Company Profile
Encore Creativity for Older Adults
Company Overview
Encore Maintains a Standard of Excellence
Encore's mission is to provide an excellent and accessible artistic environment for older adults, regardless of experience or ability, who seek arts education and performance opportunities under a professional artist. The primary goal of Encore Creativity for Older Adults is to offer our choral program to adults over the age of 55, an under-served population in the arts, throughout the country.
Company History
The dream began to take shape in September 2001, when the late internationally renowned gerontologist Dr. Gene Cohen, Director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University, asked Jeanne Kelly to be part of a study on The Impact of Professionally Conducted Cultural Programs on the Physical Health, Mental Health and Social Functioning of Older Adults. The study would necessitate forming two chorales for older adults over 65 years of age to join forces with the Senior Singers' Chorale Jeanne already had up and running at Goodwin House, Alexandria, Virginia, under her older adult program at Levine School of Music Arlington Campus where she was the director. She quickly added Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads in Falls Church, VA.
Encore has continued to grow and now, in 2018, has 21 choral programs in the MD/VA/DC area, as well as a Chorale and ROCKS in New York City, and affiliate chorales in Hudson, OH; Reading, PA; Denver, CO (two Chorales); Los Angeles, CA; and Chicago, IL (seven Chorales). The combined membership of these chorales is now approaching 2,000 singers, and the pace of growth continues to accelerate as Encore focuses on national expansion.
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
We are the largest and fastest growing choral music program for singers age 55+!