Monarch Landing Resident Brings Treasured Mementos of Her Magical and Musical Life

Gilda Biel has lived a magical and musical life, and when she moved to Monarch Landing in Naperville, she was delighted to be able to bring treasured mementos with her. Biel’s spacious one-bedroom apartment easily accommodates her three pianos, one violin d’amore and beautiful artwork.

Gilda is a talented pianist who started studying with a Julliard prep program at the age of six. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in music from Radcliffe College, Gilda won a scholarship for a year of music study in Paris. She then received her Master’s Degree in musicology from Columbia University.

Gilda’s husband Fred was a renowned violinist who studied with some of the greats, including Ivan Galamian who also taught Itzhak Perlman. Fred studied at Julliard and then received his Doctorate of musical arts from the University of Michigan. “We had a lot of fun. We performed together often. Fred and his brother were the only ever twin duo violinists. There was a concerto written just for them,” Gilda recalled.

Gilda and Fred lived and played music in Nashville, Tennessee and then Boulder, Colorado. In 1968, they moved to Des Moines, Iowa where Fred became the head of the string instruments department at Drake University. He was also the concertmaster of the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra. Gilda raised the couple’s two sons, and taught private piano lessons.Fred died in 1990 “He was an unrepentant smoker and it ended up killing him. He always had a cigarette on the stand,” said Gilda. She took on more students in her piano studio in order to be able to support the family. “At one time I had 60 students,” she said.

In 2012, Gilda decided to move to California in order to be closer to one of her sons. She didn’t stay even one year. “The traffic was terrifying and if I’d wanted the level of comfort that I have here at Monarch Landing, it would have been impossibly expensive,” she said.

Gilda decided to move to Naperville to be close to her other son and his family. Monarch Landing has provided the perfect home for her. Gilda believes the food is great, but admits that she’s not a reliable source. “My favorite cooking is always that which someone else does. But there are ladies here who are good cooks and knowledgeable about food, and they think the cooking here is great,” she said.

There are many programs and activities offered at Monarch Landing, Gilda noted. “The best part of Monarch Landing though…what is really the biggest advantage…is the abundance of interesting people. “I was just visiting with someone who’d been a missionary to Africa. You don’t get a lot of that in the Bronx for God sake. I love visiting with the residents and learning about their interesting lives” she said.

Gilda treasures her antique instruments that she was able to bring to her new home. “The grand piano is mine, the Behning upright was my father-in-law’s, and the other is a Mason Hamlin. My viola d’amore is 300 years old. I’m very pleased that even though I have a one-bedroom apartment, I have three pianos,” she said.

“Everyone here at Monarch Landing is helpful and nice. You always feel like if you need it, someone will always be willing to help you with a smile. It’s very very pleasant and really has exceeded my expectations, “ she concluded.

Monarch Landing is a continuing care retirement community located on a scenic campus in Naperville, Illinois-named “one of America’s best places to live and retire” by Modern Maturity, and “the best city for early retirement” by Kiplinger. Monarch Landing currently offers independent living, promoting a vibrant life style for active seniors. The Springs at Monarch Landing offers assisted living memory support and will soon offer rehabilitation and skilled nursing services, thus providing complete continuing care for seniors. Monarch Landing is owned by Senior Care Development and managed by Life Care Services. For additional information visit www.WelcomeToMonarchLanding.com or call 630-548-0400