10/29/25

oaks cut for the pyre – songs after texts of Robert Lowell with music composed by Michael Hersch

This performance piece from the First Global Summit on Occupational Health in Music intertwines original music by Michael Hersch, set to the words of Robert Lowell, with curated quotations from a vast, international mental health study on musicians. Through experimental song, live performance, and audience engagement, the event brings to life the struggles, hope, and complexity of artists’ mental health, building empathy and sparking conversation in a unique, immersive format.