Words from Senior Homes
“Good morning. I am one of the senior citizens at Brookdale that had the privilege of hearing your group on Saturday. Everyone who played was brilliant and I was glad I had a mask on because I cried a lot. My eldest daughter studied piano for a career on the concert stage, until she fell in love, and my deceased son was a classical clarinetist. I managed to record the Ballade on my phone and played it for my daughter; she was astounded. Your website told me about you. You do much good and I just wanted to let you know that you are appreciated. ”
"From the first draw of the bow across the tiny violin to the last strong note on the piano, Music of Harmony students awed its small Atria audience. In one hour’s time, music flowed in our Sienna Theatre. Fifteen musicians performed on a variety of instruments, keeping the program exciting throughout the evening. Who are these students? Where are they from? How were we so fortunate to have them in our community? After hearing several of their concerts, I needed to discover a little about them. Jenny Guo who has two children in the program, graciously provided answers to some of my questions. Music of Harmony is a non profit organization whose purpose is two fold: one, to provide music to senior citizens who might otherwise not be able to access concerts, and two, to provide the young musicians an opportunity to practice performing with grace and confidence. It truly is a perfect combo—we listen as they play. On the second Saturday night of each month, Music of Harmony students come to Atria’s Sienna Theatre, tune up their instruments and one by one perform for whoever drops by to listen. The group was organized several years ago by a group of young musicians—not by their parents. Among the founders of the program were Nathaniel Zhang, Bryant Li, Grace Liu, Larry Xue, and Jimmy Liu. These students seem to be both musically and mathematically talented. Zhang is now at the University of Rochester working on duel majors in music and neuroscience; Grace Liu is a junior at University of North Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science; Larry Xue will be a freshman at University of Texas studying computer science; and Jimmy Liu will be a freshman at NYU studying Finance. From the original founders, only Seven Lakes High School student Bryant Li remains. He and other participating students plan programs, make the arrangements for the concerts, and introduce the performers. More than 650 students throughout the Katy, Sugarland and Houston area are involved in Music of Harmony. The group has a website which individual students can access and choose their performance locations and dates. Atria is blessed to be one of the recipients of their music.
On July 13, 2019 the Music of Harmony performance at Atria was truly outstanding. Leading off the program was first grader Wendy Zhou playing a Clementi Sonatina on her tiny violin. She then put down her violin, climbed up on the piano stool and performed Bach’s Minuet in G. I could not help but breathe Bravo!! Next we were treated to a folk song played by Audrey Li on a Guzheng, an ancient Chinese instrument whose history dates back 2500 years. Often called a Chinese Zither, the instrument is about six feet long with twenty-one strings. Using finger picks, Audrey strummed it like a zither as she entertained us with hauntingly beautiful music. The audience was already spell bound when third grader Xinlei Yu began to play another Chinese instrument called a Hulusi. Imagine a gourd with an oboe like reed at the top and three pipes extending from the bottom. The middle pipe has open holes that are fingered as on an oboe or clarinet to get different notes. A Hulusi is a very unusual instrument! The program continued with beautiful piano solos—and one excellent duet played by brothers, Frank and Derek Sun—a delightful saxophone Concertino Da Camara by Ibert, a dreamy clarinet solo of Bayly’s Long Long Ago, another Guzheng solo, and additional violin and piano selections, ending with ninth grader Bryant Li performing Liszt’s Transcendental Etude 10. Each of the fifteen students bowed before and after they played. They have been well groomed in the niceties of performing. The next time the students come, they may or may not be the same ones. I was told that they try to perform in their own general neighborhoods as their parents are the ones who do the transporting. The students play six or seven concerts each month in Katy, and four to six others in Sugarland and Houston. Generally speaking the students do not aspire to be professional musicians. They simply are very good students who want to learn to play an instrument well. They take private lessons and practice between thirty minutes to an hour every day. A few students, however, have their sights set on a larger stage and are studying more diligently. Current leader, Bryant Li plans duel degrees in music and science/mathematics in the future. Bryant began his studies under John Weems when he was six years old and has already competed successfully in various competitions. Bryant’s sister, Audrey Li takes guzheng lessons from
Changlu Wu, a talented Chinese musician who came to Houston from Shanghai to study at the University of Houston School of Music. Music of Harmony participants represent various countries—China, Korea, Thailand, Japan, France and America. Now they are talented young Katy residents. Music of Harmony and Atria residents are a perfect combo. If you have not heard the students, be sure and put them on your calendar for next month. They love an audience!"
