World-renowned soprano Renée Fleming's presentation, ‘Music and the Mind’, explores the power of music as it relates to health, including childhood development, music therapy, and discoveries that are changing our understanding of the brain. Ms Fleming's presentation is inspired by the Sound Health initiative, which she spearheads as part of her role as Artistic Advisor to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The initiative, established in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (U.S.) and in association with the National Endowment for the Arts, explores and brings attention to research and practice at the intersection of music, health, and neuroscience.

Following the presentation, Ms Fleming will invite a panel of local experts to the stage to discuss how listening, performing, or creating music can contribute to wellbeing. Joining Ms Fleming in conversation:

• Iva Fattorini – Founder, Artocene
• Tim Joss – Chief Executive and Founder, Arts Enterprise with a Social Purpose (Aesop)
• Nula Suchet – Artist, Filmmaker & Author, The Longest Farewell
• Camilla Vickers – Founder, HealthPitch
• Dr Suzy Willson – Artistic Director, Clod Ensemble & creator of Performing Medicine initiative

Throughout Ms Fleming's journey as an artist, she has been struck by music's power to heal and transform lives. ‘Today we are riding a wave of scientific discovery in music and neuroscience, and I'm fascinated by the breadth of the research being conducted. Beyond its ability to enthrall and entertain, music can offer a host of health benefits – from childhood development to therapeutic applications for dementia, autism, PTSD, Parkinson's disease and chronic pain,’ said Ms Fleming. ‘And close to my heart, singing can retrain the brain to use different neural circuitry, helping those who have sustained a traumatic brain injury or suffered a stroke regain the ability to speak.’

The event will be followed by a CD signing with Renée Fleming at 2:30 PM

Renée Fleming is starring in a new production of The Light in the Piazza, directed by Daniel Evans, composed by Adam Guettel, at the Southbank Centre, through 5 July 2019