Professional Entertainment at Concordia Retirement Community

Concordia Retirement Community is fortunate to have several talented individuals and groups who volunteer and entertain our residents at our Independent Living and Assisted Living communities. In the upcoming weeks we will be featuring our dedicated volunteers and entertainers who consistently appear to enhance the lives of our residents.

This week we are shining a spotlight on Lynetta Ivey-Reid, one of our professionally trained entertainers. Lynetta performs at both of our communities nearly every month. Born and raised in Northwest Arkansas, she began taking singing lessons at the age of seven. In addition, she studied piano for three years and French horn for eight years. As a young child, Lynetta discovered her passion for bringing joy and smiles to the faces of seniors when her Zion-Oak 4-H club sang Christmas carols at nursing homes. Her deep connection with her grandparents and great-grandmother, Rosalee, has played a significant role in her love for seniors in general.

Lynetta’s diverse musical interests have allowed her to engage with different genres and styles. She has performed with a Bluegrass band, participated in country music competitions, sung jazz standards, appeared in opera productions, and showcased her talent in musical theater productions. Throughout her life she has received numerous awards, scholarships, and competition wins. As a professional she chose to focus on musical theater productions. She has written, produced, and starred in two shows in Milwaukee, and toured across the country for several years. While preparing to move to New York, she and her husband discovered they were expecting their son, Jackson, who often performs with her at Concordia.

Lynetta worked at Concordia for a while as the Director of Life Enrichment, allowing her to stay close to her home in Bella Vista while Jackson was still in school. We were unaware of her professional training and experience as a performer until the day she offered to entertain the residents. Following her first performance, the residents regularly requested her to sing for them. Her son Jackson is also a talented singer and musician, and she often brings him along to perform with her. Jackson is now a familiar face around here because he also works part-time as a server in our dining room while completing his senior year at Bentonville High School. The residents thoroughly enjoy hearing his beautiful bass/baritone voice as he sings songs by Johnny Cash, Elvis and Tennessee Ernie Ford.

Lynetta owns a voice studio in Northwest Arkansas where her students have several opportunities each year to perform at local nursing homes and retirement communities such as Concordia. It is important to Lynetta that young singers gain performance experience and understand the importance of sharing their talents, especially with seniors. The bond that is formed when these two generations come together through music is truly special and meaningful. Lynetta reassures her students who may feel intimidated or anxious about performing in front of others that senior audiences are the best and most appreciative they will ever encounter, and that there is nothing to fear because senior audiences are incredibly appreciative and loving. After these performances her students leave with increased confidence and a desire to return and perform again. Lynetta believes the love and support from these wonderful senior audiences help her students grow into more confident, caring, and thoughtful singers.

You are cordially invited to attend Lynetta’s performance this Friday, March 29th, at 3:30 PM in the lounge at Concordia’s Independent Living. For more information about Concordia call us today at 479-855-3714.