Performing in Senior Living Communities
Molly Catherine Nixon
Many would agree that individuals living in senior living communities are oftentimes overlooked and forgotten, especially by the younger generation. Residents long for human connection and to participate in meaningful and life giving experiences.
Music has shown to be a powerful instrument for engaging senior citizens’ minds, bodies, and souls—ministering to their whole person. Student performances can create a space where these two generations can meet in a beautiful way and share in one of life’s greatest gifts.
In this masterclass participants will walk through the process for planning student performances at senior living communities. Topics will include reasons to plan this type of trip, the logistics involved, preparing students for a positive experience, and what to expect on performance day.
Meet Your Professor
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Molly Catherine Nixon is the founder of The Da Capo al Fine Project, which ​provides free music resources for school choirs ​and ​musical performances for senior living communities. As part of the project, she performs regularly at area senior living communities. Her original compositions are donated to teachers in the Da Capo al Fine magazine twice a year, along with resources to help teachers plan student performances at senior living communities. Taking her own students to perform in these spaces during her 13 years as a choral educator was a highlight of her teaching career. She hopes to inspire other teachers to provide their students with these valuable life experiences and cultivate a heart of service among their students.
Miss Nixon completed bachelors degrees in choral music education and Spanish at Illinois State University where she was designated a Presidential Scholar, Bone Scholar, and Presser Scholar. She was also awarded the Barbara Wiltberger Scholarship, Charles Bolden Scholarship and Friends of the Arts Scholarship. In addition to teaching private piano and voice lessons, Miss Nixon taught at Epiphany Catholic School in Normal, IL for 15 years until she stepped down in 2023 to begin The Da Capo al Fine Project. She also has an extensive career as an accompanist, playing for schools, churches, and festivals, including the ILMEA District 3 Junior Chorus.