Initiative sees care home and world-class orchestra unite

The BSO’s award-winning Participate programme creates more than 50,000 experiences beyond the concert hall each year

 

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and Marjorie House care home have joined forces for a new partnership which will see BSO musicians visit monthly bringing live music to care home residents, families and staff.

 

‘Music at Marjorie House’ is a 12-month programme of monthly live concerts delivered by the BSO’s professional musicians at Care South’s newest home which provides residential and dementia care near Evening Hill, Poole.

 

Performances will include duets, classical pieces, and music inspired by the residents’ musical tastes and interests. The sessions are designed to spark joy, stimulate memories, and enhance social connection for residents, their families and the care home team.

 

The intimate, curated performances will take place in Marjorie House, an Art Deco-style home offering views over Poole Harbour towards Brownsea Island and Sandbanks.

 

The series began with a taster session featuring cellist Judith Burgin and accordion player Hugh Nankivell at Marjorie House, which is owned and operated by not-for-profit charity, Care South, to give staff and residents first-hand experience of the activity.

 

Dougie Scarfe OBE, CEO of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, said: “The BSO exists to bring music into people’s lives, including those beyond the concert hall, and this partnership with Marjorie House is a perfect example of how our musicians work in the community.

 

“We have a hard-earned and longstanding reputation for our creative health work, of which dementia-friendly music-making is a big part, and it give us the opportunity to take exceptional music into new settings to enrich the cultural lives of people of all ages.”

 

The BSO is a registered charity well known for its community engagement. Its award-winning BSO Participate programme builds connections, improves health and wellbeing and enriches creativity and learning throughout the South West in association with a series of specialist partners.

 

Every year, the programme creates more than 50,000 opportunities for adults, children and young people, to learn, experience and create music. This work not only includes dementia friendly concerts, but also interactive schools’ performances, rising talent development and wider creative health work in the community, hospitals and care settings which takes place in supportive and safe environments.

 

Georgie Powell, Home Manager at Marjorie House, said: “We are thrilled to welcome these extremely talented musicians from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra into the home to play for our residents on a regular basis.

 

“Many of our residents have enjoyed BSO’s recitals at the Lighthouse over the years, which is located close to the home, and they all have a real passion for music, so this is a very exciting opportunity for us.

 

“They have already spoken to the musicians about the music that reminds them of their childhood, their families and friends or invokes a special memory, so they are looking forward to hearing some of those pieces live, up-close and in-person.

 

“We are certain that these sessions will further enhance resident wellbeing as music has proven benefits for older adults including lifting mood, supporting memory, and fostering connection.”

 

Marjorie House was named as one of the Top 20 Care Homes in the South West at the Care Home Awards 2026 run by carehome.co.uk. Each floor has a dedicated dining area, activity spaces and lounges, with a wide choice of communal facilities including the Captain’s Club bar, hair salon and nail bar, terraced gardens and a putting green.

 

Marjorie House has a varied activities programme which is tailored to the residents’ hobbies and interests and the new BSO partnership further strengthens the activities on offer.

 

Care South is a not-for-profit charity and a leading provider of residential, dementia and nursing care and care at home services across the south of England. As well as Marjorie House’s individual award, Care South was named as one of the UK’s Top 20 Care Home Groups in the Mid-Size Large Group category at the Care Home Awards 2026.

 

The charity, based in Poole, has care homes in Dorset, Devon and Somerset, as well as care at home services based in Dorset and Somerset.

 

See bsolive.com for full details of the BSO’s performances and work in the community.

 

[ENDS]