West Columbia Agape Senior Assisted Living Melody Makers...RISING STARS

I am sure many of you know of our West Columbia Agape Senior Melody Makers choir; the famous songbirds, who have toured the Midlands' Agape Senior campuses for many years, sing Christmas carols at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport annually, have dazzled the West Columbia Chamber of Commerce and even performed in Orangeburg at the Methodist Oakes Retirement Community! Just when we thought our star had risen as far as it could go, we pushed it EVEN FURTHER! Today, May 19, The Agape Senior Melody Makers completed the recording of their very first album!

The Agape Senior Melody Makers group began its journey to fame in 2004 at the West Columbia Assisted Living facility. Comprised of a handful of women at the time (and only one man), it was just a small group of residents with a common interest--music. Nancy Vosburgh, whose mother was a resident in our Villas, leads the group. Nancy has a background in community theatre and sings in her church choir. Her mother also had a special love for music. With the assistance of the Life Enrichment Coordinator on piano, the little group began.

Three concerts a year at the West Columbia location over time blossomed into 12, including performances all over campus; then, in addition, three concerts per year in our other Midlands' facilities eventually grew to outreach into the community . Not only have our performances grown and our talent expanded, but so has the group. Now consisting of 20 women and six men, the group has quadrupled in size and is growing consistently as new residents move in! The group has two members who have been with us since the very beginning. Today, for those of us who have been involved with the Melody Makers since the day the group began, a vision and a dream has become a reality.

With a program of our Greatest Songs Ever (or at least the group thinks they were), which we have been rehearsing for months, the Melody Makers got in our Agape Senior bus and rode up to Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church to record our first ever CD! The members of the group were in great spirits as we arrived and walked into the sanctuary. Nancy Vosburgh (Director and Volunteer), Yu Chong (Facility Chaplain), Amy McCormack( Life Enrichment), Patsy Pennington (Piano and Volunteer), and Cynthia Scherbaty (Life Enrichment) were all there to ensure things went smoothly. Donald Maher of our I.T. department recorded the songs for the group. It was such a great adventure!

In three hours the group completed its 40 minute compilation of songs for the album. Exhausted by all the excitement of the afternoon, the group boarded the Agape bus and left for home, proud of what its members had accomplished. Donald is currently working on arranging the songs and plans to have production completed in the next few weeks, so don't fret, the CD will be out soon enough! The plan is for all proceeds from the CD sales to benefit the Agape Foundation. A CD release party is already in the works, so keep your calendars open. Agape Senior West Columbia is so proud of our Melody Makers and anticipates many great things to come for the future.

by Amy McCormack

West Columbia South Carolina Assisted Living

Agape Senior of West Columbia provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff strives to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. West Columbia, Cayce, South Congaree, Pine Ridge, Springdale SC. – Call Agape Senior Assisted Living West Columbia at (803)939-3000 or (800) 411-2427