Band
Swapping “Truckin’” and “Friend of the
Devil” for tunes like “Tuxedo Junction” and
“Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” the
band of 16 or so senior volunteer musicians
practiced in a room at the West Chester
Senior Center. Charles “Ozzie” Aldworth
sat in the back of the room, watching his
keyboardist wife, Mary, lead the band.

Charles Aldworth, the band’s self-
proclaimed “roadie,” helped everyone
pack up at the end of the rehearsal.

“It’s a good contribution for the
community,” he said of the band.

They have a rehearsal or a gig each week
and play mostly for senior centers and nurs-
ing homes, or travel to places like the
Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

They also recently played for the senior
group at Temple Sholom in Broomall.

Nearly every instrument — sans percus-
sion — was present: accordion, violins,
saxophone, trumpet, even a standing bass.

PMarissa Stern
Continued from Page 12
The Grateful Alive Band at a rehearsal
As they rehearsed, Mary Aldworth
called out encouraging comments, like,
“that sounded good,” or, “that was better.”
“It’s a nice group, everybody’s very
nice,” Mary Aldworth said. “We have
people from all walks of life, different
backgrounds.” There’s a former mayor in the group
plus retired teachers — even a rabbi.

“It’s a real joy to be part of this group,”
said Rabbi Sue Greenberg, who plays the
violin. “I hadn’t played with a group in a
while, but when I heard about this group,
I decided I needed to join it.”
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“It’s a real kick that while
we’re enjoying ourselves
we’re doing good for
somebody else, too. We’re
pretty upbeat as you can tell
from the music, and it’s a
chance for us and a chance
for them; we interact with
them. So it gives them joy
and it gives us joy.”
disqis/iStock/Thinkstock.com Greenberg, a retired chaplain who
belongs to Kesher Israel Congregation,
has played violin since she was 9 years old.

For her, what the group does expresses
a key act of Judaism.

“Aside from having fun oneself, you’re
doing a mitzvah,” she said. “We’re
performing a mitzvah. It’s that simple.”
They notice the audience, who may not
always be in the best shape, will perk up as
the music plays.

“We joke sometimes about some of the
audience not being really awake,” said
Dean Rasmussen, who plays the trumpet,
“but when you look around … you see
their toe tapping or something, and it’s
really gratifying because you know you’re
making a difference in their day.”
“Music does reach parts of the brain
that don’t normally function, so in some of
these facilities it’s the only thing that gets
them alive again,” added violinist Mona
Bloom. Greenberg introduced Chanukah and
Passover music to the band’s repertoire.

“It’s a real kick that while we’re enjoy-
ing ourselves, we’re doing good for some-
body else, too,” she said. “We’re pretty
SUE GREENBERG
See Band, Page 16
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MAY 18, 2017
15