Torch - Spring 2015

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| SPRING 2015 • TORCH 17
Music to our Ears
This year at Havergal, four students responded to the question What kind of world
do you want? with harmony. Each in their own way, these students brought music
to different corners of the city.
Anna Hardie & Sophia Matthews
Anna and Sophia wanted the opportunity to perform for patients who are suffering
from Alzheimer’s. They wanted to bring their love of music to those who could
greatly benefit from it. Their passion and drive has led them to team up with Vanessa
Koo, and the students will be performing together at 147 Elder in the spring.
Orli Silverberg
Orli had an idea—what if she could combine
her love of classical music with her passion for
volunteering at the Holland Bloorview Kids
Rehabilitation Hospital? On January 27, in
the middle of a snowstorm, Orli and six of
her peers did just that. Once the group began
to play for their audience of children, parents
and caretakers, Orli could feel the impact their
music was making. There was a positive reaction
and joyful applause from the kids and parents.
Orli will once again be performing at Holland
Bloorview in the spring.
Upper School
Vanessa Koo
Vanessa wanted to bring music to individuals
with Alzheimer’s and dementia. She reached out
to a few local care homes to see who would be
interested in having Havergal students play for their
patients. From that, project 147 Elder came to life.
On February 4, Vanessa and nine other students
travelled to 147 Elder to play for the patients there.
Once the group began to perform their pieces,
Vanessa noticed the impact they were having
almost immediately. Patients started to conduct
the musicians and were moving and responding to
the music they were hearing. The experience that
Vanessa and the group had was so powerful that
they’ll be going back to perform in the spring.