Healing Muses Founder Named Albany Woman of the Year

Recorder and baroque flute player Eileen Hadidian, founder and artistic director of Healing Muses, has been named Albany Woman of the year for 2010. The announcement was made by California State Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner. Eileen was one of a select group of women to be so acknowledged by community leaders in East Bay Assembly District 14. She and 13 other women, each representing one city in Skinner’s district, were chosen because they have gone above and beyond the call of duty to make a significant difference in their communities. They were honored at a special luncheon in Berkeley, CA, on March 6, during Women’s History Month festivities.

Eileen’s work with healing music grew out of her own cancer experience. She used music for her own healing, and began to play for other cancer patients, exploring ways in which music can be used to soothe critically and chronically ill people.

Women in organizations that were honored included: Berkeley Repertory Theater, High School DC trip (El Cerrito), Community Action (Emeryville), which provides food and clothing for the needy, Friends of Music (Kensington), Lafayette Library, Moraga Citizen's Network, Pacific Center for Human Growth (providing LGBT services in Oakland), CEID (education for the infant deaf, Orinda), CHEFS (Conquering Homelessness through Food Service Employment, Pleasant Hill), Girls Inc. (inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold, Richmond), Morada de Mujeres del Milenio (helps Latina women affected by domestic violence, San Pablo).

For more information and a complete press release, please go to www.asm.ca.gov/skinner.

Healing Muses at Work

In 2009 Healing Muses provided 57 healing music services in the East Bay and San Francisco, to hospitals and clinics serving a broad spectrum of the community:

Kaiser Permanente
43 services at sites throughout the San Francisco Bay Area

Berkeley Primary Care Clinic
4 services. This clinic serves the uninsured, very low income and homeless population in Berkeley

Regional Cancer Center, Doctors Medical Center, San Pablo
4 services  in the cancer center for chemotherapy and radiation patients and staff

Summit Radiation Oncology, Oakland
4 services for radiation patients and staff

In 2010 Healing Muses projects to almost double its services, with  expanded offerings at Kaiser sites, the Berkeley  Primary Care Clinic and Doctors Medical Center:

Kaiser Permanente
82 services at various Kaiser sites.

Berkeley Primary Care Clinic
6 services

Regional Cancer Center, Doctors Medical Center, San Pablo
6 services