Songbird's Chinese New Year Performance at the Bergen Healthcare Center and Hillsdale House

On February 20, the Songbird volunteer group created a Chinese New Year program for both the Bergen Healthcare Center in Rockleigh, NJ and Hillsdale House in Hillsdale, NJ. The program was filled with not only the group's standard music performances, but also a hands-on activity, cultural food, and a slideshow presentation that incorporated the knowledge of Chinese New Year for the seniors. Traveling from one center to another in one afternoon, the members worked hard towards the success of the program and thoroughly enjoyed the smiles on the seniors' faces.

Previous to their most recent performance, Songbird has performed at the Bergen Healthcare Center since last February. Working with the facility director, Aggie Halat, the group developed various programs throughout the year, one of the most prominent being the Outdoor Summer Evening Concert. Through their time spent at the Bergen Healthcare Centers, the members learned how to treat each senior with care and develop an entertaining program for the audience.

Although Songbird has never performed at the Hillsdale House, one member directly contacted the director, Lois Kohan, in regards to a Chinese New Year event for the seniors last summer and has avidly been volunteering at the food pantry Kohan organized at the Hillsdale United Methodist Church. Finally able to make an idea a reality, she developed the program with Kohan over the months and performance on the 20th became Songbird's debut at the Hillsdale House.

Other than musical performances, which included violin, piano, flute, and vocal, there were active performances as well such as Chinese yoyo and the lion dance as well at the Chinese New Year event. The seniors loved the hands-on activity---model magic dumpling making. Integrating culture, Songbirds distributed red pockets and Chinese snacks to the seniors for their enjoyment.

"This has been such an amazing experience! I've never seen such a performance here in 15 years," declared Lois Kohen, the event director of Hillsdale House. "I would love it if your group could come back every three months for the seniors."

Through and through, seniors from both houses enjoyed the music while learning about Chinese culture. It was joyous to see all the seniors get up and interact with the members. This has been a memorable event, for members as they experimented with a different performance style, and for the seniors as well, who gained more knowledge about a new culture through our program.

Stay tuned with Songbird's monthly events at https://www.facebook.com/song.bird.3114/posts/390698014644105