10 Years of Sophie's Place

When Sophie Barton, a beloved 17-year-old singer songwriter, passed away- her family and their dear friend Barb Young knew they needed to do something to honor her.

Sophie was a music volunteer at Primary Children’s Hospital and her dream was to use her musical talents to help people.

Barb Young, from the Forever Young Foundation and a dear friend of Sophie’s, has always been passionate about music therapy. A year after Sophie’s passing she had the inspired idea to work with Sophie’s mother to use that passion to bring Sophie’s dream to life.

In 2013 the first Sophie’s Place was opened at the very hospital Sophie loved to volunteer at.

Sophie’s Place spaces are dedicated music therapy clinics in children’s hospitals. These are spaces where board-certified music therapists can treat hospital patients who are experiencing many different kinds of injuries or illnesses. The first thing you’ll notice when you step into a Sophie’s Place is that it doesn’t feel like a hospital- it is a “safe” space away from things in the hospital that may be scary for young patients.

Now it is 2023 and the 10-year-anniversary of this space is quickly approaching!

To celebrate this monumental occasion we wanted to share some of the impact this space has had on the hospital.

Over the last 10 years:

3,493 music therapy sessions have taken place in Sophie’s Place!

23,790 visitors have come to Sophie’s Place!

1,173 songs recorded in Sophie’s Place! Many of these are songs written by or performed by patients and families. Some of these also include heartbeat recordings: songs recorded using the beat of a patient’s heart- something the family of the patient can always treasure.

There have been 32 concerts in Sophie’s Place! We have been honored to host visitors such as Imagine Dragons, Derek and Julianne Hough, Andy Grammer, and so many more kind and talented artists.

There have been 188 broadcasted shows out of Sophie’s Place. Sadly, not every patient can leave their room and so broadcasting programming to hospital rooms out of the space can bring the healing benefits of music to them!

We are so proud of the impact Sophie’s Place has had on this hospital but, more importantly, on the lives of hospitalized children.

There are now 7 other Sophie’s Place locations, with 2 in progress, equaling 10 Sophie's Places in 10 years- all over the nation! We owe so much of that to the one that started it all.