Meet Bryan Truong, Our Featured Volunteer from Denver!
Get to know our volunteers!
Do you volunteer at a specific hospital? I volunteer at Children’s Hospital Anschutz
How long have you been volunteering with Musicians On Call? I have been volunteering for a year and a half
Are you a volunteer guide or musician? Musician
What is your favorite song to play for patients? Sunday Morning by Maroon 5. There is a calm and depth to the melody and the emotions of the song that I love sharing with the families.
Have you ever been part of an impromptu jam session with patients or family in a hospital room? Unfortunately, not yet. I didn’t realize that ever happened, so now I’m very excited for the day it does.
Do you perform anywhere else besides with MOC? No, I’m a little stage shy.
What is your occupation outside of MOC? I just started in an Opthalmic Technician position and I absolutely love it. I’m directly involved in patient care and I love being able to connect with my patients.
What is your story? What connects you with music and why do you volunteer with MOC? Music has always been a part of my life. My Mom and Dad shared their music with me as a kid and I remember being taken away by the emotions and the energy of the songs. I started learning instruments at around 10 years old and singing about 5 years later, and since then music has been part of my every day life. Music especially got me through my darkest days and my heaviest burdens, and once I realized how much power music had, I decided I could best give back to the world through it. That is when I found MOC and I signed up.
What makes MOC different from your other volunteer experiences? It is definitely the magic of music. Other volunteer experiences are great because I can help people and learn about them and their situations, but with MOC there is a whole new level of understanding and sharing. Music is such an integral aspect of our incredible human experience, and being able to utilize my own God given ability to open that emotional connection with patients and families is one of the greatest blessings in my life. As a great philosopher once said, “music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” And through MOC, a smile on the faces of patients.
Has your life changed because of your experience with Musicians On Call? It gave me the gift of courage. Before MOC I was dreadfully afraid of performing for people, and even in front of my own family. But MOC gave me the confidence to sing sweetly to friends and family and strangers alike. It has brought my much happiness and for that I am grateful.
What is your favorite #MOCmoment? This is not my moment exactly, but it would be during my first shadowing of a fellow MOC musician. We were in a patient room with a rather large family, and he played “You Can Count on Me” by Bruno Mars. Something about that song and how he sang it touched them, and the whole family broken into hugs and holds and tears. It was truly a special moment and was a great first experience with MOC.