Neighbor News
The Boston Minstrels Celebrate 26 Years of Bringing Pop, Soul & Hope to Homeless
Join the musical group of volunteers on April 30th for a celebration with dancing and tunes provided by The Soul City Band
On Sunday, April 30th, The Boston Minstrels, a one-of-a-kind volunteer group that has brought over 1,500 performances to people struggling with homelessness around Massachusetts, will celebrate its 26th anniversary with a full band, dancing, and special guests. Open to the public, the celebration begins at 3:00 pm at the American Legion Post 440, located at 295 California Street in Newton.
The Minstrels are proud to recognize this year’s event honorees, Janet and Ted Kuklinski, for their long-time commitment to the group. The Newton couple has been singing and traveling with The Minstrels since1991.
The Boston Minstrels, a 100-member group of volunteer singers and musicians, play over 60 gigs a year. Their motto is “making music with heart” and they transform every homeless shelter they play at, bringing energy, pop and rock songs, and a feeling of community with them.
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Songfests, known to generate a great deal of happiness and creativity, allow members to exhibit their talents and find a sense of peace musically. Founding member Tim McHale, on vocals and plugged-in guitar, is the consummate song leader, inspiring everyone to participate. Individual shelter residents often come up to one of the eight microphones and sing lead on a song, with ten to fifteen Minstrels behind him/her, providing support and harmony. Other residents dance in the audience and become percussionists, playing the tambourines, drum sticks and maracas, all provided by the Minstrels.
“The energy that the Minstrels bring and their way of connecting to our guests through music is truly magical,” said Scottie Wait, Director of Volunteer Programs at the Pine Street Inn. “It creates joy, a feeling of being included and even hope. Our guests love them.”
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To purchase tickets to the 26th annual fundraiser on April 30th or for more information, please visit: www.bostonminstrel.org.
About The Boston Minstrels:
The Boston Minstrels was born in 1991 when Tim McHale, a construction engineer and his wife Jane, along with friends were caroling in nursing homes and hospitals during the holiday season. The joy they witnessed music create led them to create The Boston Minstrels, to bring music year-round to people who are isolated. The Minstrels are a 501 {c}3 organization.
