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Music Therapy Club Performs at Children’s Hospital During Andrew McCutchen’s Project Pittsburgh Volunteer Week

By Andrea Meyers, English major

Andrew McCutchen, former outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and his wife created Project Pittsburgh in an effort to spread volunteerism and cheer to Pittsburgh. Ƶ’s Music Therapy Club enjoyed the opportunity to participate in an event at Children’s Hospital during the Project Pittsburgh Volunteer Week in November.

Ƶ’s Music Therapy Club participated in the Children’s Hospital Art Therapy Studio event. Three members of the club, Nicole Elli, Cassie Kulesa and Jordan Saghy, performed a variety of children's and pop songs for the children, as the children enjoyed coloring and other activities. Andrew McCutchen performed with the Music Therapy Club and interacted with the children.

"Not only could you see the joy in the children’s eyes and smiles, but you could also feel the love in the room from them and all of the wonderful providers."

“The Andrew McCutchen Project Pittsburgh Volunteer Day was such a rewarding experience. Not only could you see the joy in the children’s eyes and smiles, but you could also feel the love in the room from them and all of the wonderful providers. I am forever grateful for this experience and I hope that it should continue on in the future!” Jordan said. 

Club president, Emily Landsman, said the volunteer coordinator for the event was happy to have a few club members perform since they are training to be music therapists, and that made them extra qualified to be doing music in a hospital setting. 

A note received after the event from Andrew McCutchen's publicist, John Fuller, described the Ƶ students as having “provided amazing value to the event, and while I had absolutely no idea (or expectations) of how it would go, I believe it kind of went perfect with how you all did mini sets, and then played together near the end. Just the absolute perfect addition to the event, and I hope you saw first-hand the joy you were able to bring.”