Three Yorktown Musicians Entertain Fieldhome Residents

Three young Yorktown musicians performed in front of a group of about 20 senior citizens, residents of Fieldhome, on Sunday, July 11.

Julia Kelly, 11, Zerena Lupo, 12, and Emily Salvatierra, 12, were there as part of the 's new group called Service Through Music. Service Through Music gives young performers an avenue to bring music to others as community service, Teen Center board of directors Helena Rodriguez said. 

Lupo, the brain child of group, was the one who came up with the idea to go back to the Fieldhome and perform again. Having performed there during the Yorktown Teen Center’s NextGen Festival of the Arts in May, she said was surprised by the impact the music made that day to the audience and wanted to repeat it. 

"I wanted to perform again," she said. "I felt they didn't get enough entertainment."

The young girl, who currently has her own CD "If My Dreams Come True" and dreams of becoming a musician, performed four songs, two of which she had written herself. But the night was extra special because her 82-year-old grandmother, Duillermina Castillo, who has Alzheimer's disease, was in the audience. Lupo said it felt good to see sing to her grandmother and see her nod her head enjoying the music. In one of her songs, Lupo sang about her grandfather and how she felt about it. He had passed away in 2008.

Julia Kelly, 11, sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" in front of the residents, and Rodriguez said that really got them going. Someone even asked for an encore performance of the song. 

"They were really responsive to something they knew well," Rodriguez said. 

At "Second Sunday at Fieldhome," the young musicians can entertain the residents and guests who gather to hear them play. They hope to expand the program and perform at other nursing homes in the area. 

"The girls were so excited," Rodriguez said. "They can't wait to go back."

Kelly, Lupo and Emily Salvatierra took turns singing original and cover songs on Sunday. They said they plan to entertain Fieldhome residents again on Aug. 14 and invite other young performers to join them. Meanwhile they want to learn some other songs for the residents to sing along to during their next gig.

The three girls will be attending the seventh grade at  in the fall.

Performers interested in joining Service Through Music should contact the Teen Center at 914-302-2123 or email ytc@yorktowntc.org.