A string quartet warms up in the sun-drenched community room at Cinnamon Park Assisted Living Residence in Longmont, as residents filter in to claim a seat. The quartet, made up of students from Silver Creek High School, launches into the first song of this performance, and residents smile and chuckle as they recognize the opening notes to ABBA’s “Mamma Mia”.
Featuring Nehemiah Crill on cello, Michelle Smith on viola, and Jorah Foote and Hannah Crill on violin, the performance included sweeping instrumental covers, a duet by Hannah and Nehemiah, and a few lively numbers on the accordion, played by Anna Iverson.
This performance is part of a “Music as Medicine”, a Silver Creek Leadership Academy capstone project led by Nehemiah Crill and Elsa Wirkkanen, which has performed at two additional assisted living facilities, and is planning a performance at a local children’s hospital. The goal, Elsa shares, is to bring music directly to people who could not physically go to concerts, so that everyone can enjoy and experience music.
The students hope to share the therapeutic nature of music with those they perform for, with Nehemiah adding, “We also hope that we can bring some joy to people by playing for them and connecting with them. The senior citizens especially seem to love seeing young performers and having us take the time to prepare pieces just for them.”
Elsa, who runs the group’s rehearsals and manages logistics, enjoys seeing both parts of the performance: the performers shining as they play, and the faces of the audience members lighting up as they enjoy it. Afterwards, the students answer any questions from the audience, chatting and laughing with the residents.
The Leadership Academy, hosted at Silver Creek High School, culminates with a capstone project, in which students apply their leadership skills and collect at least 75 volunteer hours in the community. Learn more about all of the outstanding community projects at stvra.in/scla, or by following along on social media @SilverCreek_HS.
