Alyssa Alvin Foundation for Hope Volunteers perform during lunchtime at Lurie Children’s hospital. The music performance started at noon and ended at 1:00pm. There were about 75-100 people in the audience.
Josh Austin, Stuart Miller and Toni Potenza AIM Associates and co-workers of Yoli joined her at Lurie Children’s by volunteering to play their musical instruments and represent Alyssa Alvin Foundation for Hope (AAFH). AAFH Executive Secretary, Denise Perez-Cabrera, also participated in this event.
The musicians played a variety of songs and began with Josh playing acoustic guitar for the audience. Then Toni played Sing You Praise to the Lord and Jim Brickman’s The Gift, Winter Peace, Fireside and Starlight on the piano. We concluded the performance with Stuart playing his ukulele which included a few simple songs for the children to sing along like Somewhere over the rainbow (Israel Kamakawiwo’ole), I’m Yours (Jason Mraz), The Way I Am (Ingrid Michaelson), Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison) and Feelin’ Groovy (Simon and Garfunkel).
We gave away brand new Kazoo’s in a variety of colors to the children and even some of the adults asked for them too!
After the Circles of Music performance, the volunteers enjoyed a lunch in the open style lunch area of the hospital and talked about doing another music performance. It was a relaxed atmosphere for the families and hospital staff to enjoy this talented group of musicians. The Music Therapy staff-Laura Pawuk, Elizabeth Klinger, Justyna Griffin, and Art Therapist-Willow Messier and Snow City Arts in-resident Artist-Jonathan Stein participated in this event.
It was a fun and enjoyable experience for the volunteers. The hospital’s Music Staff want us to consider performing for the Lurie Children’s Circles of Music program again soon!
Before departing, Yoli took the volunteers to the 12th floor to show them Alyssa's Geisha Collage she created while at the hospital. Alyssa's masterpiece resides in the hallway of Lurie Children's Hospital.
