A Spoonful of Music at the Powerhouse Museum

December 10, 2009 (PRLEAP.COM) Business News
As part of the month-long celebration for International Day of People with a Disability, the Sydney Symphony will end 2009 with a spectacular concert entitled A Spoonful of Music, held at The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia.

People living with a disability, along with their carers and families, are invited to attend the concert, which will be the final performance of the year in the Sydney Symphony/MBF award-winning music4health program.

It's sure to be a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious experience, as Sydney Symphony musicians are joined by the Special Olympics Dance Crew and soprano Trisha Crowe, who will be performing Mary Poppins songs.

Dr Christine Bennett, Chief Medical Officer at Bupa Australia*, said MBF Health Insurance was proud to support both the Sydney Symphony through the music4health program, and the Special Olympics, one of MBF's designated workplace giving charities.

"At MBF, our goal is to help people live longer, happier and healthier lives," Dr Bennett said. "We believe organisations like the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Special Olympics allow Australians of all abilities to celebrate their diversity and individual skills. And the Spoonful of Music event, along with International Day of People with a Disability, provides us with the perfect opportunity to recognise the achievements and contributions of people living with a disability."

Dr Bennett said the MBF Foundation, a key component of Bupa Australia's healthcare leadership and corporate responsibility program, also supports the Powerhouse Museum's Magic Garden, which teaches children about healthy eating and a positive active lifestyle. "The opportunity to bring together three of our partner organisations, in one special event such as this, was too good to pass up," she said.

MBF's music4health program was devised in 2003 when the Sydney Symphony Orchestra began to consider how to bring music to people unable to experience live classical music due to limited mobility, illness or other circumstances. The Symphony Orchestra wanted to explore ways of bringing music out of the concert hall and into the community.

"The Sydney Symphony is dedicated to providing live musical experiences throughout New South Wales," Sydney Symphony Managing Director, Rory Jeffes said. "More than half the performances we give each year are at venues away from our home at the Sydney Opera House and for this concert we are delighted to be performing at the wonderful Powerhouse Museum. Our continuing partnership with MBF Health Insurance is helping to bring so much joy to people across the state and this concert will be no exception."

A Spoonful of Music will be held at the Powerhouse Museum's Turbine Hall on 11 December at 11am. Entry is open to all and is free with Powerhouse Museum admission ($6 concession, $10 adult, companion card holders free).

The Powerhouse Museum is also running creative music workshops for people with disabilities in its digital learning precinct Thinkspace to support music participation and self expression. To book for one of the workshops on 3 and 8 December, contact the Museum on (02) 9217 0392.

About MBF
MBF Health Insurance has been looking after Australians for more than 60 years.

As a leading private health insurer, MBF's primary aim is to help all Australians live longer, healthier and happier lives.

MBF proudly provides health cover to around 1.7 million Australians, giving them the confidence to better manage their health and care needs. We have a broad range of quality health insurance products to support people through all of life's different stages, and we have an extensive member centre network across the country. Recently, we were independently assessed by CANNEX and given a five star rating as one of Australia's best value health insurers.

In addition to our core private health insurance business, the MBF group of companies offers life and travel insurance, as well as financial planning, superannuation and managed investment products through ClearView Financial Solutions, ClearView Life Nominees and MBF Life.