The Music of Life

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.

• MOSAIC PROJECT JUNE - AUGUST 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.

• ORGAN SCULPTURE APRIL - OCTOBER 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.

• PUBLIC PROGRAMME OF THE MUSIC OF LIFE EXHIBITION:

MUSIC MEMORIES COLLAGE WORKSHOP 21st NOV 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.

More coming soon. The programme is still in development.