Two of my grandparents have battled Alzheimer’s disease for over a decade, making it a long and often heartbreaking journey. My connection to the power of music in memory care began in middle school, during visits to see my grandmother at the Alois Alzheimer’s Center in Ohio. I’ll never forget the reactions when we played songs like Take Me Out to the Ballgame—residents who had been silent and withdrawn would suddenly light up, humming and singing along, their eyes bright with recognition.

As I grew older, I wanted to bring that joy to others. I began performing regularly at memory care facilities near my home in New Hampshire and Vermont. What started as solo piano performances soon grew into something bigger: I invited friends and siblings with instruments to join me, and together we created the Joy of Music Recitals. These recitals blossomed into a true community effort, uniting musicians of all ages and abilities. Whether it’s a polished high school pianist or a five-year-old beginner violinist in a Halloween costume, the residents greet every performer with equal delight. Seeing music spark such happiness has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences of my life.