By Marissa GOULD, Intern

There are many groups and clubs throughout the Crescenta-Cañada area that help the immediate community. These groups help clean up the town, plant local gardens, and support local businesses. But there is one group of Crescenta Valley and La Cañada high school students who offer their services to the greater Los Angeles area. The Mission Music Club is a group of 15 students who play music for the elderly in nursing homes throughout L.A.

The club is composed of Kaitline Cho, Brian Kim, David Oh, Katie Park, Robert Lee, Henry Yun, Harry Pak, Lisa Oh, Stephanie Ha, Alex Jang, Deborah Oh, Christine Kim, Julie Ha, Daniel Oh, and William Choi. Their instruments of choice are violins, violas, cellos, clarinets, flutes and their voices.     The club plays old hymns and folk songs that their audience can recognize and enjoy. The seniors will often sway and clap along to the songs from their youth. Every show is ended with the Korean song, “You Were Born to be Loved.”

The shows are performed during summer and winter break from school so the club members won’t be burdened by schoolwork in addition to practice. Members practice during the breaks, then for a week travel from nursing home to nursing home to perform. The Mission Music Club performed the last week of July for five different homes.

Many of the members are also in their school orchestra where the audience is at least 10 feet away from them. When the club is playing at the nursing homes, however, the audience is right up close to the musicians.

“[We] can see how much [our] music touches the audience,” said Cho. After every show, club members take the time to meet the audience, shake hands and laugh with the senior citizens.

The Mission Music Club has been around since 2004 and is funded by the Mom and Dad Missions.

  Marissa GOULD