Students perform popular, classical music for seniors at outreach concert

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Central Michigan University’s School of Music held the seventh annual Morey Senior Outreach Concert on Sunday at the Music Building’s Staples Family Concert Hall.

School of Music Director of Music Events John Jacobson said he has seen the event continue to grow.

Jacobson said he has received postcards, phone calls and emails praising previous years’ events.

“(It has had) great word of mouth,” he said. “It’s gone a little viral.”

Jacobson said attendees come from assisted living centers from around the county.

The concert featured a mix of instrumental music, solo renditions of popular music and classical music performed by the CMU Chamber Singers and solo performances by students on many different instruments.

Mount Pleasant resident Pat String said she enjoyed the musical variety.

“Events like these are nice for the community,” she said.

Midland junior Kevin Keith played the marimba on Bob Becker’s “Girlfriends,” a medley composed of three different 1920s songs.

“Everybody can relate to something that we played,” Keith said. “There’s fun music and there’s serious music, but it’s all great music. It’s really good for people to see us doing what we do.”

Harrison resident Bob Van Oosterhout, whose daughter, CMU senior Maika Van Oosterhout, performed as part of the Chamber Singers, said he enjoyed the saxophone and piano duet “Oodles of Noodles.”

“I got the impression she could have been born with a saxophone in her hands,” Van Oosterhout said. “It’s more fun for the audience when the performers are having fun.”

Mount Pleasant resident Corliss Mueller said the students acted and performed very professionally.

Chamber Singers Public Relations and Advertising Officer Charles Shaw, a Shelby Township senior, said these events are very rewarding for students like him.

“(The event allows students) not only (to) participate in events that are for the community members, but to allow opportunities for the community members to join in with us,” he said.

Florida senior Adam Ignacio said the event was a rare chance to perform for the local community.

“(The events) are a chance to sing for people who don’t always get the opportunity,” he said.