Andover High School Students Bring Live Music To Seniors

ANDOVER, MA — Without community leaders, Andover wouldn’t hum along nearly as smoothly as it does. We’d miss their contributions in big and small ways.

Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to recognize these often unsung community leaders and celebrate their contributions.

This submission comes from Courtney Bassi, an Andover reader who nominated Harry and Carmina Merrill.

How do you know this community leader?

Family

What does this community leader do?

They founded a community collaborative made up of local senior care facilities and music schools that brings live musical performances to seniors throughout the year.

Why do you believe the community leader should be recognized or honored?

Harry and Carmina are juniors at Andover High School. They are lifelong local music students and have a beloved grandparent who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease. Based on their own personal experience with the power of music to combat depression, stimulate memory recall and promote the formation of new, positive connections, they undertook to create a unique program bringing local students and seniors together. They worked tirelessly for over a year building a program that would be self sustaining and available throughout the community, working with senior centers, music schools and students in the Andover area. Their organization is performing the first student visits over the next few weeks, building intergenerational connections, bringing the benefits of music to seniors, and giving students the opportunity to share their talents while giving back to the community.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the community hero?

Harry and Carmina appreciate how fortunate they are to be a part of such a supportive and caring community. To them it is critical that they give back in a lasting and meaningful way. (www.collectiveharminy.org

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Know a community leader who deserves a shout-out?

Nominate them here.