Cat Bernardi is a talented jazz singer. Through the Seniors Arts and Music Series (SAMS), she brought jazz duo concerts to long-term care homes in Mississauga. Here is her SAMS Story:
“We played a series of jazz classics like “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” and “Pennies From Heaven”. Surprisingly, we even had members of the audience making requests! We played “My Way” after a request from the audience, as well as “Yesterday” by the Beatles. We had the seniors clapping along, snapping, asking us questions, and telling us stories throughout the performance. Another show was Valentine’s Day themed, and we played classic love themes like “Love Me Tender” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You.” We also played the classic “La Vie en Rose”, which had more than a few seniors singing and swaying along. The seniors were clapping along with us, and happy to hear so many classic and warm love songs for Valentine’s week.
The seniors at both long-term care homes genuinely enjoyed the performances. In addition to the requests and participation through clapping and singing along, many guests approached us afterwards to comment on their favourite moments, to tell us stories, and to remark on the positivity of their experience. Many of the participants asked when we would be back, and told us that they’d love to hear us perform again at their home.
Personally, I love singing for our seniors. Although I perform all over the GTA for people of various ages, in diverse and different venues, performing for the seniors in this community fills my cup in a very unique way. Seniors have given so much to our community through their work history and labour, through their family involvement and caring, their volunteerism, and their spirits and hearts. This is just one small way to give back to them, connect with them, and to show them that they are seen and valued. The seniors are a great audience because they actively listen to the music and engage with it…they’re not distracted by their cell phones throughout the performance, they are present. They are in every musical moment with us, and that truly makes it all worthwhile.”
The Seniors Arts & Music Series pilot project was supported through a generous grant from the Government of Ontario.
Thank you to our generous SAMS sponsors, enabling us to enrich the lives of seniors.
SAMS is produced by the Mississauga Arts Council in partnership with Entertainment Unlimited.
