Heart
Strings
Heart Strings
A Lifetime of Music
Our Heart Strings program presents free musical performances throughout the region to a wide variety of older adult groups, including individuals residing in local assisted living facilities, memory care units, VA hospitals, and cancer centers. We engage accomplished local classical guitarists – professional and amateur to perform for Heart Strings audiences.
Click here to learn more about becoming a Heart Strings program sponsor.
Heart Strings Testimonials
We are grateful for the support of a generous community that allows us to present Heart Strings to our neighbors.
Springs at Lake Point Woods Long Term Care and Rehab
Dear Karen,
Thank you so much for connecting us with Daniel. All our residents truly enjoyed his music. One resident said” my eyes were closed because it took them back to their younger years when I traveled with my wife in the prime of their life” He told me this with tears in his eye. Another resident who is not verbal was taping her foot and smiling at him. We had about 26 people in the room and not one person left without something out saying something sweet. Some others were moved to tears.
It was our pleasure to meet you all,
Kind regards,
Marissa Kelly
Activity Director
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Hi Karen,
It was such a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for bringing your talented musician, Nick Haas, to play guitar for our patients and staff yesterday.
As you may know, our 2 inpatient floors constitute a specific Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit within our SMH Health Care System. Our program is dedicated to patients in need of medical and rehabilitative physical restoration to achieve their prior level of function before an adverse major medical event. We have had community musicians volunteer to play for our patients and staff in the past but of course Covid changed our access to music therapy. How wonderful to hear such excellent live guitar as I was walking out of a patient’s room yesterday! I slipped in and took a seat in the dining room to see who was playing so surprisingly well.
The musician Nick Haas selected excellent songs for our population and played them seamlessly and compassionately… without any music in front of him. Nick clearly has a natural gift as he played each piece richly and intuitively. Every selection was beautiful. Our patients and staff I observed were as enthusiastically grateful as I was to be able to receive such an essential therapeutic dose of excellent live guitar yesterday.
Thank you for your important work in delivering top quality live music to our community.
Sincerely,
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Althaia A. Vitikos
Post-Acute Care Coordinator
Inpatient Rehabilitation Admissions
Rehabilitation Services Department
The Fountains of Hope Assisted Living & Memory Care Community
“We would like to thank Guitar Sarasota for providing the professional guitar performances for our assisted living and memory care community. Our residents loved hearing the classical music during their lunch hour and are still talking about the wonderful experience! It was such a blessing, especially for those who are unable to go out and attend a concert, to have a concert…right here, where they live. It seemed as though their spirits were lifted with the music as it filled the air. A lot of folks tapped their feet to the beat and smiled as they reminisced. We are all looking forward to more concerts with Guitar Sarasota in the near future!
Thank you, again!”
Susan B., Life Enrichment Director
“I was pleasantly surprised and excited when Karen de Borja called from Guitar Sarasota offering free entertainment for our Assisted Living and Memory Care Residents at Fountains of Hope. We were honored to have the GS duo, Angela and
Jonathan, perform for us in December. My first reaction was WOW!!! This duo was a professional, award-winning, top-notch performance group! All of us, staff and residents alike, were mesmerized by their songs and it was such a lovely way to start our holiday season. Afterwards, Jonathan and Angela were so kind to answer MANY questions we had for them which only added to their visit, making it such a personal one. If Karen calls you, don’t hesitate one second to say YES! This is such a wonderful opportunity that Guitar Sarasota is offering and you won’t want to miss the chance to hear such professional music.
Good luck Karen! You are doing something so wonderful! Thank you again! “
Marcia Cruce, Director of Activities
“The Fountains of Hope would like to thank Karen de Borja with providing us with a guitarist through Guitar Sarasota. Nicks performance was amazing and our residents thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful performance. Since it is hard for some of our residents to venture out, it is such a great service that Guitar Sarasota provides through their Heart Strings Program.”
Feeby Tate, Life Enrichment Director
Alderman Oaks
“Alderman Oaks Retirement Center would like to thank Guitar Sarasota and Erol Ozsever for the professional classical guitar performance at our community. Our residents and staff loved hearing the classical music during their afternoon meal. The comments the residents made were how enjoyable the program was and what a special touch it brought to their dining experience. We look forward to future concerts provided by “Heart Strings” as they were very appreciated and well received. There is something about music that soothes the mind, heart and soul. For that reason, we look forward to many more concerts to come.
Thank You again for sharing such God given talent with our family!”
Denise Leonhard, Director of Resident Services and Activities
Family Extended Care of Sarasota
“Miss Karen, thanks for having your musician come and play for us at Family Extended Care of Sarasota. Our residents really enjoyed the music. We hope to have you play again for us.”
Sincerly yours,
Sarah Molina, Activities Director
Pines of Sarasota
“We are on the receiving end of some outstanding talent at Pines of Sarasota courtesy of GuitarSarasota’s Heart Strings program. Recently, the Heart Strings program arranged for 4 classical guitarists to come to the Pines to play memorable and beautiful music and interact with our fascinated residents. Many members of our population suffer from various forms of dementia, or are simply vulnerable and unable to take care of themselves independently. They have come to Pines of Sarasota to be nurtured and hopefully to be part of a community that is more like a family home than an institution. Gifts of time and talent help to make that hope a reality.
Music by its nature is not only a therapy, but a way of healing and creating an avenue for the listener to forget their troubles while they are immersed in memories and a
sense of peace and enjoyment that the music elicits. Guitar Sarasota’s Heart Strings performers provided that priceless gift.
Due to our non-profit status we are very dependent on the generosity, consideration and thoughtfulness of any talent out in the community who offer their services at no charge. We eagerly look forward to the next visit from the Heart Strings program and wish that they receive the support and backing that they deserve from the local community. They certainly deserve it!”
Sandy de Lenferna, Director of Activities
“We are on the receiving end of some outstanding talent at Pines of Sarasota courtesy of GuitarSarasota’s Heart Strings program. Recently, the Heart Strings program arranged for 4 classical guitarists to come to the Pines to play memorable and beautiful music and interact with our fascinated residents. Many members of our population suffer from various forms of dementia, or are simply vulnerable and unable to take care of themselves independently. They have come to Pines of Sarasota to be nurtured and hopefully to be part of a community that is more like a family home than an institution. Gifts of time and talent help to make that hope a reality.
Music by its nature is not only a therapy, but a way of healing and creating an avenue for the listener to forget their troubles while they are immersed in memories and a sense of peace and enjoyment that the music elicits. Guitar Sarasota’s Heart Strings performers provided that priceless gift.
Due to our non-profit status we are very dependent on the generosity, consideration and thoughtfulness of any talent out in the community who offer their services at no charge. We eagerly look forward to the next visit from the Heart Strings program and wish that they receive the support and backing that they deserve from the local community. They certainly deserve it!”
Sandy de Lenferna, Director of Activities
Notes of Gratitude
To learn more or host a Heart Strings performance, contact us at 941-260-3306 or info@guitarsarasota.org
To make a tax-deductible contribution helps us bring the beauty and repertoire of classical guitar to our community, please contact rudy.lucek@guitarsarasota.org
We appreciate your support!