Miel de Botton brings ‘healing music’ to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Miel de Botton, sister of the philosopher Alain de Botton, performed a special concert at Chelsea and
Westminster Hospital on Thursday 23rd October as part of Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity’s arts
programme.
The former clinical psychologist and therapist turned singer/songwriter, who extols the healing power of music,
said before her performance that “the hospital has a fantastic healing arts programme and I felt very honoured
to be included in that. As a clinical psychologist I feel that I do want to give as much healing as possible in my life
and I hope that my music will bring an uplift to patients.”
Daisy Fancourt, the hospitals Arts and Enterprising Health Manager, also commends the healing benefits of
music: “Bringing live music into a clinical setting has been a core part of the holistic ethos at Chelsea and
Westminster Hospital since it was built 21 years ago. We are delighted to welcome 400 musicians a year to
perform for over 35,000 patients and relatives annually. Research projects we are currently running are providing
evidence of the profound psychological and physiological benefits that music can bring.”
Performing a collection of French chansons and English songs from her debut album (out February 2015) Miel’s
voice resonated through the hospital’s atrium. Joined by her four piece band she captivated the audience of
patients, staff and visitors with a 45 minute set that was broadcast on the hospital radio and included ‘Mon
Amant de St Jean’, ‘Nuits de Chine’ and ‘Je Ne Regrette Rien’ as well as personal self-penned works including
‘Beautiful You’ and the album’s title track ‘Magnetic’.
Having already performed in venues all over London alongside artists such as Jessie J and David D’Or, the
performance at Chelsea and Westminster hospital held special significance for the Kensington resident. “Music
has always given me a sense of joy and freedom and psychology taught me to connect deeply with people and
turn emotion into a positive force for transformation. That is what I try to do when I sing – share human emotion,
make us feel connected” she explained. “The performance itself went very well, with a very engaged audience
and people stopping to listen. Some people knew the French songs and showed particular enthusiasm when I
sang them. It was a relatively long set and I was happy to see that people stopped to listen for so long. I felt very
rewarded by the enthusiasm of the audience.”
Miel and her guitarist then visited the Nell Gwynne ward to play a selection of songs “it was lovely to experience
the cheerful atmosphere on the ward and to play to the patients there who seemed appreciative”.
Miel will be performing a headline concert at The Pheasantry, Kings Road, Chelsea, on November 13th 2014.
http://mielmusic.co.uk https://twitter.com/Miel_Music https://www.facebook.com/MielMusicUK
For further media information about Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity, please contact Roberta Jones on 020 3315 6636 or
email Roberta.jones@chelwest.nhs.uk
For further media information about Miel de Botton, please contact Sue Harris on 020 3213 0135 or email sue@republicmedia.net
7 Broadbent Close, Highgate Village, London, N6 5JW
t 020 3213 0135  f 020 8348 7776 e info@republicmedia.net  www.republicmedia.net @republic_media