In 2015, Alicia Zárate took a step that would change her life: she joined the Neighborhood Choir Program for Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities, which helped her overcome a deep sadness. In November 2014, she lost her husband, which plunged her into severe depression. It was her sister who encouraged her to try something new: “You need to do something, anything. Why don’t you come to the choir and see if it makes you feel better?” she suggested.
With a heart full of pain, Alicia decided to give it a try. Though at first it was hard to face her emotions, the music and the atmosphere of the choir drew her in. “Music was my healing,” she says. Despite the sadness she still carried inside, she kept attending, finding in each rehearsal a place where she could release some of that pain.
Her first day was tough. They sang “Amor Eterno,” (Eternal Love) , a song that reminded her of her husband. The emotion was so overwhelming that Alicia had to leave the room. But that didn’t stop her. She decided to keep coming, and over time, the music became her comfort, and her choir mates offered her support and understanding. “Some songs still move me, but I’m much better,” she shares.
The choir also gave her something unexpected: a community. The friendships she made in the group and with other people at the center became her second family. “We help each other and share moments, both sad and happy,” she says. This camaraderie gave her a sense of belonging that she hadn’t had before.
One of her most memorable experiences was a performance at the Herbst Theater. “Every performance has been special, but that one at the Herbst Theater was… fabulous!” she recalls with emotion. The grandeur of that performance, with a large audience and the majesty of the venue, was unique for Alicia. “Being in such a big and beautiful theater was something completely different from singing in churches or small stages. It was an experience I’ll always remember,” she says.
For Alicia, music has been therapy. In a recent Day of the Dead event, they asked her to help with an altar titled “Music is Medicine,” which deeply moved her. “I felt that altar was for me,” she says. Music, both in the choir and in the guitar and piano classes she has taken at the center, has allowed her to heal and express her pain in a positive way.
Alicia has also expanded her musical world by learning new instruments. Four years ago, she started taking guitar lessons, which she describes as an enriching experience. Now, she can play some songs and sing while playing. More recently, she began piano lessons and joined the CMC Mariachi group, where she’s learning to play the Vihuela. For her, music is not just a distraction or hobby, but a source of joy, peace, and companionship.
Her connection to music has deep family roots. Since she was little, she was surrounded by music, as her uncle was a well-known singer in Mexico who even toured internationally with Xavier Cugat’s orchestra. “We were always surrounded by music, but I didn’t participate,” Alicia recalls. Her connection to music, though close, was indirect until she joined the choir. “Once I joined, I felt like a whole new world opened up to me. I feel more connected to my family and my heritage,” she says with a smile. This experience has renewed her sense of belonging, not only to her roots but also to the community, creating a bridge between her personal history and the new support network she has found in her environment.