S2S program organizes concert sharing MHS students’ talent with senior citizens

  A concert was given by five Malden High School students this past Sunday at Forestdale Park Senior Living. The event was organized by the Seniors to Seniors (S2S) program, which was launched between the High School and Forestdale Park this spring.

  “The main idea is to get young people connected to Senior citizens in whatever form that may take. In this pilot version of the program, we have had to be very reactive and creative due to unforeseen issues,” explained S2S Project Leader Mary Ellen O’Meara.

  Seniors Alyssa Littlejohn and Michelle Dang and junior Angelina Feng came up with the idea of forming a group called “Melodies for Memories” to be able to share their musical talent with the community in memory of Littlejohn’s grandmother, who passed away recently due to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). “Melodies for Memories” is a National Honor Society service project created by the three high school students, whose purpose is to share their love of music with the community while also fundraising for CurePSP, a nonprofit organization dedicated to researching PSP, Littlejohn explained. She decided to combine her idea with the S2S program for a community service activity for the National Honor Society. Her sister Erica, who is a freshman, and sophomore Stephanie Wong, two more talented musicians, also performed.

  The senior citizens were entertained by a variety of pieces, such as “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music,” “A Million Dreams” from “The Greatest Showman,” “Think of Me” from “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Enchanted,” “Ditto,” “Promise” and “Eight.” The girls sang mostly a cappella, and solo as well. To the delight of the audience, the Littlejohn sisters performed numerous classical pieces on the piano. Two remarkable pieces sung by Alyssa Littlejohn were Schubert’s “Ave Maria” in Latin and the well-known song by Andrea Bocelli, “Time to Say Goodbye,” in Italian and English. Littlejohn will be starting Gordon College in the fall to study music to eventually become a Music Therapist.

  The S2S program will launch a high school seniors to senior citizens visits program in the fall, including a memoirs-writing activity.