Noteworthy Musicians Spread Cheer to Community--Including the Most Vulnerable

Rockville-Tolland SDA Church Communications
Jul 31
2 min read

Updated: Aug 6

As part of a side-venture of a Rockville Tolland SDA Church Concert, Duo Universo's Olga and Junior Garcia play for residents at a local rehabilitation center.

The Rockville-Tolland SDA (RTSDA) church has worked diligently to organize and host a series of concerts that blessed the community and united musicians and choirs from across the conference.

Married musical couple, Olga and Junior Garcia of Duo Universo, were the headliners of the first concert at the RTSDA church. After they accompanied church pianist and concert organizer, Michelle Maitland, on violin and guitar during the divine worship service, they sprinted over to the local Woodlake at Tolland Rehabilitation & Nursing Center after lunch. Duo Universo, who provide music therapy to nursing home residents daily, were in their natural element as they lifted the spirits of Woodlake's senior population with inspirational hymns. Church members enjoyed their music as much as the Woodlake residents. One jubilant RTSDA church member, Glenton Young, even asked, "Can we keep them?" After the music ministry at Woodlake, Duo Universo returned to the RTSDA church to present a moving and testimony-filled concert, “Through the Eyes of Love,” extolling God's leading and providence in their lives.

Two months later, in celebration of Christ’s resurrection, RTSDA was privileged to host vocal soloists Elizabeth Oviedo and Kevin Gomez, Willimantic SDA Church’s Alpha & Omega Bell Choir, and the Danbury-Bethel SDA Choir in a concert titled, “He is Risen & He is Coming!” Divided into three sections, Sacred Classics (featuring excerpts from Handel’s Messiah), Hymnology, and Contemporary Praise, this program satisfied various musical tastes. Many thanks to the concert organizer, Michelle Maitland, who was also involved musically in the entire program—truly a musical marathon. God gives strength to those who serve Him, but she was ready to shout “Hallelujah!” as Handel’s “Worthy Is the Lamb” heralded the concert’s end!