Music & conflict resolution

Bringing the conversation to Harvard.

Harvard’s May 2026 programme brought Tommy’s music and peace work into a two-day collaboration with Harvard Medical School’s Arts and Humanities Initiative. The concluding Kennedy School event on 6 May paired material from Ballad of a Songman with a discussion moderated by Hugh O’Doherty, followed by a shared music session. Artsawonder was a co-organiser.

Music, medicine and community

The first day’s programme, on 5 May 2026, was hosted at Countway Library at Harvard Medical School. It announced a concert with Tommy, Bruce Victor, Lisa Wong and Harvard Medical School musicians, followed by dinner and a panel discussion. The combination placed music alongside conversation about how communities respond to conflict and difficult experiences.

Different arts, shared questions

The Countway panel brought together historian Guy Beiner, dancer Kieran Jordan, writer Michael Patrick MacDonald, Tommy and psychiatrist and guitarist Bruce Victor. Lisa Wong, co-director of Harvard Medical School’s Arts and Humanities Initiative, was named as moderator. History, movement, storytelling and song offered different ways into the evening’s theme of community healing and peacebuilding.

From the Songman to a shared session

The following evening’s Kennedy School programme was scheduled for Bell Hall in Cambridge. Tommy’s multimedia Ballad of a Songman was to introduce his childhood in Northern Ireland and his peace work through music. Hugh O’Doherty would then moderate a discussion, followed by a reception and an open music session. The invitation to bring instruments made participation part of the programme. These details come from the organisers’ published event listings.