Beacon Hill at Eastgate joins Better Business Bureau to provide outdoor live music performances for stay-in older adults
Independent Living Residents to Enjoy Tunes From Their Balconies Tuesday, May 12, 2:00pm
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – May 11, 2020
Thanks to the Educational Foundation of the Better Business Bureau Serving West Michigan, independent living residents at Beacon Hill will enjoy a free, live concert beneath their balconies on Tuesday afternoon. The 2:00pm concert from John Nowak at their community, 1919 Boston SE, will not just serve the residents who cannot leave their apartments, but will also help the performers who have lost performance opportunities due to the virus pandemic.
A second concert is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, also at 2:00pm at Beacon Hill with guest performer Scott Veenstra, a drummer who hails from Grand Rapids. After spending nearly two decades in New York, Veenstra has returned to West Michigan and plays a variety of genres including jazz, blues, rock, and soul. These concerts are provided free of charge thanks to the generous sponsorship of Active Training Consultants.
“It is important for us to find ways to help small businesses in these trying times,” says Phil Catlett, President of the Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan. “This program helps us connect musicians who need work and income, with facilities like Beacon Hill, whose residents have been shut-in due to the pandemic.”
John Nowak is a Michigan musician in the nationally-touring band Desmond Jones. When not playing drums or guitar for Desmond Jones, Nowak can be found playing solo shows on guitar and piano, doing music enrichment in special education, hospitals and senior living centers, or spinning vinyl dance parties at venues and festivals across the state. While Desmond Jones is known for their high-energy funk, rock and jazz fusion- Nowak’s singer-songwriter approach to his original music errs on the side of Americana and folk rock. Instrumental piano music, flowing and easy to listen to is also a component of John Nowak’s solo repertoire.
Check out the video from ABC Channel 13.
Senior Serenade: Free concerts planned for retirement community
Jeff Huegli, President and CEO of Beacon Hill, is delighted with the outdoor concerts, staying “This provides joy and pleasure for our residents who miss seeing family, friends and frequenting local restaurants and entertainment venues due to the virus. We are grateful to BBB Serving Western Michigan, Active Training Consultants and our performing artists — John Nowak and Scott Veenstra.”
This performance is the first of the Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan’s Music Program. Inspired by a similar BBB Program created in Texas, BBB is looking to connect musicians with facilities like Beacon Hill. BBB is also looking for business sponsors and donors, whose support allows the performers to provide these shows to the facility free of charge. Donors, musicians and facilities can sign up for the program here.
For updated information on how Beacon Hill is working to protect its residents and employees from COVID-19, visit http://www.beaconhillgr.org/covid-19.
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