that I can do some good, especially in these times, is important. Doing meaningful work keeps me going.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tConnect with Mark Kanny<\/em>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.kidsburgh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/penny-ptrLIVpsotour3110612-e1580758028501.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1\")
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Mark Kanny<\/h6>\n
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