Sound Health in Action: Music and Health for People with Parkinson's
This Sound Health Alliance convening brings together leaders across research, clinical care, community practice, the music industry, and the creative workforce to translate music and health research into real-world impact. Hosted by the Berklee Music and Health Institute and Berklee NYC, and featuring presentations from industry leaders and patients alike, this gathering will focus on advancing innovative, evidence-informed approaches to support people with Parkinson’s and their families. Through shared experience, accessible science, and cross-sector dialogue, participants will explore how music can be integrated across systems of care. Sound Health in Action is part of a broader effort to build scalable, public-facing resources and partnerships that expand access and drive systems-level change.
**This event will be held at Berklee's New York City campus**
Reception, networking, and discussion will only be available in-person. A livestream link will be available before the event.
When
May 21, 2026
6:00 p.m.– 9:00 p.m. ET
Where
Power Station at Berklee NYC
441 West 53rd Street,
New York, New York, 10019
About Our Performers
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020, London-based singer-songwriter Sam Smith has spent the past five years finding ways to keep writing as the conditions slowly took away his ability to play guitar. The result is a Nashville-recorded album, produced by two-time Grammy-winner Matt Rollings and featuring some of the most celebrated names in American roots music, all held together by the kind of hard-won clarity that only comes from facing something you can’t outrun. At Sound Health in Action, Sam Smith, Matt Rollings, and others will share the music and stories behind this project.
Keynote:
Senegal Alfred Mabry, Cornell University Neuroscience Doctoral Candidate
Panelists:
Alyson Chananie, MS, CCC-SLP, Choir Director, ParkinSINGS; Clinical Consultant Speech Language Pathologist
Vanessa Moran, MT-BC, Neurologic Music Therapist Fellow, Lead Therapist, MedRhythms, Inc.
Sarah Mulukutla, MD, MPH, FAAN, Board Certified Neurologist; Founder, Mindful Neurology, PLLC; Assistant Professor Adjunct, Yale School of Medicine
Performers:
Samuel Smith, Singer-songwriter
Matt Rollings, Producer and Pianist; Visiting Scholar, Berklee College of Music
Julian Lage, Guitar
Alison Brown, Banjo, Co-founder, Compass Records
Garry West, Bass, CEO and Co-founder, Compass Records
Margaret Glaspy, Vocals
