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May 2024
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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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Director’s Corner
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1) This year's Tacy Foundation Benefit Concert at the BlackRock Center for the Arts (12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, MD) will mark the 10th Holliday Studio Benefit Concert. It is scheduled for June 1, and all proceeds will be donated to The Tacy Foundation. High school piano students will speak about their experiences with the Foundation's community service programs, and then they will play their favorite solo (or duet). A reception in the foyer will follow. Younger ones receive awards, learn about serving the community, and look forward to many leadership opportunities as they enter middle and high school.
I am attaching a program from a fundraiser from last year (the current one for June 1 at 6:30 is not yet ready).
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Photos of last year's BlackRock Center Concert for raising funds for The Tacy Foundation:
A Holliday Piano Studio fundraiser
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2) After attending part of the Music and Mind Sessions from NIH last December, I recently discovered an opportunity to read and listen to these fascinating sessions in a book available in print and audio versions: Music and Mind, Harnessing the Arts for Health and Well Being, Renee Fleming, Editor and Francis Collins, MD PHD, Foreword. For your enjoyment and enlightenment,
Here is the link to purchase the book and to an audio sample:
3) We sent more “Thinking of You” cards from our volunteers to Uvalde, Texas after a year had passed since the tragedy there. We know that when there is such a traumatic event, the months and years afterwards become very difficult. Read the beautiful message below from the Director of Development at the library in Uvalde. This library distributed the cards we sent shortly after the tragedy. The librarian gratefully accepted the USBs and the QR Code cards with Reading Express stories.
We are so grateful to hear that the Uvalde community is being served by the library and other agencies as they continue healing. Thank you to those who shared their support when we invited them to make cards and to record stories on video.
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Sibley Hospital Newsletter Article on the Tacy Foundation
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Charlotte Holiday
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Alivia Peay, the Volunteer Director of Sibley Memorial and of Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, has sent us an article from their newsletter about The Tacy Foundation's Live Music. The photo in the newsletter shows the place where Angela Shen and Joanne Fan played beautiful clarinet and flute music, solo and duet, for an annual memorial last December for the families who had lost infants at Sibley Memorial over the past year… a soulful honor for these graduating seniors who have played everywhere they could to bring the message of hope and healing. View the newsletter below:
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Every Saturday young volunteers play at Sibley at 6:30 p.m., and every other week they play at Suburban Hospital. The Steinway at Sibley never sounded better. And instrumentalists love the vibrant acoustics throughout the first floor. They all are greeted by a very supportive Hopkins staff. Already, we have been asked to search out teens in Baltimore for the Hopkins Bayview Hospital. We are also exploring possibilities at Howard General Hospital (another Hopkins affiliate) for musicians living in Elkridge.
Alivia links the short information piece to our website. When you click the link you will see that The Foundation's website is so colorful and full of life, thanks to Michael Tacy, web manager. Our volunteers' musical messages of hope for healing are contagious.
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Murphy’s Law Strikes Again
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Shaun Wang
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We were scheduled to have a live performance at Brookdale in Olney on March 17. As usual, all the performers arrived ahead of the scheduled concert time. However, to our surprise, Mr. Coates, who has always been there to welcome us, was nowhere to be seen. The staff there were not expecting us to come -- our performance was not on their calendar. Luckily, the lady at the front desk knew we were from the Tacy Foundation and kindly explained the situation to us.
While we waited in the lobby, hoping our performance wouldn’t be canceled, my mom (the site supervisor) asked about our options. The receptionist agreed that we could perform in the room where we used to perform and told us that she would check if there were residents who could come downstairs and listen to us. With her permission, we set up the room with the help of our parents.
The first note of music was played in front of a row of empty chairs. But after the sound of music lingered in the air for a while, the residents trickled in. All the chairs were full by the end of the concert. We heard the residents marveling, "Where did they find these amazing kids?", and pondering, "Are they the children or grandchildren of the residents here?". They also showered our performers with compliments, exclaiming, "They are so talented," and praised their “beautiful” performance. Despite a few hiccups in the beginning, it was a very rewarding experience.
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From left to right: Ani, Shaun, Samuel, Chris, McKenna, Latham, Olivia, and Seeyen
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Pythagoras’ Music Appreciation
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Known to history as a mathematician, Pythagoras also appreciated the power of music, as described in an article in Smithsonian magazine.
“[H]e believed that mathematics could explain musical tones and harmony, and that music had medicinal qualities for its calming and healing effects…. ‘Pythagoras said that the highest aim of music is not to entertain but to connect one’s soul to its divine nature,’ Unalome told me…. I was still dubious. But as he played the instruments, I could indeed feel the vibrations rippling through my body like a subtle massage.”
Tony Perrottet. “Greek Revival.” Smithsonian Magazine, April-May 2024, p. 74.
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Recognition and Thanks
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Gloria Bao
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On March 29 I was so delighted and grateful to receive two medals from the Tacy Foundation for my mother and me. I wrote the following message to Mrs. Holliday:
"Good afternoon, Ms. Holliday! I just received your wonderful gifts in the mail! Thank you so much! It has been my pleasure to be part of the Tacy Foundation for the past two years, and your leadership and commitment to our community is such an inspiration to me. The abundance of joy and appreciation I received from the seniors really motivates me, and I am amazed by how music can really bring people together. In college this fall, I will continue pursuing music and play for my community! I have actually just received my acceptance to Princeton University yesterday, and one of my essays for my application is about my experience at the Tacy Foundation!! I really cannot thank you enough for all that you do for us!"
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A Senior Reflects
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Alice Yacubovich
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Music has always held a special place in my heart, but my involvement in the Tacy Foundation has deepened my appreciation and understanding of music in ways I never imagined. The words of a senior resident, “Music touches my soul. Thank you for bringing music to us today,” resonate with me deeply, highlighting the purpose of our work.
Becoming part of the Tacy Foundation in the eighth grade was truly one of the best decisions I ever made. As a professional pianist, I had always performed in a concert or competition setting. However, through the Tacy Foundation, I discovered a new type of performance, one that holds profound significance. After hosting concerts and entertaining residents in senior homes across Maryland, I have begun to realize the transformative power of music: the power of healing, love, and uniting a group of people.
At each performance, I not only share my music, but I also form unique, intergenerational relationships, sparking positivity in senior residents who need it most. Firsthand, I have seen patients with dementia begin to glow upon hearing a familiar melody, unlocking hidden memories, and igniting some joy of life. I have truly found a purpose for my weekends with the Tacy Foundation: we have opened doors into the memories of residents with dementia, given them an event to look forward to, and offered them a group of young musicians that they could depend on to bring them live, meaningful music.
Beyond my work in senior homes, I have been presented with numerous opportunities. Performing at hospitals, hosting benefit concerts, opening new locations, and inspiring new chief interns have all been experiences in high school that I will treasure and share with the rest of the world. The influence of the Tacy Foundation certainly will not stop with the end of high school. My work with senior residents led me to pursue two internships in senior homes for my last year of high school, and also has inspired me to pursue geriatric research in the future. The impact of all the wonderful people I have met, the young musicians I have performed with, and the friends I have made along the way has touched my heart in more ways than one.
As I reflect on these past years, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences that the Tacy Foundation has provided me. To the Tacy Foundation, I extend my deepest thanks for the profound impact it has had on my life. I am eternally grateful.
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The Tacy Foundation
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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
Matthew D. Scott and Michael Tacy, Graphic Editors
Michael Favin, Chief Editor
Zoe Bell, Teen Editor
Max Belyanstev, Teen 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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