Outreach by an organization may be more appreciated in a population most often forgotten — senior citizens.
As part of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, the Remington Concert Series performs June 1 and June 8 at its Mount Pleasant home, the Franke at Seaside retirement community. But this year, there’s something new: The series is including additional outreach concerts at venues across the Charleston area.
The Remington Concert Series is named after the late Emily Remington, a patron of Charleston arts who died in 2020. When Remington moved into Franke at Seaside, she told members of the staff and residents that she felt it was her mission to share her love of music with neighbors. Thus, the series was born.
“While many of the residents will go out and watch concerts, there are those who do not leave the facility because they cannot,” said Chee-Hang See, director of the Remington Concert Series. “That’s why we have these monthly concerts there, and I would love to bring some more events during Piccolo Spoleto so people don’t miss out on any of this.”
See said he played at Remington’s 100th birthday concert in 2016.
“When she was 101 and 102, she invited me to go back and do solo recitals,” See said. “At every single concert, she would be right there introducing the concert. She would be telling the audience what she remembered from her experiences as a musician playing those pieces.” See has continued Remington’s mission of bringing music to people across the city of Charleston.
Sometimes there are fun challenges
Performing in places other than large concert halls and venues can sometimes be a challenge for musicians and hosts, but See said he often finds it just as, if not more, enjoyable. The energy in these relatively intimate spaces can even be greater than in more traditional venues.
“At these retirement facilities, you’re not on a big stage,” he said. “They’re right up there with you. As you’re playing and you’re talking about the pieces, sometimes they just ask a question immediately, and you can reply right away. That immediate feedback is very rewarding for me as a performer.”
While none made themselves available for in-depth discussion, staff members from several assisted living facilities across Charleston agreed that outreach programs and performances like the Remington Concert Series are a fantastic way for their residents to stay active and engaged.
The staff at the facilities enjoy it as well, according to See. While facilities may often have active living and event coordinators, they often don’t have the time to scout out and approach musicians to schedule performances. At Franke, for instance, See knows the musicians who want and are able to come and play and is able to cover much of the planning for the staff.
As a local musician, See has been able to maintain an ongoing discussion with not only the staff members, but with the residents as well through repeat performances. Thanks to both working as a musician locally and maintaining the Remington Concert Series, See will often receive feedback from and have a discussion with plenty of audience members who have seen him in multiple performances over the years.
“It’s very fulfilling as an artist to know that there are people who support us and who actually still want us to play,” See said.
IF YOU WANT TO GO: Free. The In-Between will perform 4 p.m., June 1; Nina Sandberg, David Mumm and Chee-Hang see will perform 4 p.m., June 8. Rodenberg Chapel at Franke at Seaside, 1885 Rifle Range Road, Mount Pleasant.
C.M. McCambridge is an arts journalism master’s degree student at Syracuse University.
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