—Mary Anne Pickens
“Good morning. I am one of the senior citizens at Brookdale that had the privilege of hearing your group on Saturday. Everyone who played was brilliant and I was glad I had a mask on because I cried a lot. My eldest daughter studied piano for a career on the concert stage, until she fell in love, and my deceased son was a classical clarinetist. I managed to record the Ballade on my phone and played it for my daughter; she was astounded. Your website told me about you. You do much good and I just wanted to let you know that you are appreciated. ”
"From the first draw of the bow across the tiny violin to the last strong note on the piano, Music of Harmony students awed its small Atria audience. In one hour’s time, music flowed in our Sienna Theatre. Fifteen musicians performed on a variety of instruments, keeping the program exciting throughout the evening. Who are these students? Where are they from? How were we so fortunate to have them in our community? After hearing several of their concerts, I needed to discover a little about them. Jenny Guo who has two children in the program, graciously provided answers to some of my questions. Music of Harmony is a non profit organization whose purpose is two fold: one, to provide music to senior citizens who might otherwise not be able to access concerts, and two, to provide the young musicians an opportunity to practice performing with grace and confidence. It truly is a perfect combo—we listen as they play. On the second Saturday night of each month, Music of Harmony students come to Atria’s Sienna Theatre, tune up their instruments and one by one perform for whoever drops by to listen. The group was organized several years ago by a group of young musicians—not by their parents. Among the founders of the program were Nathaniel Zhang, Bryant Li, Grace Liu, Larry Xue, and Jimmy Liu. These students seem to be both musically and mathematically talented. Zhang is now at the University of Rochester working on duel majors in music and neuroscience; Grace Liu is a junior at University of North Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science; Larry Xue will be a freshman at University of Texas studying computer science; and Jimmy Liu will be a freshman at NYU studying Finance. From the original founders, only Seven Lakes High School student Bryant Li remains. He and other participating students plan programs, make the arrangements for the concerts, and introduce the performers. More than 650 students throughout the Katy, Sugarland and Houston area are involved in Music of Harmony. The group has a website which individual students can access and choose their performance locations and dates. Atria is blessed to be one of the recipients of their music.
On July 13, 2019 the Music of Harmony performance at Atria was truly outstanding. Leading off the program was first grader Wendy Zhou playing a Clementi Sonatina on her tiny violin. She then put down her violin, climbed up on the piano stool and performed Bach’s Minuet in G. I could not help but breathe Bravo!! Next we were treated to a folk song played by Audrey Li on a Guzheng, an ancient Chinese instrument whose history dates back 2500 years. Often called a Chinese Zither, the instrument is about six feet long with twenty-one strings. Using finger picks, Audrey strummed it like a zither as she entertained us with hauntingly beautiful music. The audience was already spell bound when third grader Xinlei Yu began to play another Chinese instrument called a Hulusi. Imagine a gourd with an oboe like reed at the top and three pipes extending from the bottom. The middle pipe has open holes that are fingered as on an oboe or clarinet to get different notes. A Hulusi is a very unusual instrument! The program continued with beautiful piano solos—and one excellent duet played by brothers, Frank and Derek Sun—a delightful saxophone Concertino Da Camara by Ibert, a dreamy clarinet solo of Bayly’s Long Long Ago, another Guzheng solo, and additional violin and piano selections, ending with ninth grader Bryant Li performing Liszt’s Transcendental Etude 10. Each of the fifteen students bowed before and after they played. They have been well groomed in the niceties of performing. The next time the students come, they may or may not be the same ones. I was told that they try to perform in their own general neighborhoods as their parents are the ones who do the transporting. The students play six or seven concerts each month in Katy, and four to six others in Sugarland and Houston. Generally speaking the students do not aspire to be professional musicians. They simply are very good students who want to learn to play an instrument well. They take private lessons and practice between thirty minutes to an hour every day. A few students, however, have their sights set on a larger stage and are studying more diligently. Current leader, Bryant Li plans duel degrees in music and science/mathematics in the future. Bryant began his studies under John Weems when he was six years old and has already competed successfully in various competitions. Bryant’s sister, Audrey Li takes guzheng lessons from
Changlu Wu, a talented Chinese musician who came to Houston from Shanghai to study at the University of Houston School of Music. Music of Harmony participants represent various countries—China, Korea, Thailand, Japan, France and America. Now they are talented young Katy residents. Music of Harmony and Atria residents are a perfect combo. If you have not heard the students, be sure and put them on your calendar for next month. They love an audience!"
—Mary Anne Pickens
