Windsor Symphony Orchestra at Cardinal Place

Caesars Windsor and Windsor Symphony Orchestra chose Cardinal Place for a major announcement

Caesars Windsor and Windsor Symphony Orchestra chose Cardinal Place for a major announcement. The WSO will visit seniors homes this year with its Music for Health program, thanks in part to Caesars Windsor Cares — which on Tuesday announced a $28,500 donation to the travelling initiative over three years.

“We also bring some tenants of music therapy into this program. We encourage seniors as they’re listening to music that may be familiar from their youth — for example, Roy Orbison’s Pretty Woman — to share stories and recollections.

“It’s all based upon research about how music affects mental health. It’s about the joy of living.”

A WSO string quartet, led by cellist and associate conductor Peter Wiebe — who helped develop the Music for Health program — entertained residents Tuesday at Cardinal Place retirement home.

“It’s just beautiful music,” said smiling resident Shirley Rutherford, 84, who kept beat with a tambourine and called for several of her favourite selections during the intimate concert that featured fare as varied as Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 5 and the Beatles’ When I’m 64.

“I’m in a wheelchair, so I couldn’t go out. It would just take too much to go down to the Capitol Theatre. “But if the symphony comes to us, they can’t come too often.” 

Members of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra performed for residents of Cardinal Place.