Growing up. I was always surrounded by my grandparents, aunts and uncles, great grandparents in a multi-generational setting for family gatherings, dinners, and opportunities to connect with my “living” family history.

I loved hearing about family stories, songs, and sharing old stories, memories, and family “lore” with each other.

As a history buff, I loved to find out more about my history, countries, and languages from both recent and distant pasts.

One of the ways I found the connections with my grandparents was through music, specifically, through old folk songs and hymns. This was the “spark” that made me think about how I could connect my passion for music and serving with my grand-parents’ generation?

This was the genesis of “the Encore Initiative.” As a Girl Scout, my troop performed songs, poems, and even gymnastics at a local senior living facility. The residents loved hearing the music, and I saw people singing along, tapping their canes, smiling, and even some shedding a few tears.

Music is something that soothes, and I have always turned to music to relax. I realized that the combination of bringing music to seniors from their generation can not only bring joy to them but also provide a stage for budding musicians to share their talents, too.