A trio of musical siblings has started an organization to put their talents to use and bring happiness to residents at local senior living facilities. Now, after creating “Musical Cheer,” they’re looking for other high-school-aged volunteers to join that effort.
Wilton teens Wilbert, Arista and Meredith Sullivan began playing music in preschool, first piano and later string instruments. Arista and Meredith, rising juniors at Wilton High School, said that since they were little, music has been the heartbeat of their lives. They performed in multiple competitive events and piano recitals, but point to an unspoken connection with audiences as the thing that captivated them.
“None of that brought us as much joy as bringing music to various communities and seeing the special human connection that music fosters,” they wrote in a letter to GOOD Morning Wilton.
The siblings extended an offer to play music regularly for seniors at assisted living communities in Wilton, and during their performances, they saw the profound impact live music has on their audiences. They said the experience has shown them a deeper purpose for the musical skills they’d been developing since childhood.
“The first time we heard a gentle voice humming along to an excerpt from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and later, a quiet chorus singing the words of Louis Armstrong’s ‘What a Wonderful World,’ we realized the indescribable joy evoked by the simple act of sharing music. Over the last few months, it has been moments such as these that have served as a poignant reminder of music’s universal and timeless power to unite complete strangers,” the girls wrote.
Music is a bridge across cultures, languages, and generations—the soundtrack to some of our most cherished memories. More than that, music brings the joys of comfort and connection into our lives and the lives of those around us.
Along with their brother, Wilbert (who is homeschooled), the siblings created Musical Cheer, a volunteer organization, to invite other high school musicians to share their mission of spreading cheer through music at assisted living facilities.
“We believe in the transformative power of music to uplift and enrich the lives of residents,” the Sullivans wrote. “Musical Cheer aims to not only enhance the lives of seniors but also provide a platform for high school-aged musicians to share their talents, develop their skills, and give back to their community.”
Teens with as much passion for music as the siblings who are interested in volunteering with Musical Cheer can visit the website they’ve created and reach out to them via email or submit the Volunteer Interest Form on the website.
Other senior living facilities in the area are also welcome to contact them for more information on how to partner with Musical Cheer.