The Northwestern Medical Orchestra (NMO) unites Northwestern and Chicago communities through live music experience. A unique ensemble of students, alumni, faculty, and staff in healthcare, NMO promotes well-being in musicians and audiences alike and supports diverse programming and equitable access to music.
- Community: NMO connects the greater Chicago area with Northwestern’s medical community. NMO’s wide membership spans across Northwestern campuses and hospitals, and our audience brings together patients, healthcare workers, and the local neighborhood.
- Well-being: NMO shares the therapeutic benefits of music through open rehearsals and concerts at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, as well as orchestral performances and intimate chamber music settings across campus. NMO members make music together for self-care, preventing burnout, and promoting well-being in audience members.
- Diverse programming: NMO commits to performing music written by traditionally under-represented composers including women and people of color. We also seek out partnerships with living composers, especially those from our community, to share the unique experience of performing and hearing new music.
- Equitable access to music: NMO offers free orchestral concerts and commits to collaboration with the medical community and under-resourced communities of Chicago in order to expand access to music to patients, families, and other diverse audiences.