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 On one side, you have Grade 5 students, mostly 11-year-olds, from Staten Island Academy.  On the other, you have a group of seniors from the Eger Harbor House Assisted Living residence.  Their average age is 80. Put them together and you have an “inter-generational” choir that has brought joy to the hearts of both groups and to everyone involved in the project.

 The program began in January, 2011 when the Grade 5 Chorus first visited the Eger  Harbor House, as a service project, to perform for the residents. Since it was a very enjoyable visit the Academy sought to broaden the experience both for the seniors and the students by encouraging the seniors to become, not just an audience, but active participants in the chorus.  Thus the intergenerational chorus was born. 

 “This project has lifted the seniors’ whole spirits up!” said Annette Abolt, the Eger House Activities Director.  “A couple of days before each rehearsal, the seniors start to get excited about the children’s visit.  And, on the day of, they are up especially early and very much looking forward to meeting their young partners.  It’s lovely to see.”

 Learning music together and helping each other in the process has encouraged the children’s understanding and respect for the elders.  Simultaneously the seniors have benefited from the enthusiasm and energy of the children.  Staten Island Academy has taken the intergenerational experience into the student’s English and history classes.  Each senior has been teamed up with two or three Grade 5 students and the students have interviewed their senior “partners” extensively to learn about their personal histories and life experiences.  The students are writing biographical poems to present to the seniors.

“This has been a wonderful learning experience for the children,” said English teacher, Ann Greenfield. “Some of the seniors have been able to tell the students about their experiences during World War II, which the students are currently reading about  in historic novels. I could see the connections being made in the students’ minds as the two sources of information sunk in” she continued. “Their conversations have helped them form some very strong bonds.” 

The seniors selected the songs that the choir will sing together: Singin’ in the Rain; Let Me Call You Sweetheart and I Got Rhythm among them. “A couple of the seniors remarked that “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” was their wedding song,” said Jacqueline Stevens, the Academy’s choral teacher. “Some of the old standards that we’re practicing just transport the seniors back to their youth in a nanosecond.  The students can see how touched the seniors are by the memories of dancing at their weddings to these wonderful old numbers!”

The Intergenerational choir will give a concert for the families of the students and the seniors at Staten Island Academy on Wednesday, May 4 at 6pm.

“Oh I’m so much looking forward to it” said Antoinette Annicchiarico, one of the seniors.  “I’ve enjoyed every bit of the rehearsals and getting to know my three little friends.  They just brighten up my whole day!”

Sarah Vishev, one of the students concurred: “I love how Mrs. Annicchairico knows the words to all the songs” she said.  “It’s been so interesting listening to all her stories.”

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