Patients, caregivers, and community members are celebrating the opening of Sophie’s Place expressive therapies room at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Campus in Lehi – the nation’s first to be built to combine music, art, and dance/movement therapy for pediatric patients.
The opening of Sophie’s Place is a result of collaborative support from the Forever Young Foundation, the Intermountain Foundation, and an all-star community and caregiver cast.
Sophie’s Place was established by the Forever Young Foundation in loving memory of Utah singer and songwriter Sophie Barton, who was a volunteer at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City prior to her passing at age 17.
“Through Sophie’s Place, Sophie’s heart continues to beat on – bringing comfort, inspiration, and healing to countless young patients,” said Steve Young, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and founder of the Forever Young Foundation. “The frequency of physician‑prescribed music therapy underscores just how vital this non‑invasive, functional treatment is in transforming and improving the lives of the children we are privileged to serve.”
Young, his wife, Forever Young Foundation co-chair Barb Young, and the family of the music therapy room’s namesake, Sophie Barton, joined Intermountain Primary Children’s patients and Intermountain Health leaders in cutting the ribbon on the ninth Sophie’s Place to open nationwide.
Afterward, patients and the community celebrated the grand opening with performances from kids, students and grown-ups, including: 10-year-old Adele Storrs; lead singer of The Osmonds-Second Generation David Osmond; singer-songwriter and The Voice contestant EJ Michels; and Brigham Young University dancers Katie Williams and Jordan Halterman.
The nation’s first Sophie’s Place opened in 2013 at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake Campus.
The newest Sophie’s Place expressive therapies room contains instruments including a piano, drums, guitars, microphones, a dedicated recording studio, and spaces for art and dance/movement therapies.
“What makes this location unique is its vibrant, multi-disciplinary approach to healing through self-expression, self-discovery, and joy,”said Lisa Paletta, president of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, Miller Family Campus. “We’re thankful to the Barton family and Forever Young Foundation for supporting this important space for patient healing, inspired by Sophie’s beautiful legacy.”
In 2010, Sophie Barton passed away unexpectedly while hiking. Three years later, Sophie’s family partnered with Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital to ensure her vision to heal the world with music.
“It means so much more knowing this is Sophie’s Place, having grown up in the area,” said Anne-Marie Barton, Sophie’s mom. “Nothing means more than knowing the Primary Children’s Lehi location and Sophie’s Place are here to serve the children by bringing music for healing. Her soul is here in Utah, and this new location means she can inspire healing and love for all those who visit these special rooms.”
Expressive therapies use creative arts as therapeutic tools to facilitate growth and healing and address patient goals. Funded entirely through philanthropy, these services are provided to patients and families at no cost.
“Scientific studies have consistently shown that music therapy activates and integrates multiple areas of the brain, promoting neuroplasticity and the development of new neural pathways, helping regulate pain responses, lowering stress hormones, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, and enhancing both fine and gross motor skills in children,” Barb Young said. “We are proud to partner with Intermountain Health to deliver these measurable, evidence‑based benefits through the creation of this specialized music therapy room, where ‘Music Changes Everything.’”
The Miller Family Campus opened in February 2024 as part of Intermountain Health’s broader vision to build the nation’s model health system for children.
Intermountain Children’s Health vision to extend pediatric excellence in care to new communities and children across the Mountain West continue through efforts including the Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Center in Taylorsville, opening in September; the building of the first stand-alone children’s hospital in Nevada, announced in October 2024; and the new, full-replacement hospital in Billings, Montana, which will feature a dedicated Pediatric Center.
For more information, visit intermountainhealthcare.org/childrens-health.
Intermountain Health is a trusted leader in healthcare across Utah and the Mountain West, committed to improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves. As a contributor to Cedar Valley Sentinel, Intermountain Health provides expert insights on topics ranging from wellness and prevention to emergency care, mental health, and family medicine — all with a local perspective for residents of Eagle Mountain, Lehi, Saratoga Springs, Cedar Fort, and Fairfield.
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