List Academy of Music

For many older adults, particularly those living with memory loss, illness, grief, or isolation, opportunities for meaningful connection can be limited. List Academy of Music addresses this need through its C.H.I.M.E. (Cognitive Health Interactive Music Ensemble) program—an interactive, ensemble-based experience designed to bring music directly to seniors who need it most.

C.H.I.M.E. serves older adults living with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, using music as a bridge to memory, identity, and connection. Because music activates multiple areas of the brain, even individuals in later stages of cognitive decline are often able to recall familiar songs from their past—moments that can spark recognition, emotion, and engagement when other forms of communication no longer reach them.

“Music is a lifeline for seniors with Alzheimer’s—many of whom struggle to remember their family members, their identities, or the people around them.”

During sessions, participants sing, play instruments, and engage with one another in ways that foster belonging and joy. Staff regularly witness visible shifts when a familiar melody begins—eyes brighten, posture changes, and memories briefly return. Songs like “You Are My Sunshine” often prompt recognition and emotional response, creating moments of connection that resonate deeply with participants and their families.

The White Family Foundation’s support makes these moments possible. A recent grant of $7,500 allows List Academy of Music to continue offering C.H.I.M.E. to seniors, sustaining interactive programming that improves quality of life and helps older adults feel seen and cared for.

“Because music activates all areas of the brain, even those with late-stage neurodegenerative diseases can recall songs from their past.”

The impact of this work extends beyond the participants themselves. One family member shared how her father, a lifelong musician now living with late-stage Alzheimer’s, has benefited from being in a facility that offers interactive music programming.

“I can’t thank you enough for making my dad smile and feel like himself again.”

She described how access to music has significantly improved his overall well-being—offering moments of familiarity, comfort, and connection during a time when those experiences can be rare.

Each C.H.I.M.E. session reinforces List Academy of Music’s belief that music is medicine. Seniors facing isolation, loss, and illness come together to make music, share laughter, and rediscover pieces of themselves through sound and memory.

“Your support makes real moments of connection possible.”

Through its investment in programs like C.H.I.M.E., the White Family Foundation helps ensure that older adults have access to creative, healing experiences that nurture dignity and belonging. In doing so, the Foundation affirms the power of the arts to strengthen well-being at every stage of life—proving, time and again, that music has the ability to reach where words cannot.

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