Connecticut residents may find themselves hearing the holiday classic Auld Lang Syne by one of The Hartt School’s famous graduates, Javier Colon ’00, who performs the piece in this year’s Hartford Healthcare’s holiday video. As many fans know, singer-songwriter Colon was the winner of the first season of NBC’s “The Voice.” He is a frequent presence on the UHart campus, appearing at master classes, performing in last season’s Richard P. Garmany Chamber Music Series, and receiving The Hartt Alumni Award in 2022.
Beyond the UHart campus, Colon is known for his giving back to the broader community, infusing his musical gifts and sharing them with area public schools, benefit events, and community organizations. His strong affinity with Hartford HealthCare is also a personal one, as according to Colon, it was Hartford HealthCare nurses who saves the life of Colon’s father when he had a heart attack in 2019. Since then, he has performed surprise pop-up concerts for its healthcare workers, and most recently appears in the holiday video that has been widely shared.
The heartwarming video is produced by Hartford HealthCare, and is a tribute to its community. Much like the song that Colon sings, the piece is an expression of gratitude. According to Hartford HealthCare, the video aims to “celebrate our amazing colleagues, their caring, compassion and countless ways they improve lives and the wellbeing of our communities.”
President and CEO Jeffrey Flaks praised Colon’s performance, saying “his soulful performance, combined with images of the daily work of our colleagues across all of our campuses, perfectly captures the spirit of Hartford HealthCare.”
Not only does Colon have deep connections to the UHart community, the University has forged a strong partnership with Hartford HealthCare. Flaks was honored last year at UHart’s Executive Leader of the Year Award celebration, which raised $300,000 in scholarships to support students across all academic programs. Flaks says partnership is a foundational belief of HHC, and his organization is happy to contribute to the educational experience students receive today. "From a Hartford HealthCare perspective, our ambition is to be force multiplier for good. I grew up in this state. This is the privilege of a lifetime to be in this role," he told guests at the 2023 event. "I don’t want to waste a single day because I have an opportunity to try to work with the most amazing, brilliant people to advance healthcare, to advance the economic health of the community, and to advance the prosperity of so many people."
Viewers can watch Colon perform in Hartford Healthcare’s video here.