Meet Glenn Paul Manion, our featured volunteer from NYC!
Get to know our volunteers!
Do you volunteer at a specific hospital? I volunteer at Trump Pavilion, Mt. Sinai Queens, and the Virtual Senior Center
How long have you been volunteering with Musicians On Call? Four years
Are you a Volunteer Guide or Volunteer Musician? Musician
What is your favorite song to play for patients? Don’t Fence Me In
Have you ever been part of an impromptu jam session with patients or family in a hospital room? Sometimes patients or family members sing along!
Do you perform anywhere else besides with MOC? Oh yes, I do 300+ gigs a year
What is your occupation outside of MOC? Musician
Do you have any hidden talents? Nope what you see is what I got.
What is your story? What connects you with music and why do you volunteer with MOC? I perform in all kinds of venues, from large theaters to hospital rooms. MOC gives me the chance to directly share who I am and what I do with people who can really benefit from what I have to offer. No filter, no stage wizardry, just me.
What makes MOC different from your other volunteer experiences? It is helpful to have the guide to break the ice and explain what I’m doing there. As if a guy dressed up like a cowboy carrying a guitar isn’t clear enough (LOL)
Has your life changed because of your experience with MOC? It is the most direct validation of what I do with my life and talents.
What is your favorite #MOCmoment? I performed at the bedside of a very famous NY session guitarist, who played on every record I bought in the 1970s. He passed away only a few days later and I was probably the last live music (or guitar) he ever heard. Before I left, he asked me to play an E minor chord and he closed his eyes and enjoyed it. Too many weird coincidences came together to make that moment happen for it to just be random.