New Jersey Symphony to Honor Health Workers With 2026 Gratitude Performances

The New Jersey Symphony has announced its 2026 Gratitude Performances for Health Workers, presented by Johnson & Johnson. Launching earlier this month at the intersection of Mental Health Awareness Month and National Nurses Month, and continuing through the end of the year, this annual initiative brings live classical music performances to healthcare institutions across New Jersey to honor healthcare workers and promote emotional well-being through the healing power of music for nurses, staff, patients, and families.

Now in its fifth year, the 2026 Gratitude Performances will take place at multiple sites, including a mix of new and returning locations, with a continued presence in New Brunswick and an expanded footprint in southern New Jersey. The majority of performances will occur this month, underscoring both the vital role nurses play in patient care and the importance of supporting their mental and emotional health amid the demands of the profession serving communities across the state. Scheduled performances include:

• Saint Peter's University Hospital (New Brunswick)
• Saint Peter's Family Health Center (New Brunswick)
• Jersey City Medical Center
• The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick
• Rutgers School of Nursing-Camden
• Steeplechase Cancer Center (Somerville)
• Specialized Children's Hospital
• Trinitas Hospital
• Inspira Health Center Vineland
• Newark Beth Israel Cancer Infusion Center

Dates will be confirmed later in the year for additional sites.

“New Jersey Symphony is proud of the work we are doing in so many communities across New Jersey, including healthcare environments where our musicians perform, bringing their energy and talent to patients and staff, which in turn brings calm to often stressful situations,” said Terry D. Loftis, New Jersey Symphony President and CEO. “We extend our deepest gratitude to all nurses and healthcare workers who provide excellent care to every patient, particularly at the facilities where our musicians regularly perform. We also thank Johnson & Johnson for its generous support of our Music and Wellness Program.”

Johnson & Johnson has been a supporter of the New Jersey Symphony since the 1960s, helping the organization expand its impactful music education, wellness and community-focused programs. The Gratitude Performances for Health Workers initiative launched in 2022 and has been a key component of the Symphony's Music and Wellness Program, which promotes healing for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals through chamber performances and tailored bedside visits by Symphony musicians. The program serves a variety of healthcare environments, including NICUs, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and hospice settings.

“Johnson & Johnson is proud of our longstanding support for the New Jersey Symphony, which brings music directly into care environments where it can have a real human impact, particularly during a month dedicated to raising awareness around mental health,” said Chris Guiton, Head of Home State Initiatives, Johnson & Johnson. “The Gratitude Performances help foster moments of comfort, reflection, and emotional restoration for patients, families, and healthcare teams, while also recognizing the extraordinary dedication of those working on the front lines of care.”

Nursing leaders across the sites are excited about the 2026 performances and emphasize the role of music in improving the mood of patients and staff.

“Live music has a unique ability to shift the energy of a clinical environment in a positive way,” said D'Juana Clark, APN, lead APN supervisor, the Women's Health Center at Saint Peter's Family Health Center. “The New Jersey Symphony's performance at Saint Peter's Family Health Center during Nurses Week will provide a restorative experience for both employees and patients.”

One of the new locations this year is Rutgers School of Nursing-Camden, expanding the program's reach into academic and training environments.