Greetings of the fall and approaching holiday season to all MUSE friends, old and new! This is the time of year we think of what we are thankful for and who makes a difference in our often hurting world. For those who have supported the mission of MUSE over thirty-five years, we say thank you! For those of you who are new to MUSE and its mission of song and friendship to elders and under-served populations, we hope you will join us in supporting this important work. MUSE was founded thirty-five years ago when Paul W. Wiggin, a lyric tenor, poet, and man of great compassion and enthusiasm, noticed the great power of music to reach elders, including those who seemed beyond reaching. He brought his ministerial and musical studies together with his many other gifts to create the mission which became MUSE Inc. From the original MUSE singer to the many professional singers Paul recruited to his mission, MUSE provided 30,000 regular concert visits in 300 nursing homes, located in 100 cities and towns in and around Boston.

We celebrate your gifts that help MUSE’s solo circuit-riding singers deliver song and celebration to audiences of shut-in elders. MUSEsingers have a strong desire to serve in song. They form a bond a friendship with their audiences, with a warm hearted dedication usually found in the healing arts. A MUSEsinger brings friendly offerings of regular themed concert-visits featuring familiar songs, both secular and sacred, and varying from popular to classical music. Visits end with songs of faith and hope tuned to the multicultural, multi-ethnic and diverse religious backgrounds of audience members.

MUSE has evolved as an organization over the thirty-five years, currently entering a new phase of its existence to position itself to continue serving its mission into the future and past the leadership of Founder Paul Wiggin. A new board was formed in the spring and the launching of the new Paul W. Wiggin “Gift of Song” Scholarship took place at a concert at Andover Newton Theological School in May. This fall the auditions for first scholarship award took place and the winner will be awarded at a special concert to be held at Wilson Chapel at Andover Newton Theological School on Saturday, November 21 at 3:00 PM: Forever MUSE—A Celebration of Thirty-Five Years.

Forever MUSE will feature the diverse offerings of MUSEsingers, from the cabaret style of the long-time Boston cast of Forever Plaid with longtime MUSEsinger Duane Sullivan to former MUSEsinger Jane Hively of Mountain Streams Music to founder Paul Wiggin and others, come enjoy wonderful music and support MUSE moving into the future. See more details elsewhere in this newsletter.

In our difficult economic climate, I am aware that resources are limited and the needs are great. I am also aware of the increasing number of elders who need the mission of MUSE and the opportunity we have to locate and train new MUSEsingers. And nursing homes and other elder audiences are still in the need of inspirational concert-visits which address the whole person’s needs, making a difference in physical conditions, as well as meeting spiritual and emotional needs. “Music is food for the soul.”

How can you help? Come to the Forever MUSE concert on November 21! Check out our new website. Donate to our ongoing program which continues bringing concert-visits to shut-in elders. Donate to the new Paul W. Wiggin “Gift of Song” Scholarship. Or have us decide where your funds are most needed. Please join with us as we bring the gift of music.

- Maddie Sifantus, Acting Director