When dealing with life’s ups and downs, music has proven to be a powerful tool. It’s been used to foster a sense of joy and community through generations of ancestors who came before us. Whether it comes in the form of a sad breakup song to nurse a broken heart, or a swelling symphony to celebrate an accomplishment, music is always there to strengthen and support the mind and soul. 

To understand the great importance of music, siblings Arista, Meredith, and Wilbert Sullivan started Musical Cheer, a volunteer program in Wilton that provides live music performances to senior living facilities. The program relies on high school-aged music students to utilize their talents to bring joy to the residents. 

The Sullivans’ journey with Musical Cheer began when they were given the opportunity to play for a group of residents at a senior home in Wilton. The residents’ response to their performance ignited a passion for spreading the joy of music. “After hearing the residents humming along to our renditions of Louis Armstrong’s ‘What a Wonderful World’ and Prokofiev’s ‘Romeo and Juliet,’”  says Meredith Sullivan, one of the co-founders of Musical Cheer, “we realized the indescribable joy evoked by the simple act of sharing music.” 

Many musicians can relate to this sentiment, being motivated to share their talents and the bliss that they bring with appreciative audiences. That’s why the Sullivans’ other major focus with Musical Cheer is their student volunteers. According to the Sullivans, they aim to, “provide a platform for high school-aged musicians to share their talents, develop their skills, and give back to their community.” 

To volunteer with the organization, students are required to fill out an interest form and then send in an informal video audition showcasing their musical skills (though students who are a part of their school’s music honors society are exempt from this requirement). If their application is accepted, volunteers will receive emails about upcoming volunteer opportunities, which they can sign up for based on their availability. Performances tend to be around fifteen to twenty minutes long, and it is advised that volunteers arrive about ten to fifteen minutes before their scheduled performance time. 

The Sullivans encourage volunteers to join Musical Cheer for the opportunity to develop their performance skills while simultaneously brightening the days of the senior audience.

 “As we always tell our volunteers,” said the Sullivans, “once you perform, there is no doubt that you will want to keep coming back again and again.” 

If you would like more information about Musical Cheer or are interested in volunteering, visit the following links:

Musical Cheer Website: https://www.musicalcheer.org/ 

Volunteer Interest Form: https://www.musicalcheer.org/volunteer-form