Encore Creativity for Older Adults, the nation’s largest choral program for singers 55+, is pleased to introduce a chorus for those diagnosed with early or beginning moderate Alzheimer’s and other memory impairments. “Sentimental Journey Singers” will begin Monday, September 9 from 9:30 to 11am at Insight Memory Care Center at 3953 Pender Drive, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA.
Encore is proud to be partnering with Insight Memory Care Center to bring this excellent choral program to those diagnosed with early or moderate dementia. Insight is a nonprofit adult day health and resource center providing specialized care, support and education for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments, their families, care partners and the community.
For those in early stages, Insight offers social engagement programs to maximize capabilities, and provide support for loved ones to adjust to changing family dynamics. Insight is the only dementia-specific day center in the DC metro area and still the only adult day health center in Northern Virginia with programs for people in the later stages of dementia. Their innovative education and support programs provide caregiver classes, community trainings, professional seminars, support groups and individual consultations.
With 16 Encore Chorales and 6 Encore ROCKS (rock n roll choruses) in the DC/MD/VA and New York City area serving over 1,250 singers ages 55+, Encore Creativity for Older Adults is perfectly positioned to deliver an excellent choral program for those diagnosed with beginning or moderate memory impairment. Singers, along with their care partner, will delight in singing familiar and new songs in three- part harmony. Singers will be rehearsing familiar music for the Christmas and Chanukah holidays along with favorites such as Somewhere Over the Rainbow. They will learn vocal technique skills to improve their singing voice and enjoy the thrill of singing in a chorus and the all-important social aspect of choral singing.
Tuition will be $195.00 for fifteen weeks of rehearsals. The tuition covers the rehearsals under a professional conductor, a music therapist pianist, music, rehearsal CD containing the music that is being rehearsed, refreshments during social time and a free, December public concert. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
There are no auditions and Encore is hopeful that all care partners will also sing. Please note that care partners are not required to sing but are required to sit in on every rehearsal. Care partners do not pay tuition but are required to pay a $25 registration fee. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Conducting the Sentimental Journey Singers will be Mary Ann East, an Encore conductor and adjunct professor at George Mason University. MaryAnn is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University. She also conducts the Community of Faith UMC in Herndon, VA and is the director of the Capital Harmonia Community Women’s Chorus.
Rachel Thompson will serve as the pianist. Rachel received her Master’s Degree in Musical Therapy from Florida State University. A Board – Certified Music Therapist, she works primarily with adults who have dementia or other cognitive impairments.
Encore invited all interested individuals to the Sentimental Journey Singers Open House on Monday, July 15. Many attended and remarked upon how much they enjoyed it. Please call the Encore office at 301-261-5747 to reserve space for the singer and care partner. Encore invites anyone who is interested in this program, or other Encore choral programs, to visit http://encoreacreativity.org to learn more about Encore. Encore believes that singing is a lifetime journey. Encore would love all caregivers to join us! Your experience will offer teamwork, confidence, a lot of fun and incredible joy!
SINGERS CLICK ON BUTTON TO REGISTER
CARE PARTNERS CLICK ON BUTTON TO REGISTER
Once again, Encore has a full schedule of holiday concerts beginning December 1st when Encore introduces the new Sentimental Journey Singers with their first concert in Fairfax, VA. They season continues with a total of fifteen concerts, culminating in Encore's return to the Concert Hall at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where Encore will present more than 500 singers on the Concert Hall Stage. As always, concerts are free and open to the public. Check the schedule and plan to attend (at least) one near you!
Encore Holiday 2019 Concert Schedule
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CONCERT DAY/DATE
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TIME
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LOCATION
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GROUPS PERFORMING
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Sunday Dec 1
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2:00pm
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St. George's UMC, Fairfax
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Sentimental Journey Singers Fairfax Chorale
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Saturday Dec 7
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3:00pm
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Lexington Park UMC
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Southern Maryland Chorale
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Sunday Dec 8
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4:00pm
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Towson Presbyterian
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Towson & Columbia Chorales
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| Wednesday Dec 11 |
2:00pm
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Asbury Solomons
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Southern Maryland Chorale
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Friday Dec 13
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7:00pm
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Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, Columbia
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Columbia & Towson Chorales
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| Friday Dec 13 |
7:30pm |
Heritage Fellowship Church, Reston
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Reston & Fairfax Chorales |
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Saturday Dec 14
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3:00pm
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Pascal Center, AACC, Arnold
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AACC Chorale
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Sunday Dec 15
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3:00pm
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Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center
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Glen Echo & Schweinhaut Chorales
Annapolis, Columbia, Glen Echo ROCKS
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Sunday Dec 15
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3:00pm |
St. Katharine Drexel, Frederick
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Frederick, AMV, Towson and Columbia Chorales |
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Tuesday Dec 17
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7:00pm
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Goodwin House Baileys Crossroads (residents only)
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Goodwin House Baileys Crossroads and Langston Chorales
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Wednesday Dec 18
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7:30pm
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St. Mark's in the Bowery
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NYC Chorale & ROCKS
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Thursday Dec 19
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7:30pm
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Church of the Epiphany, DC
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Capital Chorale
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Friday Dec 20
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7:30pm
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Wakefield HS, Arlington, VA
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Alexandria, Langston Brown and Goodwin House Baileys Chorales
Alexandria, DC & Fairfax ROCKS
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Saturday Dec 21
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7:30pm
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Asbury Methodist Village, Gaithersburg
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AMV & Frederick Chorales
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Thursday Dec 26
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6:00pm
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Kennedy Center Concert Hall
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All Encore Chorales, All Encore ROCKS
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Registration for most Encore Fall 2019 semester programs remain open until September 30th. Register here for Encore Chorales and Encore ROCKS Choruses. For complete program schedule information CLICK HERE. NOTE: Separate links are provided for our partners at AACC, Langston Brown and Glen Echo, as they do not go through Encore's internal registration process.
In the most recent Singers' Program Evaluation Survey, 97.3% of survey respondents were “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with their overall choral experience, an impressive level of happiness with the Encore Chorale and Encore ROCKS programs. Encore’s leadership has thoroughly reviewed the results of the survey, especially comments received, and will use the results to identify opportunities to improve Encore’s choral programs (some have already happened) and administrative support. Actions will be taken to implement applicable improvements as appropriate and as discussed in this report.