The Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO collaborated with the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Avantgarde Cultural Foundation to present the "Harmonies & Healing" project in Nicosia, as part of the strategy for interdisciplinary action in the fields of culture and public health. More precisely, “Harmonies & Healing”, launched in 2024, introduces pianist Steinway Artist Min-Jung Kym whose personal journey illuminates the therapeutic power of music. Alongside her are experts from the cultural and medical sectors, highlighting music's profound ability to facilitate healing, inspire and transcend the traditional boundaries of science and art.
Music can be a powerful therapeutic tool and it has been shown to bring about positive emotional changes and reduce anxiety. In the context of diseases like oncology, both music and music therapy can also be used to develop positive coping skills that come with a cancer diagnosis. Music's potential to aid in healing body and mind is profound, yet it remains under-researched. There is an essential need to develop music-medical research and therapeutic applications to enhance healing. Johannes Brahms and eminent surgeon Theodor Billroth shared a profound friendship and exchanged ideas and insightful discussions on music and medicine, thus laying an important basis for the synergy of music and medicine. In 2023, the Brahms Billroth Foundation was established to support musico-medical research, public healthcare, and the intersection of art, science and community engagement. A year later, the “Harmonies & Healing” project was launched.
The main event was held in Nicosia, on stage Cyprus’ Theatre Organisation, where the artist shared her personal journey with cancer, describing, both, the different stages she went through and how music emerged as a powerful therapeutic force that helped her and her family during the healing process. The event concluded with a roundtable discussion, featuring, alongside the pianist, distinguished experts from Germany, Greece, and Cyprus, all emphasizing on the importance of music in human health and well-being:
- Gerrit Glaner, International Arts Consultant, President of Sommerliche Musiktage Hitzacker
- Georg Hajdu, Molecular Biologist, Composer, Director of the Ligeti Centre
- Nikolaos Zamboglou, Radiation Oncologist, CEO of the German Medical Institute
- Yiola Markou, Pathologist Oncologist, Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre
- Margarita Philippou, Specialist Pathologist, Cyprus Anti-Cancer Society
- Margarita Alexomanolaki, Head of the Performing Arts and Cinema Directorate of the Ministry of Culture of Greece, Member of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group for the Cultural Prescription project
The event was attended by eminent personalities from the fields of health and culture from both Cyprus and abroad, including Princess Dana Firas of Jordan (UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador), Minister of Health Michalis Damianou, Deputy Minister of Culture Lina Kassianidou, and the President of the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO, Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou. Prof. Dr. Sebastian Debus (President of the Brahms Billroth Foundation, Hamburg) and Dr. Andreas Ullrich (Charité Centrum, Berlin) sent their regards in writing, while Mr. Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead at the World Health Organization (WHO), greeted the attendees with a video message, praising the importance of organizing such events that highlight the relationship between music and health.
Further to the main event, the artist visited the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Center, where she performed live for the medical staff and patients and shared some empowering words drawing form her personal experience with cancer and healing.
In her welcoming note, the Deputy Minister of Culture stated that the event falls under the Public Health and Social Welfare pillar of the Strategic Planning for Contemporary Culture which concerns, among other things, equal access opportunities for the disabled population, the utilization of cultural experiences in the treatment of illness and the improvement of the patient experience in hospitals and other care settings through culture. One of the purposes of this new strategy, is to enhance the importance of the impact of contemporary culture on society, the economy and health. Dr. Kassianidou explained that such events will be guided by the integration of the arts into the lifestyle of patients suffering from chronic diseases, due to their value in offering non-pharmaceutical therapeutic methods to improve the patient's everyday life.
Min-Jung Kym, a Franco-British pianist of Korean origin has firmly established herself as an artist of immense diversity bringing fresh quality and musicianship to her performances. She engages audiences worldwide through performances with leading orchestras and collaborations with eminent musicians. She is also deeply dedicated to promoting music education globally. As a Steinway Artist, Min-Jung has successfully explored the intersection of music, innovation and technology, particularly through her work with the Spirio piano, earning accolades from major corporations like Vivatech, Microsoft and Allianz. Her book "Music to help overcome cancer" accompanied by the album "Sounds for the Soul" reveals her personal journey with cancer and the pivotal role music played in the healing process. In sharing her experiences, Min-Jung is an influential voice in music therapy discussions and a motivational figure for various social media platforms.