Victoria Reyna
There is always something going on in San Antonio. Concerts, festivals, food tastings – the possibilities are endless. What many people don’t know is that there are San Antonians showcasing their talents almost every night of the school year for free at the UTSA Recital Hall.
Aside from the school’s bands, orchestra, and choirs that regularly perform there, the majority of music students are required to perform sophomore and/or senior recitals as part of their degree plan. These recitals consist of guitarists, vocalists, violinists and more and are always completely free and open to the public. The UTSA Recital Hall is the place to be for catching young, talented musicians. In addition, several music fraternities at UTSA regularly perform there as well. If you’re looking for something a little less classical and a little more modern, those are the shows to be at. In fact, there’s one coming up this Monday for an amazing cause.
Two of the music department’s fraternities – Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Mu Alpha – have teamed up to bring Music & Memory to local nursing homes, starting with Morningside Ministries. Music & Memory is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing ipods with personalized playlists to nursing homes across the country, particularly those that specialize in the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Studies have shown that music helps those with Alzheimer’s by reducing agitation, helping them complete day-to-day tasks, and in some cases, if the playlist includes music that the individual has a close emotional connection to, helping them remember or recognize parts of their lives and people who they’d forgotten.
The upcoming concert is free of charge and aimed at raising awareness about Music & Memory and how it will help the residents of Morningside Ministries. You can look forward to tunes like “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” as well as a presentation on how music just may be the best medicine.
Check out the video at the Go Fund Me link below of a man regaining his memories right on camera with the help of a little music. If it inspires you, please make a donation to bring elders in San Antonio moments like this one. Every dollar counts. www.gofundme.com/musicandmemorysa
For more information on the upcoming Music & Memory show, take a look at the Facebook event page here: www.facebook.com/events/725922860853923/
Want more UTSA Recital Hall dates? Visit music.utsa.edu and click on the calendar for a full list of all the great (and free!) performances coming up.