Meet Suzanne Arrabito, our featured volunteer from NYC!
Get to know our volunteers!
Do you volunteer at a specific hospital? I volunteer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
How long have you been volunteering with Musicians On Call? Just under a year
Are you a Volunteer Guide or Volunteer Musician? Guide
What is your occupation outside of MOC? Head of Marketing and Communications at an independent music publisher
Do you have any hidden talents? I studied improv comedy at UCB for years.
What is your story? What connects you with music and why do you volunteer with MOC? I lost my dad to cancer when I was 18 and I know firsthand how music helped to heal and inspire him–he never missed an opportunity to see me perform, even when he was sick. Also, as a music business professional for the last decade, it’s incredibly rewarding to be able to bring passions from my personal and professional lives together into one experience.
What makes MOC different from your other volunteer experiences? Each performance is so personal between guide, musician, and patient. It’s incredible to help transport patients out of their negative and scary hospital environments for a brief moment and experience their joy as they sing and dance along with us.
Has your life changed because of your experience with MOC? Absolutely. Each volunteering session leaves me with a fresh perspective. When you see people fighting harder battles, it’s a good reminder not to sweat the small stuff and live with more gratitude.
What is your favorite #MOCmoment? I had a deaf patient once who tapped her toes along to the vibrations, which only further proved to me that music is felt on a physical level by everyone.
