>>> NATIONAL NURSES DAY WAS THIS
WEEK.
WE SPEND EVERY DAY THE LAST 14
MONTHS OR SO IN A PERPETUAL
STATE OF GRATITUDE FOR THE BRAVE
WOMEN AND MEN WORKING LONG,
EXHAUSTING HOURS ON THE FRONT
LINES OF THIS PANDEMIC.
WITH HOSPITALIZATIONS DOWN AND
RESTRICTIONS NOW RELAXING, ONE
GROUP OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS
FINALLY REUNITED OUTSIDE OF THE
E.R. TO MAKE MUSIC TOGETHER
AGAIN.
NBC'S KATIE BECK HAS OUR SUNDAY
SPOTLIGHT.
>> Reporter: ON THIS QUAINT
STREET IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA,
HARMONY FILLS THE FRESH AIR.
♪
A MUSIC SO MOVING, NEIGHBORS
WILL SIT STILL ON CURBSIDES AND
LAWNS, CAPTURED BY THE SOUND.
>> IT WASHED OVER ME.
I FELT EMOTIONAL.
I STARTED CRYING.
>> Reporter: PERHAPS IT'S THE
PASSION OF THE MUSICIANS AT THIS
OUTDOOR OR CAN A ORCHESTRA REHE
FIND TIME TO PLAY BEAUTIFUL
SONGS.
THIS IS A MEDICAL ORCHESTRA, ONE
OF A HANDFUL IN THE COUNTRY,
MADE UP MOSTLY OF VIRGINIA
COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY HEALTH
SYSTEM DOCTORS, STAFF, STUDENTS
AND NURSES LIKE THERESA
ERICSSON.
WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED, HOW MANY
MEMBERS DID YOU HAVE?
>> WE ONLY HAD ABOUT 12.
I HAD NO IDEA HOW THIS WAS GOING
TO GO.
>> Reporter: THAT WAS FOUR YEARS
AGO.
TODAY, THERE ARE 60.
MEDICAL TITLES STAY AT WORK.
AT ORCHESTRA, YOU ARE KNOWN BY
FIRST NAME AND INSTRUMENT.
>> I'M SITTING ALONGSIDE PEOPLE
SUPERVISING ME IN THE WORKPLACE.
WE ARE COLLEAGUES IN THE
ORCHESTRA.
>> Reporter: SOME MUSICIANS
PERFORM REHEARSALS AFTER
PERFORMING SURGERY, OTHERS GET
CALLED AWAY FOR EMERGENCIES.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO REQUIRE ANY
ATTENDANCE FROM YOU, BECAUSE
THAT'S NOT REALISTIC WHEN YOU
ARE RUNNING A MEDICAL ORCHESTRA.
>> Reporter: I DON'T NEED A
DOCTOR'S NOTE BECAUSE YOU ARE A
DOCTOR.
PLAYING MUSIC IS THE WAY MANY
PRACTICE SELF-CARE.
IT ENDS THEIR HARDEST DAYS ON A
HIGH NOTE.
>> WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF
BEING TOGETHER, MAKING SOMETHING
LOVELY AND UNWIND.
>> Reporter: THAT OUTLET TO
UNWIND WAS CUT OFF BY THE
PANDEMIC.
IN-PERSON REHEARSALS NORMALLY
HELD IN THE HOSPITAL CAFETERIA
CANCELED.
VIRTUAL MEET-UPS HARDLY THE
SAME.
>> FOR US, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO
GET BACK TO THE LIVE MUSIC AS
SOON AS WE COULD, IN A SAFE WAY.
>> Reporter: UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN
RESTRICTIONS EASED AND A BASE
PLAYER OFFERED HIS LAWN, THE
ENSEMBLE CAME BACK TOGETHER.
>> EVEN THOUGH WE ARE MILES
APART AND IT'S OUTSIDE WITH THE
BREEZE BLOWING, PLAYING MUSIC IS
MAKING MUSIC, IS THE BEST THING
IN THE WORLD.
>> YOU COULD SEE THE SMILE
BEHIND THE MASK.
IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
>> Reporter: NOW A FEW
REHEARSALS IN, THE SMILES ARE
FROM STRANGERS.
>> IT'S GOOD FOR THE SOUL.
IT REALLY IS MUSIC IS MEDICINE.
>> Reporter: SOULS OF ALL AGES
FEELING THE WONDER OF IT ALL.
AN EARLY MOTHER'S DAY GIFT TO
EXPERIENCE, EVEN FOR ME.
>> AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN WE
ARE TOGETHER, IT MAKES THE HARD
WORK WORTH T.
>> Reporter: AFTER A LONG YEAR,
MANY HEARTS MADE WHOLE.