Welcome to Music 4 Seniors! My name is Noah Napoli-Grover. I’m a senior at Oakwood Secondary School in Los Angeles, California, and the founder of Music 4 Seniors. My inspiration for this organization grew from my experiences with my Grandmother Ruth during the pandemic. When the pandemic began, she found herself isolated in her home like so many other seniors around the world.  Before the pandemic, I would visit her weekly, but now, I wasn’t able to even step foot inside her house. So, I decided to maintain my connection with her by calling her daily over the phone and giving her a concert on the piano or saxophone. I could hear how much these daily concerts lifted her mood, and she often told me that these musical phone calls gave her something to look forward to every day.

I realized that I could bring this joy of music and conversation to other seniors, so I started Music 4 Seniors at the beginning of my sophomore year. I’ve now recruited student musicians from my high school orchestra and choir, from the summer camp I’ve attended for six years, and from a Muslim-Jewish student group of which I’m a member, to name a few. I’ve spread the word to seniors about Music 4 Seniors by visiting senior homes and giving concerts and by partnering with non-profits that provide services to seniors, such as Project Angel Food and the Brain Exercise Initiative.