Meet Jonathan Lorenzo, Our Featured Volunteer from Los Angeles!
Get to know our volunteers!
Do you volunteer at a specific hospital? No, I volunteer at 4 different hospitals in the Los Angeles area
How long have you been volunteering with Musicians On Call? Since March 2018
Are you a Volunteer Guide or Volunteer Musician? Musician
What is your favorite song to play for patients? “A Michael Jackson medley that I arranged. I find it bridges audiences of all ages and gets people smiling!”
Have you ever been part of an impromptu jam session with patients or family in a hospital room? “Absolutely! I’ve had patients sing along (sometimes better than me!) and have even been stopped by family members in the hall and asked to jam. We created quite the crowd and a bunch of people got involved. Music has a wondeful way of bringing people together when you least expect it. ”
Do you perform anywhere else besides with MOC? “I play a couple open mics around town for fun!”
What is your occupation outside of MOC? “I am a Breathwork meditiation instructor and a personal trainer.”
What is your story? What connects you with music and why do you volunteer with MOC? “I’ve been a volunteer and a musician for most of my life but when I moved to Los Angeles I found myself not following these two paths that mean so much to me. The moment I learned about MOC I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do. I applied and a few months later I received some of the best news I have ever gotten: I was selected to volunteer with MOC!”
Has your life changed because of your experience with MOC? “Without a doubt. Every program is so humbling and rewarding. It also brings fresh perspective. We are all fighting different battles but if we can find ways to come together in our struggles instead of facing them alone, we could all be better off.”
What is your favorite #MOCmoment? “Meeting Willy at the VA. Willy is veteran and a lover of music. He has a 24 hour caretaker and seemed completely unresponsive but the staff assured me that he would enjoy a song. Sure enough, as I began playing, he started gently swaying back and forth. Then, to all of our surprise, he opened his eyes and looked around. Our eyes met and in that moment, however brief, we were connected. My favorite #MOCmoment was also one of the most beautiful moments of my life. I want to thank Rachel Aron our incredible West Coast coordinator for the support and every single person with Musicians On Call for everything that you do. “
