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Our exciting performance at Raphael House was started off by Allie Rui on the violin, playing a beautiful rendition of Itzhak Perlman's Accolay Violin Concerto in A Minor. Vera and Victoria gave a wonderful presentation of the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song; the exciting tempo and deep, grand sound of their cellos electrified the atmosphere of the room in an instant. Marcus brought us back into the holiday spirit with a tranquil performance of Silent Night on his clarinet. Stephen Chen performed Chopin's Scherzo op. 31 on the piano, lighting up the room with majestic chords and thrilling high notes. In the end, we all came together to sing a cheerful birthday song for the staff, filling the air with joy and laughter. It was such a fun moment as everyone joined in, sharing smiles and good vibes while celebrating this special occasion together! We are very proud to have the opportunity to share our music with others and bring them some extra joy! (Reported by Selena Ritschel)
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Our eventful concert took place today on a frigid snowy day although the employees welcomed us warmly. But despite this, and our few performers, we managed to make more seniors chuckle and clap. The performance kicked off with “Sunshower,” a sunny and bright piece ironic to the weather. Next, there were a few Christmas songs to make up for the Christmas and New Year we missed, as well as Concertino in G major, which was slow at first, but then transformed into quick notes. Sonata in A minor, played by the oboe, was a beautiful somber piece until it turned into a quick technical ending. Le Rappel des Oiseaux was filled with joy and playfulness as well as a calming atmosphere. The Caprice as well as another piece in E minor gave a sense of motion and liveliness, as well as intricate melodies. The concert concluded with a piece in A minor which was similar to the workings of a concerto, some parts slower than others. Once more our musicians brought joy into the seniors’ afternoon. (Reported by Angelina Lin)
The holiday season is just about over and our senior friends over at Byron House have already begun missing the sweet holiday songs that come on over the radio or the caroling that occurred in the senior center itself. Our group at Music and Love filled that gap and I am proud to report that the seniors really enjoyed the performance as the notes jumped around the room. Gabriel’s romantic Kangding Love Song must’ve bought back some very nice memories, Caitlyn’s Circus March bought the seniors back to the joyful atmosphere of a circus, Angelina’s Sunshower reminded the seniors of times when it rains on a sunny day, and Chris played a lovely violin piece as usual to give the crowd one big finale. It’s truly heartwarming to see the seniors applaud and to see the smiles on their faces showing that they loved the performances. That’s why we perform. (Reported by Aric Deng)
I am enjoying my winter break in China, and today I had the privilege of attending a heartwarming event co-organized by Music and Love and the Runmiao Volunteer Service Center. We performed for the residents of the Renafan Senior Living Center, marking my first visit to a senior living facility outside the United States. As I entered the center, I was greeted by the bright smiles of the audience, whose enthusiasm mirrored that of similar events I've experienced in the US. The young Chinese musicians showcased the extraordinary talent that left me in awe. Yixuan captivated everyone with her soulful erhu performance, the haunting melodies echoing beautifully throughout the room. Weihan and Jiahui each took the stage to present exquisite traditional Chinese dances, their movements telling rich stories that engaged the residents. The highlight of the event was Ziqi, who brought joy to all with an infectious song while skillfully drumming along. The vibrant rhythm and playful energy filled the space, making it impossible not to smile. To conclude the performance, I was honored to play the "Concerto in A Minor" by Accolay on the violin. Playing in this setting was a unique and transcendent experience for me, and it truly felt special to connect with such a warm and appreciative audience in China. (Reported by Allie Rui)
 As 2024 comes to a close, Music and Love Inc. is thrilled to share how your support has made a meaningful impact in our community. This year, we proudly donated $1,063 to our partner, the Children’s Inn at NIH, which serves as a haven for children with rare diseases and their families. These funds will support essential programs that provide comfort and care to those in need. We are also proud to have supported one of our musicians, Chloe Robertson, by contributing $100 toward the purchase of her bassoon through her GoFundMe campaign. Chloe's dedication to her music aligns with our mission to empower young musicians and spread the joy of music. Additionally, a friend of ours, Eric, covered the piano tuning fee $120 at Raphael House for our young musicians, as we perform regularly for the residents there. We couldn’t have achieved these milestones without the generosity of our donors, the passion of our musicians, and the support of our community. Together, we are making a difference through music and love. Thank you for being part of our journey in 2024. We look forward to creating more music, joy, and impact in the coming year. (Reported by Allie Rui)
