Music and Health = A Natural Equation

Ms Gráinne Hope

Kids’ Classics

Gráinne Hope – Cellist, Kids’ Classics Artisitic Director, Hospital Musician & Trainer of Musicians in Healthcare Settings

Gráinne Hope achieved her BA Music Degree at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama before travelling to study cello with Ann Martindale Williams at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh in the USA. In high demand by professional ensembles in Ireland, Gráinne regularly performs with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra, Wexford Opera Festival Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra. Gráinne has performed with Camerata Ireland on International tours to America, Finland, China and Russia, and is founding member of the chamber ensemble Musici Ireland. She has performed on radio and television with renowned classical performers as Jose Carreras, Sarah Chang, Katherine Jenkins and numerous popular artists including The Three Priests, Colm Wilkinson, Bill Bailey, Ronan Tynan, Sharon Shannon and Liam O Flynn. In 2016 Sony Classical released the soundtrack to the Hollywood movie ‘The Letters’ featuring Gráinne on solo cello.

Gráinne is creator and artistic director of ‘Kids’ Classics’ which is a non-profit organisation that designs, manages and delivers professional music projects and programmes in healthcare settings around Ireland. She has experience in delivering music interventions into health settings including Neo-natal, Paediatric, Oncology, Geriatric, Psychiatric, Dementia and Alzheimer’s units. In 2012 she designed and delivered Ireland’s first Paediatric Hospital music residency in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin and in 2015 was also a member of the steering committee who oversaw an independent evaluation of Kids’ Classics live music activities in a children’s hospital.

Gráinne qualified as a trainer of Musicians in Healthcare as one of a team of three Irish musicians chosen to be part of a pioneering European programme with Music Network, Ireland, Musique et Santé, France, Turku University, Finland and the Royal Northern College of Music, UK in Training Trainers for Music in Healthcare Settings.

As an education facilitator she works with the Education Community and Outreach programme of the National Concert Hall. She has facilitated workshops for The Ark, tutors the YOPs Youth Orchestras and teaches strings to primary school students on Whitefriar Street Strings Project.