We know most of you have been sporting comfy slippers and sandals as you stay home, stay safe during this social distancing, COVID-19 period, but now it’s time for you to put on your dancing shoes!
New England’s Latin Heartbeat Orchestra (LHO) is going to have you dancing in your home with a virtual concert. The event is part of AARP Connecticut’s series of content offered each week – from film screenings to university lectures, museum tours, and more.
“During this pandemic, we have been committed to offering entertaining and educational virtual content”, said Nora Duncan, State Director, AARP Connecticut. “What became clear is that we could highlight talent from Connecticut and showcase it all over the country.”
LHO’s commitment to sustaining its cultural music has been the driving force behind this talented ensemble of dedicated musicians. The Latin Jazz group established in 2004 takes pride in being recognized as a preservation band, and the responsibility that comes with it.
LHO will be featuring music from their new album, El Camino.
Thursday’s virtual event is a first for the group who has been working together by staying apart. “Most of the recording we (LHO) just finished was done by musicians with recording capabilities at home”, said William Mendoza, The Latin Heartbeat Orchestra’s producer/director. “We needed to find a space big enough with the proper social distancing safety measures that would allow us the opportunity to pull the concert off safely.”
Mendoza will join AARP Connecticut Volunteer Gladys Rivera at tomorrow’s event (May 20, 7 PM ET) to talk about music and its connection to culture. Information on brain health and wellness for family caregivers will also be shared at the event.
Duncan says The Latin Heartbeat Orchestra was brought to AARP Connecticut’s attention by volunteers who are active in the Hispanic-Latino community. “They have seen an increase in family caregiver roles and concerns as a result of COVID 19 and wanted to connect the music with family and AARP’s family caregiver resources”, Duncan explained.
Hispanics-Latinos and other marginalized communities are less likely to receive a timely diagnosis of brain disorders like early dementia than the white population, according to a recent study.
“Our findings highlight substantial gaps in diagnostic care among racially diverse older adults that are likely associated with underrepresentation in clinical trials and inequities in treatment,” the researchers wrote in a study published in JAMA Neurology.
You have to register in order to enjoy the 90-minute virtual evening of original Latin jazz music by The Latin Heartbeat Orchestra, featuring special guest musicians Kevin Figueroa, and Zacai and Luques Curtis: bit.ly/LatinHeartbeat
The next virtual event AARP Connecticut is offering is a first of its kind bilingual virtual fraud prevention program on May 26.
You can also check for events daily in the organization’s website.
Publisher’s Note: CTLN partners with AARP Connecticut in best serving the Hispanic-Latino community.
