Grammy Winner Coming to SPAC for Panel Discussion

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) recently announced that a panel discussion, “Music and Mind with Renée Fleming: Harnessing the Arts to Heal and Connect,” will occur on Aug. 14 at 4 p.m. at the Spa Little Theater. 

Five-time Grammy Award-winning soprano Fleming—curator of the anthology “Music and Mind”—will host a discussion with experts that will explore research on the connections between the arts and health. The event is free to attend. 

The exploration will begin with an introduction from Renée Fleming, highlighting the intersection of music, neuroscience, and healthcare, alongside personal stories and insights from her career. She will also share findings from her book “Music and Mind,” which features discoveries on how the arts support healing in areas ranging from pain relief and the treatment of anxiety and depression, to regaining speech after stroke or brain injury, to improving mobility for individuals with conditions like Parkinson’s disease and MS. In addition to these therapeutic applications, the book delves into topics such as evolution, brain function, childhood development, and the role of technology in arts and health.

 Brief presentations will follow: psychology and neuroscience researcher Dr. Psyche Loui will speak on music-based interventions for individuals with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s; licensed creative arts therapist Bree Beaudette will discuss art therapy techniques that promote healing and personal growth; and SPAC Vice President of Education Dennis Moench will explore SPAC’s commitment to inclusive arts programming, cultivating access to shared creative experiences for all minds and bodies. A panel discussion led by Fleming will follow, culminating with a Q&A and book signing.

To register for this free event, visit spac.org. Seating is limited.