Healing Harmonies: Celebrating Lunar New Year at Children’s National Hospital

By Caroline Su

On February 17, 2026, the main Atrium at Children’s National Hospital filled with music in celebration of Lunar New Year. For one hour, the usual rhythm of a hospital morning softened as piano, marimba, and duet performances echoed through the space, offering patients, families, and healthcare staff a moment of cultural celebration and emotional lift.

Hopeful Minds Outreach (HMO) was honored to present this special Lunar New Year performance as part of its mission to advance mental well-being through music and community engagement. The program brought together talented young musicians performing a culturally resonant repertoire alongside a festive seasonal duet, thoughtfully curated to create calm, reflection, and joy within a clinical environment.

The event began with welcoming remarks from Dana Morgan, Performance Coordinator of Creative & Therapeutic Arts Services (CTAS), who highlighted the significance of celebrating Lunar New Year within the hospital community. Caroline Su, Co-President of Hopeful Minds Outreach, then opened the performance by sharing HMO’s commitment to promoting mental health for underserved communities and improving resilience and emotional connection through music, especially in spaces where stress and uncertainty are often part of daily life.

At Children’s National, music is not simply entertainment. Through its CTAS program, board-certified music and art therapists provide clinical interventions that support patients coping with illness, pain, and hospitalization. Music therapy at the hospital is used to reduce anxiety before procedures, assist with pain management, encourage self-expression, and create opportunities for emotional processing. Therapists work one-on-one and in group settings with patients across inpatient and outpatient units, integrating music into treatment plans to improve overall well-being.

In his closing remarks, VJ Hyde, Manager of Creative & Therapeutic Arts Services, emphasized that Hopeful Minds Outreach’s contributions, both artistic and financial, directly support the music and art therapists who serve thousands of children in the DMV area each year. These professionals use music intentionally and clinically: guiding patients through breathing exercises with live guitar, supporting motor rehabilitation through rhythmic engagement, and helping children articulate feelings they may not yet have words for.

The performance, therefore, was more than a holiday celebration. It was part of a broader ecosystem of care.

“We are so grateful for your beautiful and inspiring performance,” Dana Morgan later shared on behalf of the CTAS team. “You truly brought the magic of the New Year to life through song, filling the space with joy, cultural richness, and hope.”

Lunar New Year symbolizes renewal, hope, and new beginnings. Bringing that spirit into a pediatric hospital carries special meaning. In clinical spaces where families often face uncertainty, moments of music can create dignity, connection, and shared humanity.

Hopeful Minds Outreach remains committed to expanding access to music experiences in healthcare and community settings. By partnering with institutions like Children’s National and supporting licensed music and art therapists, HMO continues to work toward a future where the arts are not peripheral, but integral, to holistic care.