A unique organization with the aim to use music as medicine will be hosting its first benefit concert and open house Sunday.

Healing Harps is a nonprofit organization designed to promote comfort and well-being to hospital patients through harp music, said Ronald Price, founder of Healing Harps and a music professor at NIU.

Price started the organization after his wife Carol passed away in the summer. He said he approached Kindred Hospital, 225 Edward St., Sycamore, with the idea of creating an organization to preserve the memory of his late wife and her love of music.

“Mr. Price’s wife was with us for some time. There was a real bond between us and them. [Price] wanted to share this form of healing with others,” Kindred Hospital CEO Cindy Smith said.

This is the first of two benefit concerts that will showcase performances by members of the Healing Harps, Price said. The second will take place sometime in late spring. Both performances will take place at Kindred Hospital.

Kindred Hospital hopes to have performances for patients at least every two to three months, Smith said.

“There are a lot of benefits of music. Studies have shown that [harp] music can ease pain and make people more comfortable,” Smith said.

Kindred Hospital officials have embraced the organization’s methods and are passing out fliers to let the community and university know about the presentations, Smith said.

“We’ve just been so pleased to know that Mr. Price thinks so highly of us and that he would want to do this for [the hospital],” Smith said.

She said Sunday’s open house will include a performance by eight participants playing holiday and festive music.

Kindred Hospital will be requesting a $5 donation to help raise money for Healing Harps.

Some of the money raised will be used to pay for people who are specifically trained to play in a hospital setting, Price said.

Musical cares

What: Healing Harps benefit performance and open house

Where: Kindred Hospital, 225 Edward St., Sycamore

When: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday

Cost: A $5 donation is requested