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I got quite a surprise when I walked in the doors of the Holy Cross hospital at Silver Spring for today’s Music and Love concert. Once I stepped into the main lobby, I was not only shocked to see how magnificent the architectural design was, but also how there were so many people waiting to perform!!! Our members, along with our sixteen new friends, brought many fabulous pieces to the stage, such as our nine piano duets (a new record for most duets played in a day) which were each unique in dynamics, tempo, and tone. Matthew and Lexi helped keep woodwind pieces in our program and they blew it away today on stage (literally)!!! Our violinists showed how dexterous human arms are in their pieces with several string crossings handled with ease and the tone of the piece portrayed flawlessly. It was a true spectacle to hear all these different pieces here today, and it was also delightful to know that we are now playing not only for seniors but also for patients!!! Imagine how life changing it would be to walk into a hospital with concern that your XYZ wouldn’t be cured, and then, out of the blue, you suddenly hear the sweet sound of music that carries away all your bad thoughts!!! Music is a very powerful tool, and here at Music and Love, we are certainly using it to do great things. (Reported by Aric Deng)
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This Monday afternoon, we had the pleasure of visiting the Heritage House. It’s also the president day. Our young musicians sacrifice their resting time to play for seniors. This is the first time we have been here. It’s also the second stop of our Chinese New Year concert. Even though the weather was windy, there were still about 20 musicians coming to give their enthusiasm. We also had some new members joining us. The seniors and staff were very friendly and warmly greeted us, making us feel truly welcome. Everyone worked really hard and put a lot of effort into preparing for this valuable opportunity. The performance started at 2:30 pm, with the beautiful sound of Jasmine Flower, played by the ensemble. We also had an exciting duet, brought by Riddhima and Vera. They played Hunters Chorus, an amazing heartfelt song. The performance concluded with a light-hearted Chinese New Year overture played by Chris Wang. The performance was enriched for both the performers and the audience, creating a memorable and heartwarming afternoon for everyone. It was wonderful to see how much happiness was brought to the seniors by our playing, and we hope to visit them again soon. (Reported by Christopher Wang)
It’s two days after Valentine's Day, but love is still in the air! Today was a great day for Music and Love, as we got to keep the love cycling in the air. The Kangding Love Song played by Gabriel, Wieniaski in D minor played by Chloe, Moonlight played by Eric, and all the other pieces directly show how much effort and love our young musicians are putting in. During every piece, the seniors were immersed in the music, enjoying all the ups-and-downs and tempo changes of the pieces. Their love for our music was shown in their applause and their amazing comments for our performers. That’s what we come here for every week, to show our love to our seniors and for them to enjoy our music. (Reported by Aric Deng)
This Music and Love concert took place in a different department this time—the Assisted Living Department. Held downstairs, the venue had towering glass windows that glinted as natural sunlight poured in. The seniors seemed to enjoy both the view and the music, tapping along without missing a beat. The program featured a mix of well-known classical pieces, including works by Bach, Mozart, Chopin, and Beethoven. Both of Bach’s French Suites were played with a light, lively touch, while Accolay’s Concerto in A Minor was powerful and expressive. One of the most well-received performances of the day was La Califfa on the oboe—its sweeping, melancholic melody added emotional depth to the concert. Concerto in D Major had the seniors swaying along to its bouncy rhythm, adding to the atmosphere of classical elegance. Bach’s Fugue was a standout for its intricate details and disciplined articulation, showcasing the performer’s technical skill. The concert closed with an impressive 30-minute set from the final musician, whose confident playing and refined technique shone through a diverse selection of pieces from different musical periods. Overall, the concert was another successful performance, blending technical skill with an engaging program that clearly resonated with the audience. And even with our few people, we made it happen. The show must go on. (Reported by Angelina Lin)
Music and Love partnered with Golden Arrow Education and government agencies in China to celebrate the Lantern Festival at the Youth and Children’s Palace. To share our passion for music, we created special videos of our best performances and sent them along with heartfelt messages to wish the children in China. They put on an incredible show filled with beautiful dancing, wonderful singing, and exciting Chinese kung-fu performances. Even though we were far apart, it felt like we were celebrating together through music and art. This event demonstrated the power of music to unite people from diverse backgrounds, allowing us to learn about each other’s cultures and forge new friendships. It was a joyful experience that reminded us that, no matter where we are, music and kindness can always bring us together! (Reported by Allie Rui)
On a sunny day in February, Music and Love visited Raphael House. Caitlyn Xu got us dancing with Circus March and German Dance. The lively beat lifted the room. Julianne followed with an elegant rendition of Gavotte on the violin. Notes from Danniel Wang's clarinet soared through the room as he played Fan Flair for Flight. Ethan Yang played a beautiful duet of Minuet in G with his mom on the violin and piano. Anna Yang performed Waltz in A Minor by Chopin on the piano. The cascading trills of the waltz reverberated throughout the room, impressing all that could hear. We hope that everyone has a wonderful, love filled Valentine's Day! (Reported by Selena Ritschel)
Under overcast skies on a February weekend, Music and Love prepared to spread musical magic to the residents of Byron House. Vince Cao opened the performance with an intricate rendition of Gigue and Concertino on his violin. Soon after, Noah Chen got the audience excited with a lively performance of Fugue BWV 950 on the piano. The cascading sound of the keys filled the room. Michelle Niu played Xiyangyang on her violin. Her beautiful, pastel pink dress brightened the room instantly. To close the performance, Selena Ritschel performed Arabesque No. 1 and Minute Waltz. The tumbling scales in Minute Waltz were exhilarating. The seniors were all very happy to hear the effort we put into our music, and one audience member even said "the music makes [them] forget about all the other things going on during the day." We will be sure to come back soon! (Reported by Selena Ritschel)
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