St. Mary's Hospital Centre in Montreal has launched an innovative pilot programme blending immersive technology and live music to improve patient outcomes. Led by Dr. Julia Chabot, a geriatrician and former classical singer, the initiative delivers virtual reality concert experiences to patients in their hospital rooms, beginning with a performance by JUNO Award-winning pianist and composer Alexandra Streliski.
The project draws on Dr. Chabot's years of research into the therapeutic effects of music. Before the COVID-19 pandemic she had been studying the impact of live music on patients; the pandemic prompted a pivot toward virtual delivery. A preliminary pilot found that patients who received the VR music intervention reported reduced pain even several days after the session.
The hospital worked with Streliski and a production team to film her concert performance in a 360-degree format compatible with VR headsets — what the team calls video capsules — creating an emotionally transporting experience for patients who cannot attend live events. Streliski noted the unique emotional weight of performing for people in difficult circumstances, describing it as purposeful and heartfelt.
Dr. Chabot envisions the programme expanding beyond the geriatric unit and beyond a single artist. She is building an evolving catalogue of VR concerts spanning different musical genres and performers, with the long-term goal of extending the programme to other hospitals across Canada. The scientific component aims to rigorously quantify the health impacts of music delivered via VR — including reductions in anxiety and pain, and improvements in general well-being — providing an evidence base for wider adoption.
