Los Altos resident Margo Harris wanted to stay active in her retirement years. On a friend’s suggestion she joined the Peninsula Clef Hangers, a 30-member women’s chorus that sings for seniors in Bay Area retirement homes and convalescent hospitals.
Harris expected to add music as a new activity to her life, but she didn’t count on the experience evoking such an emotional response – both in the audience and within herself.
“It’s a feel-good thing to go and sing for the people we perform for,” Harris said. “A lot of the seniors don’t have families or visitors. The music can talk to them.”
The Clef Hangers, with five members from Los Altos and Mountain View, perform at local sites, including Los Altos Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Center, Pilgrim Haven, BridgePoint at Los Altos, Villa Siena in Mountain View and the Forum in Cupertino.
Director Joan Sprague, a 16-year member and longtime Los Altos resident, said it’s rewarding to see the residents cheered up by the music and even sing along.
“The main goal is to take good music to senior citizens, wherever they are,” she said. “The people who can’t get out to concerts – we take the music to them.”
The group began in 1970 as a cluster of women who enjoyed singing and aspired to help the community. They incorporated as the Peninsula Clef Hangers 10 years ago and receive funding from member dues, bank donations and grants from organizations such as the Arts Council Silicon Valley.
The singers perform songs familiar to their listeners, including oldies, show tunes and Christmas carols. Mountain View soprano Susan Daijo said the senior audience often sheds tears.
“With the song selections we have, you can see in their faces certain memories that are jogged,” Daijo said.
The Clef Hangers perform twice a season, with 15 concerts in December and 15 concerts in April. Rehearsals for the upcoming season – starting in late September and running through late November – are held at Crane Place, 1331 Crane Ave., Menlo Park.
The group currently seeks an accompanist who plays piano, in addition to more singers. If interested, call Polly Layer at 366-5060.
