© Michael Whitefoot

ESO’s care home concerts are integral to our ethos as musicians and performers.
Our professional orchestral musicians have many years of experience in this field and are committed to bringing their talents to members of society who are living with dementia or other life debilitating conditions and are therefore unable to attend public performances.
Research supports our experience that live music benefits people living with dementia by stimulating memories, reducing agitation and stress and improving communication between residents and staff.
Whilst delivering high quality music into care homes and day care centres, our musicians also bring a tremendous sense of warmth, humour and sensitivity to their concerts, raisingthe spirits, alertness and responsiveness of their primary audience, staff, relatives and visitors in all the venues in which they play.  One musician once remarked We give lots of concerts of all types, yet I think our performances in dementia care homes are one of the situations where we genuinely make a difference to somebody’s life.”
On arrival, ESO musicians are able to assess the mood and level of engagement of their audience and adapt their choice of music accordingly. Lasting around an hour, all the concerts are very interactive events with informal chat and information about each piece from the players, and audiences encouraged to join in if they wish – this frequently leads to foot tapping, clapping, singing and dancing! Players are more than happy to stay after the concert to join audience members for refreshments, often resulting in unexpected, stimulating and interesting conversations.
When a resident is too ill to attend a communal concert, our musicians will frequently visit them in their rooms and play something especially for them.
If you are involved with or know of a day care centre, care home or other venue that would welcome an ESO Care Home Concert then please do get in touch:
Mary Stevens carehomeconcerts@eso.co.uk or call 07929 620987

About these Concerts
These are private events – please contact Mary Stevens, Manager Concerts in Care Homes, at carehomeconcerts@eso.co.uk for more information.

10th September 2025
ESO WIND QUARTET
11.00 am
Bricklehampton Hall, Bricklehampton, Pershore WR10 3HQ
2.30 pm
Evesham Dementia Action Alliance, Offenham Village Hall, Main St, Offenham, Evesham WR11 8QD

24th September 2025
ESO WIND QUARTET
11.00 am
Winchcombe Day Centre, Langley Road, Winchcombe GL54 5QN
2.30 pm
Oakhaven Residential Care Home, 136-140 Hales Road, Cheltenham GL52 6TB

25th September 2025
ESO WIND QUARTET
11.00 am
Gloucestershire House (Leonard Cheshire), Charlton Lane, Leckhampton, Cheltenham GL53 9HD
2.00 pm
Monkscroft Care Centre, Shelley Road, Cheltenham GL51 7DP

6th October 2025
ESO DOWNSIDEUP
11.00 am
Wharf Care Home, 76 Minster Road, Stourport-on-Severn DY13 8AP
2.30 pm
Rashwood, Wychbold, Droitwich WR9 0BP

7th October 2025
ESO DOWNSIDEUP
11.00 am
Richmond Villages Wood Norton, Evesham Road, Wood Norton, Evesham WR11 4TY
2.30 pm
Greenhill Park Residential Care Home, 24 Greenhill Park Road, Evesham WR11 4NL