Meet Al Weiser, our featured volunteer from NYC!
Get to know our volunteers!
Name: Al Weiser
Branch: New York City
Do you volunteer at a specific hospital? Volunteer at various sites
How long have you been volunteering with Musicians On Call? Since July 2014
Are you a Volunteer Guide or Volunteer Musician? Musician
What is your favorite song to play for patients? If I Only Had A Brain
Have you ever been part of an impromptu jam session with patients or family in a hospital room? One patient pulled out a small djembe from underneath his bed cover!
Do you perform anywhere else besides with MOC? Yes
What is your occupation outside of MOC? CPA & CFP
Do you have any hidden talents? Yes…still looking for them
What is your story? What connects you with music and why do you volunteer with MOC? “I started listening to a 8 Transistor radio when a kid… The Beatles/The Beach Boys/Motown. The radio doubled as my pillow.
MOC provides extraordinary opportunities for me to lift someone’s spirits, doing something I love. The guides are some of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. I also get to co-perform with my talented musician friend Bradley.”
What makes MOC different from your other volunteer experiences? The concept for me is to bring joy to someone, someone’s family or the staff. It’s a real opportunity to “give back”… and to do so at many different welcoming venues. I’ve had the honor to play for newborns, vets and those at end of life.
Has your life changed because of your experience with MOC? No doubt. Great fit. Each event brings a feeling of great satisfaction. I’m inspired to keep learning appropriate songs and fine tune the old ones.
What is your favorite #MOCmoment? After I finished a song, a young man’s sister said, “That was the first time I saw him smile today”. It was around 6:30 pm.