Music & Mind
Renée Fleming’s groundbreaking Music & Mind initiative explores the powerful intersections of the arts, medicine, and neuroscience—illuminating how creative expression shapes health, emotional well-being, and medical care. In this dynamic conversation, Fleming joins leading UNC neuroscientists and medical researchers to examine how music and the arts are informing cutting-edge research, clinical practice, and new approaches to care.
Moderated by art and culture journalist Liza Roberts, the discussion brings together artistic insight and scientific discovery, exploring how advances in neuroscience and medicine are revealing the profound ways the arts can support cognitive health, emotional resilience, and quality of life. Together, the panelists will consider how interdisciplinary collaboration translates research into real-world impact, and how institutions like UNC are uniquely positioned to lead at the intersection of art, science, and health.
This conversation reflects Carolina Performing Arts’ commitment to inquiry-driven programming that connects live performance with ideas, research, and lived experience—and highlights UNC’s extraordinary ecosystem of creativity and discovery.
*Please note: Renée Fleming will not be performing during this program. Join us again for her separately-ticketed performance on Saturday, January 24. Scroll on to learn more.
“Cutting-edge advances in health technology are revealing the powerful ways music and other arts can be leveraged in treatments for stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, pain, and a wide range of medical challenges. There are also amazing benefits for childhood development and lifelong mental and emotional health. I am certain that each of us will at some point benefit from these discoveries.”
– Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming Returns – Voice of Nature: the Anthropocene
On January 24, Fleming returns for a luminous concert that blends music and film to explore nature’s beauty and fragility. Learn more about her performance Renée Fleming in Recital with Myra Huang, piano Voice of Nature: the Anthropocene here.
Together, these two separately-ticketed events offer a singular artistic experience—intellectually rich, emotionally expansive, and deeply aligned with CPA’s belief that the arts are essential to wellness.
Event Details
- Runtime: approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, with no intermission
- Additional information: visit our FAQ page
- Late Seating Policy: limited late seating available
Ticket & Discount Information
Tickets available starting at $29. Student tickets always $11. Eligible for CLE Credit.
Discount Information
We offer several discounts for CPA series performances only. Partner and rental events are not eligible.
Important Notes:
- Discounts must be applied at the time of purchase and cannot be added retroactively.
- Only one discount can be used per order.
- We reserve the right to cancel tickets that do not follow these guidelines
Available Discounts:
Military & First Responders
- Discount: 15% off
- Limit: 4 tickets per person, per performance
- How to redeem: Use promo code SERVICE2526 online or call our box office
Seniors (65+)
- Discount: 15% off
- Limit: 4 tickets per person, per performance
- ID Required: Yes
- How to redeem: Use promo code SENIOR2526 online or call our box office
UNC-Chapel Hill Faculty & Staff
- Discount: 25% off
- Limit: 4 tickets per person, per performance
- ID Required at Entry: Yes (UNC One Card)
- How to redeem:
- Current faculty/staff: Use promo code UNCFS2526
- Retired faculty/staff: Use promo code UNCRET2526
UNC Health Staff
- Discount: 25% off
- Limit: 4 tickets per person, per performance
- ID Required at Entry: Yes (UNC Health ID)
- How to redeem: Use promo code UNCFS2526 online or call our box office
UNC-Chapel Hill Students
- Discount: $11 tickets (Zones 3, 4, and 5)
- Limit: 2 tickets per student, per performance
- ID Required at Entry: Yes (UNC Student ID)
- How to redeem: Use promo code UNCST2526 online and select price type “UNC Student,” or call our box office
Non-UNC Students (K-College, Statewide)
- Discount: $11 tickets (Zones 3, 4, and 5)
- Limit: 2 tickets per student, per performance
- ID Required at Entry: Yes (Student ID)
- How to redeem: Use promo code GENST2526 online and select price type “Student (General),” or call our box office
Carolina Alumni Members
- Discount: 15% off
- Limit: 4 tickets per order
- How to redeem: Use promo code GAA2526 online or call our box office
Watch our video on applying discount codes when checking out!
Visit our FAQ page for more details.
