9/17 When The Earth Speaks Back—-Concert at 2Life Senior Community in Brighton, MA

Written by Jayden, Photos by Feng

On Sept 17th 2026, Mindful Musicians went to 2Life Communities, Brighton Campus, where most elderly residents spoke mostly Cantonese or Russian, with little understanding of English. A group of young musicians showed how music is a language everybody can mutually understand, no matter what the cultural barrier.

 The concert began rather slowly, with only a few residents entering the audience to listen to the performance. However, as the music was heard down the hallway, more and more residents came in to sit down and listen. 

Mia Wang opened with “Ashokan Farewell” and “Edelweiss”, setting the tone of the concert and meeting the audience with thunderous applause. Summer Ho’s “La Mer” brought a French melody to the auditorium, where everyone could enjoy the universal language of music despite the language barrier. Pianist Alex Dyatlov then played Mozart’s Sonata No. 16, bringing a change of mood to a classical vibe, and Jayden Li finished off with old classics “Lemon Tree” and “Mother Nature’s Son”. 

When the music ended, the musicians didn’t hurry away, and neither did the residents. The residents happily had conversations with both the performers and the organizers, expressing their contentment and gratitude. One resident said it best, in Cantonese: “Great performance, keep on practicing and working hard.” The organizers gladly translated the words of encouragement for the musicians. 

Mia playing the Chinese instrument, Hulusi

There are other remarkable moments during the musicians’ interactions with the elderly after the performance. A 97-year-old grandmother who didn’t speak Mandarin, Cantonese, or English, being from Taishan, Guangdong, continuously gave a thumb-up after the performance to express her gratitude and emotions. Additionally, an elderly gentleman from Nanjing, Jiangsu, opened up about the experience of loneliness of living away from his family and home in China, a reminder of the relationships that can blossom from music. 

Jayden

The concert’s theme, “When the Earth Speaks Back,” profoundly resonated in this setting. Each piece was a reflection of the residents’ stories and emotions, and it tells us that although we speak different languages, all our feelings and experiences can be connected through music.