Sheet music illuminated by a rainbow-colored light passing through a glass prism.

The Circle of Music: Intergenerational Choir

Discover Your Sound and Community

An elderly man with a name tag that reads "John" and a woman with brown hair tied back in a ponytail are sitting in a room, smiling and looking at each other. The man is wearing a dark zip-up jacket and a checkered shirt, while the woman is wearing glasses and a blue jacket.

About Us

Bringing Generations Together Through Song

The Circle of Music is an intergenerational choir that connects people living with dementia, their care partners, and high school student volunteers. Together, we create a space where voices of all ages come together to share songs, stories, laughter, and friendship. In our warm and welcoming environment, the focus is on joy, connection, and the shared love of music and community. No musical experience is needed, just an open heart and a willingness to sing along. Led by Sasha Judelson and Professor Lee Willingham, The Circle of Music is as much about fostering meaningful relationships as it is about singing.

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A woman standing in front of seated audience in a meeting room, with a camera capturing the scene.

The short documentary about the Circle of Music, directed by Sara Geidlinger, showcases the ideas beyond the surface presentation of the choir. Through interviews with the creator of the choir, researchers, students, senior participants, location hosts, pianist, teacher liaisons and more the documentary gives insights into the purpose, momentum and magic of the choir. It shows the connection of the community of participants and the impact the choir has.

The Circle of Music Documentary

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Snapshots of Sound, Story, and Togetherness

Three people sitting in a row at a meeting or presentation, reading papers or notes.

Interested in starting your own intergenerational choir?

We are here to help! 

Whether you're just beginning to explore the idea or ready to dive in, we're here to support you every step of the way. Feel free to reach out with any questions, schedule a call, or explore our growing collection of free resources. Visit our Materials page to access lyrics, sheet music, and song selections featured in The Circle of Music. We have everything you need to bring people of all ages together in song. Let’s build something beautiful together!

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Resources

The Circle of Music would not be possible without the support from

Support The Circle of Music

Our Generous Donors

Colorful logo with overlapping petals and leaves, with the text "RTO Foundation" and "ERO Foundation" in purple.

We are deeply grateful to the RTOERO Foundation for their generous support of The Circle of Music. As our current funder, the foundation has played a vital role in helping us grow and share our work with the community. Their funding made it possible to create this website, providing a platform to share our story, resources, and vision.

In addition, the RTOERO Foundation’s support has allowed us to produce a documentary that captures the heart of The Circle of Music and will help us reach even more individuals, families, and communities.

Their commitment to fostering well-being and building intergenerational connections directly aligns with our mission, and we are honoured to have their partnership.

Thank you, RTOERO Foundation, for believing in the power of music, connection, and community.

  • Logo for New Horizon for Seniors Program featuring an orange decorative sun and two senior figures walking with a cane.

    New Horizon for Seniors Program

    The New Horizons for Seniors Program is currently supporting The Circle of Music Intergenerational Choir. This foundation is helping to sustain our weekly music-making sessions that promote connection and social inclusion between seniors, caregivers, and youth. Backed by this Canadian federal initiative, the choir continues to thrive as a collaborative, community-based intergenerational program

  • The logo of Employment and Social Development Canada featuring the acronym ESDC with a maple leaf inside the 'D' and the word 'Canada' at the bottom.

    Employment and Social Development

    Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has supported The Circle of Music Intergenerational Choir through its commitment to social inclusion and well-being across generations. Their funding contributed to the program’s ability to build meaningful connections through music between seniors, caregivers, and youth.

  • A document cover with the title 'SHRC CRSH' at the top, with horizontal color stripes in yellow, blue, and purple in the middle, and the word 'Canada' with a small red maple leaf icon below.

    Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

    The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), through a Partnership Grant, has supported The Circle of Music as part of a broader research initiative focused on community engagement and intergenerational connection. This support has helped deepen the program’s impact by integrating research and practice in music and social inclusion.