CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Atrium Health was filled with the sound of music on Saturday, and it's all part of a series of concerts for patients.
The healthcare system held a small concert inside its main hospital lobby as part of the 7th Street Concert series. It aims to uplift those staying at the hospital during their recovery.
The string of sounds echoed through the walls at Atrium Health, with each note played working to strike a chord with someone in the audience. Kristen Olsen is the executive director for the concert and she hopes each song is felt in every room.
“Music has the ability to uplift anybody in any situation," she said.
She's more than a music enthusiast; Olsen created the series after feeling the uplifting impact of music while recovering from lung surgery.
“My dream was to start something similar where I could bring music to people who really need it," she said.
Atrium Health is helping make that dream a reality. Melissa Sterka is a coordinator at the hospital who said Atrium just couldn’t pass on the opportunity to bring comfort to both patients and their staff.
Music intertwines throughout our lives. And it just it's so powerful," said Sterka, "and it can be a very strong tool for someone to heal."
The eventual hope is to echo the notes through more walls and uplift more spirits throughout Charlotte.
“We're bringing in incredible music from all over the country," said Olsen, "and then bringing it all over Charlotte. That's our dream.”
Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.