Sleep is an essential part of the human experience. When it’s compromised, the body and mind suffer; when it flows, we feel refreshed and clear. It allows our brains to build new neural pathways, bringing with them a rich landscape of dreams that enlighten, frighten, and delve into the bizarre, all swirling in our subconscious. Sleep and dreams come alive in music, art, and storytelling—from lullabies to visual masterpieces to personal accounts of epiphanies. 

Join us on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, from 6–7:30 p.m. PDT for “Sleep & Dreams: Music, Neuroscience & Stories of Slumber.” This dynamic live event (in-person and online) is part of a series hosted by the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), the UCSF Memory and Aging Center, and the Global Brain Health Institute, with honored guests The Nocturnists, a community of healthcare workers celebrating humanity through storytelling. Through live music and visual art, scientific stories and studies, and original compositions, the event promises to awaken stimulating ideas about sleep and dreams.

"We could not be more excited to explore these themes of sleep and dreams,” said Emily Silverman, creator and host of The Nocturnists and assistant professor of medicine at UCSF. “Having the opportunity to explore through different lenses, including music, is such a great opportunity to create an experience for the audience that will be exciting, and enriching, and enlightening."

All in-person participants should be prepared to present proof of vaccination and identification. Masking will be required in the building and during the program.

Guests are invited to RSVP to this free event on October 18 inside the Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall at SFCM.  

About the partnership

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the UCSF Memory and Aging Center, and the Global Brain Health Institute joined forces in 2019 to explore the intersection of music, creativity, and brain science. Through this innovative collaboration, we work together to produce an annual series of public-facing educational programming. The programs highlight novel scientific research and core principles of music and music theory, with presenters from both institutions and exemplary musical performances. Ultimately, the programs raise awareness of innovations in brain health and music for a broad audience.

Presenters 

Liza Ashbrook, Associate Professor of Neurology, UCSF
Taurin Barrera, Executive Director, Technology and Applied Composition and Studio Director, SFCM
Lea Grinberg, Professor of Neurology, UCSF
Nikolaus Hohmann, Chair, Humanities and Sciences, SFCM 
Luis Martinez, Neurologist, Visual Artist, Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health at GBHI
Kamalini Ranasinghe, Assistant Professor of Neurology, UCSF
Emily Silverman, Creator and Host, The Nocturnists; Assistant Professor of Medicine, UCSF; 2020 Hellman Artist in Residence, UCSF Memory and Aging Center
Oak Sonfist, 2022-2023 Education and Advocacy Fellow, American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
SFCM music ensembles 
Introductory and Closing Remarks from: David Stull, President, SFCM and Bruce Miller, Professor of Neurology; Director, UCSF Memory and Aging Center; Co-Director, GBHI

Learn more about this event, partnerships and how to register for this free event.