Sounds of the opera come to residential homes
RESIDENTS in nursing homes across Wexford can look forward to concerts specially tailored to their tastes throughout the summer months. Covid Care Concerts is an initiative created by acclaimed Irish cellist Gerald Peregrine who wanted to ‘bring high quality classical music into the lives of those most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.’
In total, ten residential homes will be treated to a classical, opera-based outdoor concert on their grounds as part of an Age Friendly initiative supported by Creative Ireland and Wexford County Council. Five concerts will take place in each nursing home every six weeks up to the end of August 2021.
The first concerts took place last week at Oakfield Nursing Home and Middletown House Nursing Home in Courtown. Age Friendly Programme Manager, Ann Marie Laffan, welcomed the initiative, saying, ‘The Covid Care Concerts put together by Gerald Peregrine and Mobile Music Machine aim to give residents and staff of these nursing homes a welcome boost during what has been a very difficult time for them.
‘I have seen first-hand the huge impact these musical performances have on the residents and the fantastic way that they engaged with the music.
‘Boolavogue proved to be especially popular when it was played with many of the residents joining in. I’m delighted to see these concerts will now continue in Wexford up until August 2021 and wish to thank Creative Ireland and Age Friendly Ireland for their support.’
The project was conceived in May 2020 and involves some of Ireland’s finest classical musicians and opera singers presenting live, outdoor socially-distanced concerts in the gardens and grounds of residential care homes and hospital settings across Ireland.
Where possible, residents sit outside to enjoy the concert, or listen through open windows.
Gerald has worked with Creative Ireland to develop a creative interactive element within the project where they email the Residential Care Homes in advance and take requests from the residents when planning their programming. They then email a playlist of their music in advance and encourage the residents to write and journal memories around the music.
‘If there is one positive thing to emerge from the pandemic, it has shone a light on the desperate need to engage on a more regular basis with the most isolated members of society. Through our repeated concert visits, we hope to build long-lasting friendships with the residents of care homes throughout the county,’ he said. Since the project’s inception in May last year they have performed 200 live concerts in six counties, employing over 30 of the finest Irish classical musicians.
THE FOLLOWING NURSING HOMES WILL RECEIVE COVID CARE CONCERTS IN THE COMING WEEKS:
Castlebridge Manor Nursing Home
Cherrygrove Nursing Home
Kerlogue Nursing Home
Knockeen Nursing Home
SignaCare Bunclody Nursing Home
Older Person’s Services St. John CNU
Community Rehabilitation Team, Millview
Community Rehabilitation Team, Havenview
SignaCare New Ross
Valentia Nursing Home Wexford.