This story originally appeared in SOAR365’s Summer 2026 NEWZ. Click here to view a digital version of the newsletter.
How The Heartstrings choir fills SOAR365 with familiar songs, joyful participation, and heartfelt connection each year.
For more than three decades, The Heartstrings have been bringing music and meaningful connection to audiences across the Richmond region. For much of that time, their journey has included an annual stop at SOAR365.
Now in its 31st year, The Heartstrings is a volunteer ensemble of women singers ages 45 and up. What began with just eight members has grown to nearly 50 on the roster today, with a dedicated core group of 30 to 35 singers who perform each week. From October through May each year, they travel throughout the Greater Richmond area every Monday morning, offering nearly 30 performances each season, primarily at assisted living and healthcare communities.
“We’re an all-volunteer group,” said Music Director Shirley Conley, who has led the ensemble for the past eight years after retiring from Chesterfield County Public Schools as a choral director. “Our main theme is service. It’s just so thrilling to look out into the audience and see them smile and see them clapping and joining along in our songs. And that’s the whole purpose of our group.”
The Heartstrings rehearse for about five weeks each fall before taking their 45-minute show on the road. Their program is intentionally designed to invite participation, featuring familiar classics and sing-alongs that spark memory and movement. They focus on beloved favorites like “Fly Me to the Moon,” “What a Wonderful World,” “You Are My Sunshine,” “God Bless America,” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” During the holidays, they rotate in a special winter set of seasonal songs.
At SOAR365, the response is immediate and heartfelt.
“Whenever we come to SOAR365, the program participants are just beaming,” Shirley said. “We have a lot of activity there too, because they love to join in and sing with us. And we love that.”
For The Heartstrings, the impact extends beyond the music itself. Before the pandemic, members would often spend time after performances sitting and talking one-on-one with audience members — a practice they continue when venues allow.
“They just want to be seen,” Shirley said. “They just want someone to talk to them for a little bit one-on-one. That’s part of our mission, communicating through music, but also giving them that one-on-one time.”
That spirit of connection resonates deeply with longtime member Jayne, who describes the experience in simple but powerful terms: “We receive more than we give.”
At SOAR365’s Staples Mill location, participants light up when the singers — dressed in their signature black pants, white blouses, and red vests — enter the room. Many sing every word. Others clap, sway, or tap along to the rhythm. The Heartstrings’ warmth and consistency have made them a beloved annual tradition.
“We are always so well received,” Shirley said. “And we appreciate that so much.”
This year, the group’s generosity extended beyond their annual performance. The Heartstrings donated a piano to SOAR365, ensuring that live music can continue not just during their visit, but throughout the year. Pianist Kathy Simpson helped locate the instrument, and members worked behind the scenes to coordinate its delivery and tuning — a gift that will support engagement, creativity, and joy long after the final note of their spring program.
Founded by Sarah Maynard Summers and now under Shirley’s direction, The Heartstrings remain true to their original purpose: bringing uplifting, familiar music to people who benefit most from connection. They do not audition members, welcoming both veteran church choir singers and novice performers who can read music and share a heart for service. The only requirement is a willingness to rehearse, show up on Mondays, and serve with joy.
At SOAR365, music is more than entertainment — it’s engagement, memory, movement, and community. Thanks to The Heartstrings, that melody continues to play, one Monday morning at a time.
To learn more about volunteering with SOAR365, click here. And to keep up to date on all things SOAR365, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
