In 2010 at the age of 17, Sophie unexpectedly passed away while hiking. Three years after her passing, Sophie’s family partnered with Primary Children’s to ensure her vision to heal the world with music would live on.
On June 29, 2013, with the help of Intermountain Foundation and Steve and Barb Young’s Forever Young Foundation, Sophie’s Place, the first-of-its-kind professional music therapy center, opened at Primary Children’s Hospital. The center contains a large therapy room, a full variety of instruments for patients to explore, and a dedicated recording studio.
The grand opening was an event to remember. Then 5-year-old patient Matthew Sperry Jr. cut the ceremonial ribbon to raucous applause from the Barton family, hospital caregivers and Foundation leaders, VIP musical guests Linkin Park and Stone Temple Pilots, and professional dancer Derek Hough.
At the ceremony, Matthew’s mom, Chrissy Sperry, said that it’s things like Sophie’s Place that made Primary Children’s a second home to patients like her son. "It is programs like music therapy that really show me that the hospital puts the child first and always.”
On June 22nd, Primary Children’s Hospital will celebrate the ten-year anniversary of Sophie’s Place. All caregivers are invited to attend a celebratory open house on June 22 from 3:30 to 4:30.
In the decade since Sophie’s Place opened, the dedicated therapists who call the center home have used the power of music to help patients of all ages heal physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. In the professional medical setting enabled by Sophie’s Place, music therapy can help patients improve neurological development and fine and gross motor skills, enhance speech and language abilities, improve coping abilities and self-control, improve pain management, and more.
10 Years of Healing Through Music
- 32 concerts
- 188 shows broadcasted to Primary Children’s patients
- 1,173 songs recorded
- 3,493 music therapy sessions
- 23,790 visitors
Thanks to Sophie’s vision and the generosity of Sophie's family and the Forever Young Foundation, 10 children’s hospitals across the country now include—or will soon include—a Sophie’s Place. Primary Children's Hospital is forever grateful to Sophie Barton for her enduring gift of song to the children we serve.
Music therapy appointments are prioritized based on doctor referral, but requests for referral can be directed to any member of a patient’s care team. To contact the Music Therapy team, please email PC-MusicTherapy@imail.org.
Contributors
Spencer Hardy, MA, MT-BC
Administrative Director, Family Support Services
Intermountain Health, Canyons Region
Katie Lahue, MA, SCMT, MT-BC, ACMHC
Expressive Therapies Manager; Music Therapy Internship Director
Primary Children’s Hospital
James Lowe, MS
Marketing and Communications Director
Intermountain Children’s Health