TU School of Music and Montereau Retirement Community begin new partnership - The University of Tulsa
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TU School of Music and Montereau Retirement Community begin new partnership

In August 2022, the TU School of Music and Montereau Retirement Community began a new initiative to create and grow relationships between talented TU performers and the Montereau residents. The new partnership establishing intergenerational bonding and mutually beneficial cohabitation was launched in a coordinated effort between Montereau CEO Scott Nield and TU President Brad Carson.

The first two music students selected to participate in the program are Madyson Mitchell, a vocal performance senior, and Jordan Demetriades, a junior double majoring in music and speech pathology. Both young women are sopranos who love performing, have gracious personalities and were more than willing to move onto the Montereau grounds, enjoying free room and board on the beautiful estate-like campus. In exchange, the students perform regularly for the residents and spend several hours a week sharing meals, talking and playing games with the residents. Mitchell and Demetriades were even the judges for the annual Montereau Halloween costume contest on Oct. 31! In addition, you often will find one of the sopranos holding an “open practice” session or presenting an informal performance of songs and arias they are preparing for their courses at TU.

At least once a month, there is a formal recital presented in the Coterie Hall, the first of which was held Sept. 22. For this special event, titled Montereau at Twilight, the stage was lined with candles and the audience lights were low. The music reflected the quiet mood but still provided plenty of opportunities for the singers to shine. The audience was entranced, and the news story, produced by a local TV station, was picked up by media from across the country. The program may be the first of its kind in our region, but its reputation is quickly growing and attracting goodwill and admiration for the School of Music and Montereau.

Mitchell and Demetriades have been the perfect fit for the program and are grateful for the precious time they are spending with the older residents at Montereau. They will remain there – living, socializing and performing – through the spring semester. Two new TU music majors will be selected for the 2023-24 school year. From the obvious success of the program, there will be many student musicians eager to earn their place in the hearts of the Montereau residents