Arts and Health Leader Dr. Jill Sonke Joins Sing for Hope Board

Dr. Sonke brings over two decades of expertise to the role, currently serving as the Director of Research Initiatives at the University of Florida’s Center for Arts in Medicine. Her appointment strengthens the organization’s push to bridge the gap between creative practice and medical outcomes. She also co-directs the EpiArts Lab, a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and University College London, which focuses on the intersection of creativity and community wellbeing.

Monica Yunus, co-founder of Sing for Hope, noted that Sonke’s background in scholarship and policy is essential for the organization’s next phase of growth. The nonprofit, which began in New York City following the events of 9/11, now reaches over 57 million people annually through programs ranging from public piano installations to arts-informed mental health initiatives in Bangladesh. Sonke joins a board already featuring influential figures such as Renée Fleming and Jon Batiste, who have both advocated for the role of music in clinical settings. Her previous collaboration with the group—advising on live music programs for COVID-19 vaccination centers—informed her decision to join the leadership team, citing a long-standing commitment to placing the arts directly where people live and heal.