When Wade Vest, the executive director of Sagewood, came up with the idea of
staging concert performances at the senior living community, he knew just
the right person to assist him: Shaun Barrowes, his best friend from high school. Of
course, Barrowes is also a professional musician, film score composer and past
American Idol competitor—qualifications that make him the perfect person to
organize the summer outdoor gatherings.
So, starting back in April, Barrowes and a rotating group of talented and established
musicians have performed outdoor concerts at Sagewood’s spacious garden
courtyard. Residents can listen from the comfort of their own private patios or, if
they prefer, in seats that are safely socially distanced on the grounds.
The weekly Friday evening concerts have been hugely entertaining—for both the
Sagewood citizens and the musicians. “Gathering together in some form and
listening to music is therapeutic for everyone involved,” explains Barrowes. “Music is
medicine for the soul, and we’re experiencing a situation that requires an extra
dose of medicine to get through it. We all need a little help in these trying times, so
I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve and lift these residents with music.”
When Barrowes performs at Sagewood, he generally plays music that he thinks the
senior audience will enjoy, including classics from The Beatles and Elvis
Presley. He also accepts song requests from the audience; crowd favorites include
“Edelweiss,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World.”
One evening Barrowes, along with renowned Utah musicians Jay Lawrence, Rich Dixon
and Matt Larsen, performed a tribute show that featured songs from Rat Pack
members Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin. “We try to make the
concerts special,” Shaun says.
The additional exceptional musicians who have shared their musical performances
at Sagewood include:
- Nathan Osmond, a longtime performer, emcee and entertainer
- Ryan Innes, soulful singer and fan favorite on The Voice
- Missy Lynn, singer, songwriter and pianist who is a featured artist at Keys on
- Main
- Ryan Shupe, whose bluegrass group “Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand” has
- been entertaining audiences since 1996
- Hale Centre Theatre cast members, who performed Broadway tribute shows
- for the residents.
“These performers are seasoned professionals who know their craft very well,”
Barrowes says. The other musicians, like Barrowes, enjoy the opportunity to play their
music at Sagewood, which Shaun calls “one of the best senior living facilities
communities in the state.”
Have you ever considered what life is like at a senior living community? Located in
South Jordan on a beautiful six-acre, 235,000 square-foot campus, Sagewood offers
a full continuum of senior lifestyle options from independent living residences to
assisted living apartments and memory care suites. Visit lifeatsagewood.com.