New England Conservatory is proud to be one of the 14 nonprofit community arts education organizations from 9 states to be selected to receive a Catalyzing Creative Aging seed grant. The 14 Catalyzing Creative Aging seed grantees will pilot innovative creative aging programs that respond directly to expressed community needs and the constraints of our socially distanced world.
With its seed grant funding, NEC is partnering with Neighborhood Rocks and The LGBT Aging Project at Fenway Health to host a new virtual community chorus exclusively for LGBTQ adults ages 50+. Neighborhood Rocks @ Fenway Virtual Choir will host up to 25 households for weekly virtual rehearsals exploring two-part singing, breathwork, and vocal exercises in a relaxed, supportive, and joyful learning environment.The virtual choir is led by Instructors Krissy Skare and Michael Glashow, who have been leading community choruses in Boston since 2012 and have held over 60 Zoom rehearsals for choirs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program will culminate in a sing-through “performance” as well as collaborative compilation of participants' work. Additional components will include an optional songwriting workshop with NEC students and a virtual community sing-along with other area community choirs.
These grantees’ programs will provide elders in their communities with much-needed creative and emotional outlet, as well as a source of social interaction.
The Catalyzing Creative Aging seed grant is provided by the National Guild for Community Arts Education and made possible, in part, by generous support from Aroha Philanthropies and the NAMM Foundation. The Catalyzing Creative Aging Program is presented by the National Guild for Community Arts Education in partnership with Lifetime Arts, and includes group training, one-on-one coaching, and funding.
