Bringing Music to the Elderly

“If ever there was a teacher who personified the ideal of teaching and guiding young women, Judy Dyson was it. Judy was at Wilderness from 1995 until her retirement in 2012. She was a softly spoken lady, but when she spoke, people, especially girls, listened! Her understanding of young women was exceptional, and she led the Senior School cohort with understanding, wisdom, humour and patience. “A woman of many talents, she could step in at the last minute and play the hymn for the morning assembly and sing the Alto line of any hymn or song. Judy will be sadly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her and of working with her.” Mrs Genevieve Monk (1961) Member of Wilderness staff from 1968-2015

“My memories of Mrs Dyson are as the epitome of ‘firm but fair’. Her listening skills and ability to quickly identify the heart of an issue, and propose equitable solutions were just exceptional; I often think of her when I find myself in a complex or challenging situation. “Vale Mrs Dyson. Thank you for teaching us to be reflective listeners and to approach problems with open minds, grace and dignity.” Adelaide Kidman (Boylan) (2000)

“Judy was a sensible, kind and compassionate person. At a Senior School Assembly when no one came to play the piano, Judy did not panic. She introduced the hymn, played the piano and returned to the lectern to complete the assembly. Judy’s grace and humility will be missed by the Wilderness community.” Dr Rhiannon Giles (1996) Current member of Wilderness staff

“Mrs Dyson was a supportive and dedicated Head of Senior School. She was always fair, open and understanding with us. She was well respected and a loved member of the School community and will be missed.” Morgan Price (2012)

“As a role model, mentor and leader, Mrs Dyson defined what it was to be a strong, empathetic, and capable woman. No matter the time of day, Mrs Dyson’s door was always open. With her detailed whiteboard outlining every timetabled lesson in the corner, Mrs Dyson would always approach you with sage wisdom, entertaining and relatable stories, or a shoulder to cry on and be consoled.

“I will never forget the impact she had on me as a young woman, and I will always be eternally grateful that I went to Wilderness during her tenure. Although she has passed, her lasting influence will live on in each student she inspired. As William Wordsworth said, ‘We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind’.” Chloe Danvers (2014)

In 2021, COVID-19 restrictions continue to have a significant impact on the lives of people around the world, particularly the elderly. Many, including my grandparents, have felt isolated and lonely during this uncertain time.

The restrictions have meant regular social gatherings and concerts have been unable to go ahead. I wanted to change this situation. I grew up in a family with a deep affinity for music. Music has always brought us joy and I wanted to share this with the elderly community during these unprecedented times. Together with Annecy Cheung and Isabelle Yu, from the Wilderness Piano Trio, we established the Wildy Virtual Community Concert (WVCC).

WVCC is an initiative, which aims to provide enjoyment and comfort to the elderly through a varied program of music. The Piano Trio were the original ensemble involved in the WVCC, however, we hope for more Wilderness ensembles, bands, choirs, and talented soloists to get involved to create a diverse repertoire of music. All the performances are recorded live, edited by Toni Pham from the Media Team, and uploaded to the WVCC’s website. Updates of new performance videos will take place at the end of every term. The Adelaide Male Metropolitan Choir, a large group made up of elderly men who are passionate about music, is one of the recipients of WVCC. We received positive feedback and support from them, which we deeply appreciate. In the future, we would like to expand our audience to include more nursing homes so we can spread the joy of music to people who have had their lives changed through COVID-19. We also would love for more musically talented Wilderness girls to join so we can all make a positive change to society.