Why We’re Presenting This
Fleming’s work as a musician and an advocate bridges the worlds of art and science, offering a powerful reminder that the arts are not a luxury, but an integral ingredient in public well-being.
Carolina Performing Arts shares this commitment and supports artists as they spark cross-disciplinary dialogue, deepen public understanding, and enrich lives
Participants
Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming is one of the most celebrated sopranos of our time and a leading global advocate for the arts as a vital force in health and well-being. Through her Music & Mind initiative, she has partnered with institutions including the National Institutes of Health, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the World Health Organization to advance research, dialogue, and public awareness around the therapeutic power of the arts.
For more information about Renée Fleming, please visit reneefleming.com.
Moderator
Liza Roberts
Liza Roberts is an art and culture journalist and author of Art of the State: Celebrating the Visual Art of North Carolina (UNC Press). She is the founding editor and general manager of Walter, the award-winning Raleigh-based art, culture, and city magazine. A former business news reporter and producer for Bloomberg News, CBS MarketWatch, and CNBC, Roberts brings a deep understanding of both creative practice and complex systems to conversations at the intersection of culture, research, and public life.
Panelists
Flavio Fröhlich, PhD, MSc ETH, MA
Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Cell Biology & Physiology, UNC School of Medicine
Associate Vice Chair of Research, Department of Psychiatry
Director, Carolina Center for Neurostimulation
Dr. Flavio Fröhlich is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with appointments in Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology, Neurology, and Biomedical Engineering. He serves as Associate Vice Chair for Research and founding Director of the Carolina Center for Neurostimulation.
Fröhlich earned his electrical engineering degree from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, an International Diploma from Imperial College London, and his PhD in neurobiology at UC San Diego. He completed postdoctoral training at Yale University, where he discovered that electric fields generated by the brain represent an active neuronal communication mode. In 2011, he moved to UNC to translate this discovery into therapeutic strategies.
A pioneer in network neuroscience, Fröhlich integrates neurobiology, engineering, and medicine to develop non-invasive brain stimulation treatments for psychiatric disorders. Currently, he is also pursuing a PhD in clinical psychology and completing his clinical psychology internship, combining his research expertise with direct clinical training. He authored the textbook Network Neuroscience and has received numerous awards for his research.
Laura C. Hanson, MD, MPH
Professor & Vice Chief for Research, Division of Geriatric Medicine
Medical Director, Palliative Care & Hospice Program
UNC School of Medicine
Dr. Hanson is a Professor and Vice Chief for Research in the UNC Division of Geriatrics, and Medical Director of the Palliative Care & Hospice Program. She graduated from Harvard Medical School. She trained in Internal Medicine at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and completed her fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at the University of North Carolina (UNC), where she also obtained a Masters in Public Health. Her clinical practice at UNC includes Geriatric Medicine, Palliative Medicine and Hospice. Dr. Hanson leads a program of research to improve health care for older adults experiencing serious illness, with a particular focus on improving the lives of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Patrick J. Smith, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, UNC School of Medicine
Dr. Patrick Smith is a clinical psychologist and biostatistician with expertise in behavioral medicine and neuropsychology. He is a Chapel Hill native and was a scholarship music major at UNC-Chapel Hill, as was his wife and older brother. He trained in trombone performance and continues to perform on both trombone and bass guitar. He has previously performed with international touring groups, including KC and the Sunshine Band, Fishbone, Who’s Bad, and Darius Rucker, among others. His recordings have been featured on NPR and local radio, during UNC sporting events, and at Carolina Hurricanes games. After obtaining his PhD at Duke in 2010, he completed postdoctoral trainings in behavioral medicine and clinical neuropsychology, as well as an MPH in biostatistics at UNC-CH in parallel. His research is focused on using biobehavioral interventions to improve cognitive function and mental health outcomes among adults with chronic medical conditions.
Go further
Want to dive deeper into Fleming’s artistry and ideas? Start here.
Listen:
NPR Interview on Music and the Brain: a wide-ranging conversation on her role as an advocate for arts in healthcare.
Watch:
Learn:
Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness: Fleming’s book on a powerful exploration of how the arts support physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being.
Want to see more performances?
Check out the full lineup for the 2025-2026 CPA Season and discover more incredible shows!