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The Tacy Foundation empowers children and teens to share hope and joy with hospital patients, military veterans, senior citizens, and disadvantaged youth through performances, music recording projects, and music mentoring programs.
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Playlists
As of the end of November, the holiday playlist has eight videos that Samuel and Shaun Wang recorded (more may be on the way from other volunteers). Listen to the festive songs here.
Also, don’t miss the Summer 2025-Spring 2026 playlist here.
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Director’s Corner:
It is a great honor to write in our Inspiring Hope newsletters to all of the Tacy Foundation youth volunteers, staff, activity directors, board members, and followers about our work nationwide.
This month, I would like to celebrate the tremendous accomplishments of George Benskin. George began his journey with the Foundation before it became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. As a first grader, he recorded several songs in the Rolling Hills Recording Studio in Gaithersburg, MD. These songs, along with another 108 songs from children and teens in my piano studio, became the gift of 500 CDs that was donated to the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation in Baltimore.
What was a one-time project by my studio evolved into a foundation. The interest and diligence of the kids’ parents led to an annual project in which many student musicians recorded multiple CDs in order to send messages of hope through music. In addition, the children wanted to play for seniors, especially for Asbury Methodist Village, Rockville Sunrise Senior Living, and HOC (Housing Opportunities Commission) in Montgomery County. Staff in other senior facilities heard about the kids who would come and play on weekends and then visit with audience members.
Many of the participating children lived far away from their grandparents. They felt as though the seniors cared for them, and the seniors felt special and loved by the children and teens. George was an avid participant. As he matured in middle and high school, he composed beautiful music that he was happy to share with seniors.
As a junior in high school, George and his family organized a benefit concert that offered his music to the community at United Church of Christ Seneca Valley. He invited two other musicians to share the program. A lovely audience donated $1,000 that evening. The young philanthropist was strongly supported by his family and the church community!
George composed music for an album and produced it for the Foundation. He became interested in sharing his composition skills. In the summer after his junior year, he initiated Composers Circle. He continued this gift to our young volunteers by teaching online. Any Tacy Foundation volunteers who wanted to learn how to improvise, create, and notate music could sign up by appointment. When he went to college, another composer and devoted supporter of the Tacy Foundation, Michael Tacy, joined the Composers Circle team. Both have made their indelible mark.
George currently serves as the professional musician for services at United Church of Christ Seneca Valley. He has demonstrated his ability to play the old, familiar music, invent new music, play songs in every key, compose music for occasions, and continue to develop as a well-educated musician while pursuing a challenging college degree. You will find his portfolio of work on his website, bandcamp, and SoundCloud.
I am writing about George this month because I was so very touched and inspired by his lifelong dedication to music and community. As I heard his graduation recital from George Mason University on November 12, my mind went back to the first days of the little boy who could play anything he heard and could not see why he had to practice. This concert was such a triumph for him and for his classmates… and such an accomplishment for a young artist!
Congratulations, George, from all who have known you through the years! Best wishes on the next exciting steps of your life’s journey!
With the winter holidays upon us, we send our very best wishes for a beautiful Christmas and New Years Day!
Charlotte Tacy Holliday, Founder & Executive Director
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Music and the Risk of Dementia
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A decade-long study “involving more than 10,000 relatively healthy people, 70 and older, in Australia” sought to discover lifestyle factors associated with the risk of dementia. One significant finding was that people who regularly listened to music enjoyed a 39 percent reduced risk of dementia! They also had a reduced risk of “more general cognitive decline.” Regularly playing music was associated with almost as significant a benefit.
Such an observational study does not prove that music caused the reduced risk of cognitive decline, but it certainly highlights a beneficial association, one that the Tacy Foundation student musicians are pleased to offer.
Source: “Listening to music most days could guard against dementia, study suggests,” by Maggie Penman. The Washington Post, November 18, 2025, p. A11.
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The Eden Homes have invited young musicians enthusiastically for years. The two homes, Liberty Lane and Gainsborough Road, have heard our volunteers since before COVID. On Dec. 12, the first live music program for the new Eden Home on Rouen Lane in Potomac will take place. A piano teacher nearby has asked to host these monthly events for her students and for anyone else who is interested. And so, the music-making grows!
Thank you, Mei-Fen Yen, for initializing this new opportunity! Thank you, Mr. Edenbaum, for your warm welcome to all Tacy volunteers each month.
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Composers Circle
Lumina Zhang, Melody Chen, and Roy Fischman
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Composers Circle is the Tacy Foundation’s program for students to learn to write, create, and understand music. Participants receive weekly or biweekly composition classes, and through creating music they not only learn new skills but also bring more joy into the world.
SSL credit per composition is granted when your Composers Circle project is shared with the community, such as uploading to the Tacy Foundation newsletter. Class space is limited. You can apply to the Composer’s Circle program here.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and your status will be emailed to you. You may also be placed on a waitlist if there is a current shortage of space in the program.
Feel free to reach out to tf.composers.circle@gmail.com with any questions. Learn more about our three Composers Circle teachers below!
Lumina Zhang is a freshman at Princeton University and is the Adult Supervisor for Composers Circle. She has been a longterm Tacy Foundation volunteer and served as the 2021-2025 Composers Circle Chief Intern in high school. Lumina plays piano, viola, and sings. She mainly focuses on composing classical music and writing songs.
Melody Chen is a senior at Poolesville High School and an instructor for Composers Circle. She has been with the program since 2022. As a Tacy Foundation volunteer, she also serves as the Chief Intern for student music performances at her local hospital. Melody plays piano, guzheng (a traditional Chinese instrument), sings, and enjoys composing classical music.
Roy Fischman is a senior at Richard Montgomery High School and an instructor for Composers Circle. He has been with the program since 2020. He has previously served as Chief Intern for student performances at Bedford Court Senior Living during summers and has volunteered with the Tacy Foundation since 2019. Roy plays piano and clarinet and enjoys composing electronic music.
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Educational mission: Foster youth development through music, story and mentoring
Philanthropic mission: Empower youth to discover and use their gifts in service to others
Social mission: Build community partnerships and create intergenerational connections
Whom We Serve
Seniors
Children
Teens
Service members
Veterans
Injured/sick
Economically disadvantaged
Individuals who want to serve
How We Serve (Programs)
Live music concerts
Reading Express®
Piano Pals®
Guitar Pals®
Composers’ Circle
Music USBs
Musical equipment
COVID projects through video, email, cards, puzzles for outreach to the community
Charlotte Holliday, Founder and Executive Director
Michael Tacy and Zoe Bell, Graphic Editors
Michael Favin, Chief Editor
Donations are appreciated. All adult and teen staff are volunteers. No salaries or benefits. Every dollar you donate goes to supplies for all projects offered to the community.
Thank you!
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