Musical Memories Project
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Musical Memories Project brings live music into senior communities, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care.
We connect youth and professional musicians with seniors through meaningful performances.
🌐www.musicalmemoriesproject.org
08/09/2026
Musical Memories Project: Memphis Jazz Legend Tony Thomas Performs a Special Mini Concert for The Gardens of Germantown Residents
We were deeply honored to welcome national treasure and Memphis jazz legend Tony Thomas. A five-time Premier Player Award winner and Premier Player Hall of Fame inductee, Mr. Thomas earned his degree in Organ Performance from the University of Iowa before embarking on an extraordinary career in jazz. From playing a 4/34 Wurlitzer at Detroit’s Senate Theatre as a teenager to recording thousands of tracks with artists like U2 and Al Jarreau, he is renowned for his brilliant swing style and masterclass improvisation.
His performance delighted our residents with timeless classics like "St. Louis Blues" and "Stardust," a crowd-favorite request for "The Pink Panther," and a moving patriotic medley. A huge thank you to Mr. Thomas for sharing his extraordinary gift with us today! You can learn more about his work at:
www.tonythomasthree.com.
The recital also featured lovely classical performances by Tara Lim, Noah Lim on cello, and music director Maria DeBacco, who shared solos, duets, and accompaniments from Mozart, Debussy, Boccherini, and more.
Thank you to all our performers, families, and residents for making today’s recital so special!
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TOP NEIL DIAMOND HITS LIVE!Bringing Iconic Songs to Memory Care Residents
Experience timeless music come to life! Watch youth volunteer and cellist Noah Lim perform live arrangements of top Neil Diamond hit compositions, including "I’m a Believer," "Song Sung Blue," and "Sweet Caroline" for the residents at memory care.
A huge thank you to Noah for spending his summer break preparing this fantastic set, and to our Music Director, Ms. Maria DeBacco, for making our memory care recitals such a resounding success.
07/19/2026
We were thrilled to be back at Apple Grove Alzheimer’s and Dementia Residence for our second visit!
There is nothing quite like the power of music to bring people together. Today, our incredibly talented youth volunteers—Atlas Yuksek, Kerem Yuksek, and Noah Lim—shared a morning of classics that had everyone singing or moving along.
Our program featured a heartfelt tribute of patriotic songs like "This Land Is Your Land" and "My Country, ’Tis of Thee," followed by some of the residents' all-time favorites:
The Temptations’ "My Girl" (which was such a hit we played it twice!)
Neil Diamond’s classics: "Song Sung Blue," "Sweet Caroline," and "I’m a Believer"
...and many more!
A huge thank you to the wonderful team at Apple Grove for welcoming us back so warmly. We are so honored to share these moments of joy with your residents.
THE TEMPTATIONS MAGIC at a memory care. They asked us to play it twice!
At our latest visit to memory care, we experienced some true 'Temptations Magic.' This was the one song that resonated so deeply with our residents that they asked us to play it twice—and seeing them light up was the highlight of our day.
A massive thank you to Ms. Maria DeBacco (our Music Director) and Noah Lim (our youth volunteer) for performing this song and making this magic happen for our residents.
For our latest Musical Memories Project visit, we performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the wonderful residents at Apple Grove Alzheimer's Residence. As the music played, the audience began singing along, beautifully awakening a deeply rooted patriotic spirit and bringing a powerful sense of joy and connection to the room. Wishing everyone a meaningful and Happy 4th of July!
One unforgettable voice, 5 timeless classics! Watch full performances on our Youtube Channel. Link in profile.
Enjoy this highlight compilation of bass-baritone Chip Houston’s incredible afternoon performance at The Heritage at Irene Woods.
Accompanied beautifully by Ms. Maria DeBacco on the piano, Chip brings the magic of the silver screen straight to our senior residents with these movie favorites. It is a voice that truly captures the hearts of seniors—and it's easy to see why our audience keeps asking for more!
Meet the Musicians:
Chip Houston (Voice): A Memphis-based conductor and bass-baritone with deep roots in church and community music. Trained as a singer with a background in elementary education, he directs a community teaching orchestra with a ministry focus, working with musicians of all levels. He is also the director of the Mullins Community Orchestra, based in Memphis, TN.
