Grace Sun - Melodies for Remedies | IYH

Grace Sun founded Melodies for Remedies, a nonprofit that uses the performing arts to bring healing and joy to senior citizens, including those living with Alzheimer’s disease. In the past three years, she and her team of over 100 student volunteers have hosted 50 large-scale concerts and music therapy sessions. A trained classical pianist of 11 years, she was first inspired by a talent show her middle school organized for a local senior home. Moved by the seniors’ cheers and the conversations she had with them, she realized the power of music to spread joy and forge connections.
Two years later, Grace stumbled across an article about music therapy as a possible treatment for Alzheimer’s. Intrigued, she and her team performed their usual classical program for an audience of Alzheimer’s patients - and were met with silence. They decided to overhaul their repertoire, replacing Beethoven sonatas with oldies from the 1950s. At their next concert, the Alzheimer’s seniors smiled, clapped, and sang along with the familiar tunes. “Through benefit concerts and raising awareness of dementia, I hope to grow my musical cause for the community,” says Grace. “I hope the music we bring can touch more people’s hearts and bring joy to everyone involved in the program.”