Mary Ann East
Encore Creativity for Older Adults
USA
Abstract Title:
Sing for life: how choral singing supports healthy aging
Biography:
Dr. Mary Ann East has been with Encore Creativity for Older Adults since August 2018 when she began conducting the Encore Chorale at Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads. In September of 2019 Mary Ann became the Program Director of Sentimental Journey Singers, Encore’s choral program for singers with early to mid-stage cognitive change and their care partners. On April 16, 2025 Mary Ann became the Artistic Director for Lifelong Learning and Research working to expand Encore’s programing for those with cognitive change, overseeing Encore University, and guiding Encore's research efforts.
Mary Ann has taught music to ages 3-93. She is a former Fairfax County Public School music teacher where she taught elementary general music through high school choir and former adjunct professor at George Mason University.
Mary Ann is currently the Music Director at Community of Faith UMC in Herndon (VA) and Co-Founder/Artistic Director Emeritus of Capital Harmonia, a local women’s chorus whose mission is to bring music composed by women and for women’s voices to the DC area through partnerships with local women’s organizations.
Mary Ann holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education from Boston University, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance from George Mason University, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Indiana University. She also earned graduate certificates in Non-Profit Leadership from Notre Dame and Arts in Public Health from University of Florida.
Research Interests:
Inspired by Dr. Gene Cohen’s Creative Aging Study in 2001, Encore Creativity for Older Adults creates meaningful arts experiences supporting lifelong learning, wellness, and fun for all older adults. Encore conducted a survey of singers to explore self-reported evaluations of health and wellness. The survey gathered demographic information to understand our singer base and asked questions about personal health (both physical and mental), loneliness, and their involvement in Encore activities.
Encore’s core values include celebrating older adult voices, creating accessible and inclusive arts community, improving health and wellness, inspiring a passion for quality lifelong learning, and cultivating opportunities for social connection and friendship. The goal of this research project was to learn more about Encore’s singers and whether we are fulfilling our mission and focusing on our values.
Encore strives to bring accessible and inclusive arts experiences to older adults. Over its 18 years, Encore has navigated many obstacles including funding for people who could not afford to participate, developing programming for people with cognitive change due to dementia, and a world-wide pandemic. When people could not gather to sing, Encore developed an online learning opportunity that we now call Encore University. We also discovered how important our choirs were; more than a singing opportunity, they connected people and built support systems and communities. Encore is an important part of people’s health and wellbeing.
Key Words: aging, creative, music, singing
