Band made up of people with mental health conditions celebrate 20 years

Spain's only musical ensemble composed of people with mental health conditions celebrated 20 years since the birth of the project on Saturday, February 14, with a concert at the Liceu opera house in the heart of Barcelona. 

The event marked a farewell for the band's leader and founder, José Manuel Pagán.

Pagán, a composer known for film scores, launched the orchestra as a "transformative" music therapy initiative to help people with conditions such as schizophrenia. 

The concert also concluded filming for a documentary produced by Barcelona-based CANADA, which has been in production for two years and is set for release in 2027.

After more than 2,000 rehearsals and dozens of concerts across Catalonia and cities such as Berlin, Pagán says goodbye to what he calls "the project of his life."

He founded the orchestra 23 years ago, with some pauses, including during the pandemic. This year, the ensemble celebrates 20 years of active work.

The idea first came to Pagán 52 years ago, when psychiatric centers were still often called asylums. 

The head of psychiatry at the Maresme Therapeutic Community suggested he make music with patients at the El Molí d’en Puigvert Foundation in the town of Palafolls, Catalonia.

"When we finished, one patient came up to me and asked when we would come back. It was the first time he had spoken in nine years," Pagán recalled during the orchestra's last rehearsal with him.

It was at that moment that Pagán realized the "power" of music therapy for patients with severe mental health conditions. 

After years of running therapy sessions, he eventually formed the Orchestra of Good Luck, a pioneering project that still rehearses regularly today. 

The group includes around 15 musicians, who rehearse every Wednesday at the Civic Centre of Malgrat de Mar, Palafolls. Most members have schizophrenia, and many live in residences or psychiatric centers. 

During his final rehearsal, Pagán said he felt "very emotional" about helping "so many people."

Since the orchestra began, around 50 individuals have benefited from the initiative, many of whom have improved and left the group.

The orchestra includes six instrumentalists, some of them volunteers, while the rest of the members sing. Many cannot play instruments due to their conditions, so they participate by singing. 

With Pagán's guidance, they take turns singing while the rest of the band claps and dances along.

José Luis has been part of the orchestra almost since its founding. He plays guitar and sings, saying that performing makes him feel "like a star." 

His repertoire includes songs such as 'Canta y no llores', an iconic traditional Mexican song.

He bought his first acoustic guitar at 19 and now knows over 1,000 songs. 

He says he is sad about Pagán leaving but confident the founder's legacy will continue, as his son, Pol Pagán, a volunteer, will take over.

Cristina, another longtime member who has been in the group for more than 13 years, says each session is "a release, a joy, and an emotional experience." 

A psychiatrist at her center encouraged her to join after hearing her sing. "I didn’t know what it was. Pagán tried me out, told me I sang very well, and wanted me in the band," she explained.

A documentary to raise awareness

The concert also marked the final day of filming for Barcelona-based production company CANADA, which has been following the orchestra for two years. 

The film was inspired after co-directors Adrià Guardiola and Maria Jou attended a performance that "changed their lives." 

Guardiola said they were captivated by the band’s energy and emotion and how the musicians "transformed" on stage, despite the small audience and limited public knowledge of the project.

"We wanted to give them visibility through cinema," Guardiola said. The film captures dozens of hours of rehearsal and concert footage, as well as glimpses into the personal lives of some members, many of whom live in residences. 

Over the past two years, Guardiola has witnessed the "power of music" for patients with these conditions.

"They carry the stigma of having a serious mental illness, which limits their ability to live a normal life. Many are isolated, hospitalized, or have limited mobility, and communication with the outside world is restricted. When they come here, they get on stage, and it completely changes them," he said.

The excitement is even greater when they have an audience. "People applaud them, and they go from being on the margins of society to being the center of attention. Many leave crying, it's incredible," he added.