Dr Sophie Lee
Dr Sophie Lee is a Lecturer at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Sophie studied Music at Trinity College Dublin, graduating with First Class Honours in 2015, and was awarded a Licentiate of the Royal Irish Academy of Music (LRIAM) in piano teaching the same year. She graduated with distinction from the MSc in Performance Science at the Royal College of Music, London in 2018. She completed her PhD at the University of Limerick from 2018–2021, funded by the Irish Research Council. Sophie is a passionate musician in healthcare and music educator. She has worked as a musician in healthcare since 2015 for organisations including Children’s Health Ireland and Tallaght University Hospital. She was appointed as the coordinator of Junior Musicianship and Early Years Music at RIAM in 2024. Her research interests include music in ageing and dementia care, singing for wellbeing, music memorisation, and inclusivity in music education.
The Power of Music: Music, Health and Wellbeing
In this talk Dr Sophie Lee will examine the powerful relationship between music, health, and wellbeing. Following an accessible introduction to the effects of music on the brain, Sophie will explore how music can be harnessed to support the health and wellbeing of specific clinical populations, alongside practical ways we can utilise music in our everyday lives. The talk will also address important considerations around when music may not be beneficial in healthcare settings, drawing on recent research and practice. Audience members will be invited to take part in simple, inclusive activities such as guided listening and group singing, creating a shared and experiential understanding of the topics discussed. The talk will conclude with a live chamber music performance by pianist Billy O’Brien and violinist Siobhán Doyle.