Sing By Heart
DEFYING DEMENTIA THROUGH MUSIC
Sing by Heart is a dementia-friendly chorus dedicated to the belief that singing has a unique power to spark joy, stimulate our sense of self, and build community. An initiative of the Springfield Choral Society, the Sing by Heart program is presented in partnership with the Smith Alzheimer’s Center at SIU Medicine, as well as Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Under the expert leadership of director Linda Younkin and pianist Bonnie Ettinger, Sing by Heart presents a Fall and Spring session each year, each lasting 8 weeks. The songs are fun & familiar, and no special musical ability is required. Participants are supported by a number of singing volunteers from the Springfield Choral Society.
Upcoming Sessions
Fall Session: October 1st - November 19th
Spring Session: To Be Determined
Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall
When: Wednesdays, 10 - 11:30AM
Who: Those dealing with memory-loss, their caretakers, and anyone interested in sparking joy and building community through singing.
INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING?
We would love to have you as part of our Sing by Heart group! To register for the program or to receive more information, please contact Debbie Kuhns from the SIU Smith Alzheimer’s Center at dkuhns76@siumed.edu.
An overview of the Sing by Heart program is available on the Smith Alzheimer’s Center website: https://www.siumed.edu/group/153736/sing-heart
About The Director
Mrs. Linda (Carvalho) Younkin is the music director at Christ the King Church in Springfield. She also teaches private piano and voice.
Linda’s inspiration to take on the role of choir director for those with cognitive challenges stems from her personal five-year journey with her own mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2018. Linda saw the joy and clarity singing brought to her mother, even in the midst of the disease. She hopes that “Sing by Heart” will provide comfort, connection, and a sense of community to those navigating the challenges of dementia.
Linda has taught K-12 vocal and general music in the Springfield public and parochial school districts for over 30 years. She holds a Bachelors of Music in Education degree from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, and certification in Kodaly music education.
She and her husband, Dr. Casey Younkin, have four adult children and are proud grandparents of a four-year-old grandson.
About The Pianist
Bonnie Heinmiller Ettinger’s life has been centered on music since her earliest days singing with her mother and sister and playing the piano and organ for the West Los Angeles Baptist Church. Her father was a major influence making sure music filled their home by always playing his records, especially the pipe organ and big band music. She competed in the Youth for Christ International Gospel Piano Music Contest in high school and went on to major in music at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. She completed her B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in Music at Purdue University and earned her M.A. in Organizational Communication from Sangamon State University. She and her husband Ron have been married for 58 years and they have two daughters and three grandchildren.
Bonnie has been the pianist for the Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation for over 45 years and recently enjoyed accompanying the Springfield Choral Society programs. She enjoys playing for nursing homes and assisted living facilities where she has seen, first hand, the power of music to reach people on a deep level. In one instance, during one of the sing-a-long programs she was playing for, a caregiver said that her patient had been non-verbal for years but, amazingly, began singing during the program. She looks forward to playing for “Sing by Heart” and bringing the power of music to those with dementia.
