Make Music Chicago Serenade
Monday, June 21 was “Make Music Chicago” Day, and musicians from the Community Music Division of DePaul University delivered an afternoon violin concert in our garden, on a lovely day, the first full day of summer.
We are fortunate and grateful that our Lincoln Park neighbor, Dr. Susanne Baker, who serves as director of the Community Music Division, reached out to our life enrichment coordinator Maggie Olofson to present this wonderful opportunity for a string concert for our Residents, staff, and Sisters.
The ensemble of performers was a mix of Community Music (CM) students of various ages and DePaul graduate student artists, each eager to demonstrate their skills and to satisfy their eager and discerning audience. Their performance selections were drawn from a wide-ranging repertoire, from classical music to well-known folk tunes.
Violinist Kai Wu and his young son Haoran and daughter Xinran (the younger being only five years of age) started off the concert performing Paganini’s “Theme from ‘Witches’ Dance,” charming the ears and stealing the hearts of all in attendance.
CM student Mia Mathew and DePaul graduate student Bernini Chan continued the concert with Beethoven’s “Minuet in G Major,” followed by sisters Victoria and Anjelica Sasieta, CM students, who performed the captivating tune, “A Sunday Stroll,” by Swedish composer Eva Belvelin.
Led by Bernini Chan, the CM students performed delightful medley of melodies, featuring pieces by Handel, Bach, and Suzuki. The selection ended on a decidedly high note: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”
Lina Yamin and husband Nelson Mendoza, recent DePaul graduates, joined Chan and the Sasieta sisters to perform Haydn’s “St. Anthony’s Chorale,” and then the couple played a number of duets, including a beautifully moving rendition of Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.”
This musical treat marked the first live performance at St. Mary’s Home since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and these talented musicians delivered quite the concert, garnering applause, praise, and broad smiles from a most appreciative audience.
We can’t wait for an encore performance in the near future!
Make Music Chicago Serenade