🌐 Learn more: mullinsorchestra.org
Ms. Maria DeBacco (Piano): A distinguished pianist and educator who serves as the Music Director for the Musical Memories Project. She holds both a Bachelor and Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Memphis and has maintained an extensive career in academia and community instruction, including past faculty roles at Georgia College & State University, Wesleyan College, and the UofM Community Music School.
🌐 Learn more about Maria: mariamemphispianostudio.com
A special thank you to The Heritage at Irene Woods for hosting us and being such an wonderful, welcoming audience, and to Chip and Maria for sharing such incredible talent and heart with our senior community!
06/21/2026
Day 1 of our Memory Care Tour is in the books!
Today, we kicked off our summer tour with a beautiful visit to Apple Grove Alzheimer’s and Dementia Residence.
Our Music Director, Ms. Maria DeBacco, started the afternoon by warming up everyone's hearts with comforting solo hymns. Next, we were thrilled to welcome two wonderful young guest pianists from the Lisa Ramirez Piano Studio—Atlas and Kerem Yuksek—who brought so much bright energy to the room!
To top off a spectacular day, Noah took to the keys and had everyone smiling and singing along to movie classics (Over the Rainbow, Pink Panther, Singing in the Rain, Raiders March) and spirited, early 4th of July favorites (God Bless America, Yankee Doodle, You're a Grand Old Flag, Star Spangled Banner).
Thank you to Apple Grove for having us, and to our amazing performers for bringing so much joy to the residents! Swipe through to see today's special moments!
Bass-Baritone Magic: Chip Houston Captures Senior Hearts with "Moon River"
A performance that truly captured the hearts of everyone in the room! Watch this deeply moving, soulful rendition of "Moon River" from the classic film Breakfast at Tiffany's, performed live for our senior residents at The Heritage at Irene Woods.
The warmth and depth of Chip Houston’s beautiful bass-baritone voice, paired perfectly with Ms. Maria DeBacco’s masterful piano accompaniment, brought a wonderful sense of nostalgia, comfort, and pure joy to our audience.
Chip Houston (Voice): A Memphis-based conductor and bass-baritone with deep roots in church and community music. He directs the Mullins Community Orchestra and loves sharing timeless songs that have shaped generations.
Ms. Maria DeBacco (Piano): A distinguished pianist, veteran educator with a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Memphis, and the dedicated Music Director for the Musical Memories Project.
We are so grateful to these two incredible artists for bringing back beautiful memories and filling the afternoon with such unforgettable music.
Award-Winning 6-Year-Old on the Autism Spectrum Inspires Seniors with Her Music!
We are so deeply honored to have young pianist Rebecca Ramirez—daughter of the renowned Memphis-based piano teacher Lisa Ramirez—volunteer her extraordinary talents to play music for the senior residents at The Heritage at Irene Woods.
Rebecca Ramirez is a homeschooled first-grade student and autistic self-advocate with a passion for music, learning, and discovery. An acclaimed young classical pianist, she has received recognition for her musical achievements and enjoys sharing her love of music through performances and community events. Beyond music, Rebecca enjoys horseback riding, swimming, and exploring her strong interest in automobiles. She lives with her mommy, daddy, and two cats.
Her immense dedication to practicing several hours a day has earned her incredible recognition on the competitive stage:
🏆 Awards and Honors:
Winner (Grade K/1 Solo & Ensemble): Tennessee Music Teachers Association Competition (May 2026)
Superior Rating (Elementary Concerto): Tennessee Music Teachers Association Competition (May 2026)
Superior Rating (Grade K/1 Solo & Ensemble): Delta Music Teachers Association Audition (April 2026)
Winner: J.D. Kelly Piano Competition, Elementary Category (Oct 2024)
1st Place: Lane Piano Competition, Pre-K division (2023 & 2024)
Thank you, Rebecca, for volunteering for our recital, inspiring our seniors, and showing the world what is possible when you follow your passion! 💖
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