The Young@Heart chorus for formed in 1982 at an elderly housing project in Western Massachusetts and the singers range in ages from their 70s to their 90s! The project was designed to be a way to help residents “joyfully pass the time instead of passing before your time,” according to their website.
Now, they’re busting stereotypes, influencing younger generations, and drawing more than a few tears in the process.
And they’re well known throughout the world after being the subjects of a touching documentary, Young@Heart, originally broadcast on Channel 4 television in the UK. It won two Rose d’Or awards, the LA Film Festival Audience Award, and was screened at Sundance and SXSW Festival before it was released in the U.S. and Canada by Fox Searchlight.
An unlikely venue
In 2013, the Young@Heart Chorus headed to an unlikely performance venue – the Hampshire County Jail. And their performance made it into the documentary, making for an emotional scene.
Performing for the inmates much younger than them, you might think it wouldn’t be the ideal combination. But their talents were much appreciated – so much so that more than a few tears were shed.
The song they chose? “Forever Young,” by Bob Dylan (not to be confused with other versions).
It’s an emotional tune to begin with, and we’re not sure which of the lyrics touched the audience the most, but it must have felt particularly poignant from their perspective.
An emotional performance
We have to admit that there’s something about the “Forever Young” solos that really hit home for us as well.
The song was written for Dylan’s son and it certainly is capable of evoking memories (and perhaps regrets) about parents or children for those who hear it. Being behind bars and away from the people who love you adds a whole new layer of meaning that we won’t pretend we can understand.
But we understand why the audience was so reflective and emotional.
The bare voices of the elderly singers along make the lyrics ring all the more true.
Bringing people together
The arts are so important because they have such a magical way of bringing people together.
According to their website, “Young@Heart works to show that age, race, ethnicity, and class need not be a barrier to making great music, and that no life circumstance should act as a hindrance to participating in or enjoying it.” And that’s certainly an important lesson to illustrate.
Sadly, some of the soloists have now passed away, but once included Elaine Fligman (passed), Jack Schnepp, Lenny Fontaine (passed), and Eileen Hall (passed). And that day they made a huge impact on their audience, earning a standing ovation.
Prisonvision
We don’t know to what extent it has been affected by the pandemic, but the chorus had (and hopefully still has) a program called PrisonVision, making their first visit to the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction in 2008.
“There was apprehension on both sides as the inmates and chorus waited, wary and separate, in the hot prison yard for the show to start,” the website explains.
In the end, “the two groups crossed the yard with arms outstretched.” After that, they decided to collaborate further, putting on more performances as well as “making music with, instead of for, the incarcerated at the Hampshire County Jail & House of Corrections in Northampton and the Western Massachusetts Regional Women’s Correctional Center in Chicopee.”
Since the songs are chosen by inmates, the seniors get to learn some pop and R&B. And the inmates get the experience of music, which is so much more important than people realize.
“Then it hits the next level: the singers are encouraged to memorize the lyrics, to own the song. As they realize they’ll be standing before their peers, in public, alone at a microphone, many for the first time in their lives, they take ownership and rise to the occasion. They show tremendous courage, determination and commitment,” says the Young@Heart website.”
What a project!
Be sure to scroll down below to see one of their early performances – and grab a box of tissues!
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