Lecture with Sarah McKiddy

How does music engage the brain and body, and what makes a shared musical experience meaningful? Join Sarah McKiddy, PhD, and the SCMS String Quartet-in-Residence, the Balourdet Quartet, for an exploration of music, memory, emotion, and social connection.

Building on her dissertation research and May community lecture, findings from the partnership with Seattle Chamber Music Society, the Balourdet Quartet, and the UW Memory Hub to co-design music programming for people living with memory loss and their care partners will be shared. This work will also be connected to broader research on how music engages neural, cognitive, and physiological processes that can support health and well-being across the lifespan.

Musical excerpts from the Balourdet Quartet and guided discussion will invite participants to consider how rhythm, texture, gesture, and interpretation shape our responses and how the setting and interactions surrounding a performance can deepen engagement. The lecture will also consider how these findings can inform community music programs, including how musicians and organizations can balance artistic goals with opportunities for participation and adapt to different interests and abilities.

This event is free and takes place in the Kennan Hollingsworth Living Room at the Center for Chamber Music. Registration is required.