American Cancer Association and the UA Camerata David Finckel, cello, and Wu Han, piano, will perform classical selections from Beethoven, Strauss and Chopin during the Cancer Center Series.

Imagine if the rich tones of a cello took the place of the EKG beep. What if for a moment, a sweeping symphony silenced the haunting words, "chemotherapy treatment" that echo in the mind of a cancer patient? Perhaps instead of being lost in the dissonance of a sickness, a cancer patient could find solace in a harmonium.

The UA Camerata, a performing arts career development program, and the Arizona Cancer Center together make this possible. The Camerata's "Cancer Center Series," the only one of its kind in the nation, has been performing for cancer patients since 2001, hoping to bring some happiness during tough times for cancer patients and their friends and family.

This Monday at the music building's Crowder Hall, guest artists and husband and wife duo David Finckel, cello, and Wu Han, piano, will perform classical selections from Beethoven, Strauss and Chopin. They will also perform the world premiere of local composer Brad Richter's "Fragments Transcending" for guitar and cello. The concert, called "Music as a Healing Art," will benefit the Camerata's cancer concert series, giving the Camerata students the ability to continue to play for cancer patients.

"I think music more than any other medium can take you away from the world and reality, especially when it's not the reality you really want," Richter said. "Part of that is because music, even the most conservative classical music, is abstract so you can just let your imagination fly."

Richter had a very real experience to inspire his work. In 2002, one of the members of the Camerata, Katherine Kitzman, was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away in January. Kitzman, who was a doctoral candidate in flute performance, was one of the first students to play in the concert series.

"This concert is to benefit the cancer series, but there's a lot of her spirit in this concert," Richter said.

"Music helps put you in touch with emotions. It can help cleanse you spiritually when you're listening. I think some of that stuff sounds goofy until you're in that situation when you feel really vulnerable and it encapsulates you," he said.