It doesn't matter if you're six or 96 years old - all ages are invited to the Alberta Heritage Music Project's concert next Saturday (June 13) to transcend and connect through the musical performance.
It doesn't matter if you're six or 96 years old - all ages are invited to the Alberta Heritage Music Project's concert next Saturday (June 13) to transcend and connect through the musical performance.
The concert brings together children, youth and seniors in sharing musical memories from seniors' younger years. Their “story-memories ” are recreated through music, dancing, acting, sets, costumes and community involvement.
Around 40 volunteers - music and dance students from Cochrane-area schools, along with their teachers - will take part in the concert.
“When you see the seniors' responses to seeing their stories on the stage being presented for them, it is priceless, ” said Nathene Arthur, the Cochrane organizer with the project.
Arthur recounted an experience of an elderly man, confined to wheelchair, who had tears rolling down his face after watching his story recounted. He hadn't spoken for months, but after seeing the performance, he began to talk and smile again for weeks after.
She said that the benefit to the mental wellbeing of seniors is invaluable, while youth learn about music and society of their elders' time.
The goal, when Arthur started this program, was to build relationships between the generations and illustrate how music can bind people together, and how strong memories are.
Over $2,000 in grant money was allocated to the music project from the Alberta Music Education Foundation, funding the concert site, paying for backdrop construction, props and costumes. The venue is a change from previous years at the Bethany Care Centre, as organizers needed a bigger space.
The concert starts at 2 p.m. at Bow Valley Baptist Church, running for around two hours. For more general information, please visit amef.ca. Locally, contact Arthur at 587-999-5857.