Today was an extraordinary and memorable day for me, as I had the incredible opportunity to travel to China and celebrate the 19th International Human Solidarity Day. As a co-organizer of this meaningful event, I collaborated closely with JDV Global Education (Australia) and the XingYu Special Needs School (China) to bring everything together. This was my first time meeting the talented young musicians from the special needs school in person, and I was utterly amazed by their abilities. They showcased their remarkable skills through enchanting performances of Chinese classical dances, captivating martial arts, and lively pop songs that resonated with the audience. I had the honor of performing ‘Concerto in A Minor’ by Accolay on my violin. The experience was awesome; it was the best concert I’ve ever attended. At the end of the event, a reporter from Liaoning Radio and Television Station approached me for an interview about our event. I was so grateful for the chance to share the joy of music and the warmth of love and togetherness with everyone there. It was a day that truly touched my heart and left me feeling uplifted! (Reported by Allie Rui)
On a cloudy, chilly day in mid-December, the Music and Love performers brought holiday cheers to the Raphael House with their final performance of the year. The concert began with Alex Jiang's soulful violin rendition of "Blue Bells of Scotland." Candice Xu followed with lively piano performances of "Circus March" and "Little Brown Jug," already inspiring enthusiastic applause from the senior audience. The highlight came when Matthew Wong's clarinet performance of "Tramp" had the seniors joyfully singing along! Despite a shortage of performers, Vince and Lexi stepped up with additional pieces, ensuring a memorable performance. As the concert concluded, the talented musicians left the Raphael House filled with joy and holiday spirit. (Reported by Benjamin Peng)
Today was the last Music and Love performance of this year. Brightview’s interior was intricately decorated with wreaths, lights, and holiday signs. We wished them an early Christmas by playing cheerful songs. The instruments played today were guitar, oboe, viola, and piano, a diverse collection of ensembles. There were many Sonatas as well as a few classical pieces. Grace and Sakura played wonderful jolly pieces with great technique, while Lexi played a graceful romantic song on the oboe. Our performance ended with an orchestral pop music by Hans Zimmer. Overall, with 8 talented musicians, our concert was successful. This year’s Virginia Music and Love journey concluded on a high note, reminding us of the power of music to bring people together. (Reported by Angelina Lin)
Isabella the cat has certainly been busy recently, transforming Raphael House into a winter wonderland in less than two weeks. Garlands and wreaths outlined the front of the senior center and many candy canes were also set up there, too. It was a relatively small concert today but we managed to get the most out of it. The flowing notes of the piano gave the seniors a nice break from their daily routines and also gave them time to soak up the Christmas cheer that is starting to build up as we near Christmas. Grace started us off with three calm pieces, Lia brought the marching of nutcrackers into the room, with March of the Wooden Soldiers, Skye played two classic pieces, which he somehow synchronized to the flashing of the Christmas lights on the curtain, Luna bought back River Flows in You, which reminds us of our old CFO who has sadly left the program, Selena played a few dramatic pieces that felt like the hearts of young children waiting to get their presents, and Nathan played his piece August, which somehow fits right in due to it feeling like falling snow. At Music and Love, we put quality over quantity and today is a perfect example of that. (Reported by Aric Deng)
Music and Love collaborated with the Northeastern University Volunteer Service Team in China to celebrate International Volunteer Day, creating an unforgettable experience! The concert featured performances by students from various special needs schools, showcasing their incredible talents on stage like true professionals. The atmosphere in the room was exciting as the children captivated the audience with traditional Chinese dances and beautiful songs. One of the most memorable moments was the astonishing face-changing of the Sichuan Opera by Meichen Li, a talented girl with special needs who has won numerous awards in competitions. Her performance was amazing; she transformed her appearance multiple times, leaving everyone in awe and prompting a standing applause from the crowd. Although we couldn't attend in person, we wanted these talented kids to know we were cheering them on. We compiled video clips of our favorite performances and wrote heartfelt messages to surprise them. This experience motivated us to recognize that there is so much more we can do to help bring joy to the world! (Reported by Allie Rui)
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