Leader Arts Council brings music to long-term care residents
By Joan Janzen
The Leader and District Arts Council brought live music to long-term care residents in Leader on the afternoon of Feb. 27, ahead of a community concert later that evening at the Leader Community Hall.
The musical duo Jâca, featuring clarinetist Wesley Ferreira and guitarist Jaxon Williams, delivered a lively performance that combined humour, storytelling and high-level musicianship. Ferreira performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, while Williams is known for his mastery of the Spanish guitar.
The musical duo Jâca performed for long-term care residents in Leader on the afternoon of Feb. 27, ahead of a community concert later that evening. The performance was presented by the Leader and District Arts Council and sponsored by the Leader Lions Club. Photo by Treena Redman
The afternoon concert was made possible through sponsorship from the Leader Lions Club, allowing residents at the long-term care facility to enjoy a performance by the touring artists.
Treena Redman of the Leader Arts Council said the performance was part of the Prairie Debut program, which connects Canadian classical and global music artists with communities across Western Canada. More than 80 communities participate in the program, many of them rural.
Redman said bringing performances to the care home is an important part of the council’s mission.
“Watching our long-term care residents smile, sing along and tap their toes was truly heart-warming,” she said. “The afternoon was one of those moments that reminds us why the arts matter so much. Music has a beautiful way of bringing back memories and creating joy in the present all at the same time.”
During the performance, the duo presented a mix of folk-inspired pieces, lively rhythms and light-hearted banter that had many residents tapping their feet along with the music.
Jâca also performed a public concert later that evening at the community hall as part of the Leader and District Arts Council’s regular concert season.