The Music of Life
Uncovering the pioneering history of music therapy at the Epsom psychiatric cluster, once a world-leading centre for mental health treatment.
As leading the Public Programme and Communities at The Horton, I will be working for a year (2026/2027) on The Music of Life project, a Heritage Lottery-funded project that uncovers the pioneering history of music therapy at the Epsom psychiatric cluster, once a world-leading centre for mental health treatment.
The project explores how music was used to support patients long before music therapy was widely recognised, and it brings together archives, oral histories, and a programme to connect and activate this hidden heritage with communities today. The project is in collaboration with King's College London's Department of History.
Under this project umbrella, we have developed
ORGAN SCULPTURE APRIL - NOVEMBER 2026
A sculptural commission by local artist Glynis Lamond, using reclaimed organ parts from the original organ chapel that once stood on the site of The Horton. The final sculpture will be exhibited as part of the exhibition and later installed permanently in the garden.
MOSAIC PROJECT JUNE - SEPTEMBER 2026
Participants create a permanent outdoor mosaic for the gardens at The Horton. Alongside exploring local heritage of music therapy with the mosaic design, the sessions focuses on creativity for wellbeing in a relaxed and supportive environment, due to all participants face mental health challenges.
The sessions are facilitated by local mosaic artist Tina De Domingo, who has extensive experience delivering inclusive community arts projects, including work with mental health and disability groups.
PANORAMIC ARTWORKS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2026
A visual art commission by artist Romy Blumel, who creatively interprets the research to create three artworks to be installed in our corridor, which was initially part of the space where music therapy was developed. These artworks will travel through time, from the early experiments where therapists played music to patients, to the professionalism and performances with a programme of music therapy settled in place, to the social life of the ward, to the diversity of the community, and the closing down of the hospitals and the chapel. This will run from the early 1950s to 1997.
MUSIC MEMORIES COLLAGE WORKSHOP NOVEMBER 2026
To create a special mixed media collage using original music sheet music discovered in Horton Chapel when it was abandoned. Using fabric off-cuts, magazines, newspapers and a range of art materials, same as copies of participants family photos and any other 2D objects, we represent our own memories with the soundtrack of our life.
EXHIBITION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMME OF THE MUSIC OF LIFE JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2027:
HOW MUSIC CAN HEAL?
Talk by Paul Cavaciuti
MUSIC THERAPY SESSION
by Paul Cavaciuti
PAINTING MUSIC WORKSHOP
by Veronica Revuelta Garrido and Toby Ma
MOSAIC WORKSHOP
by Tina de Domingo
ALIVE INSIDE SCREENING + Q&A
with director Michael Rossato-Bennett
RESEARCH TALK and PROJECT SHARING
by Alana Harris and Emma Bradley
HERITAGE TOURS OF THE HORTON CHAPEL
by The Horton Heritage Volunteers
More coming soon.