Finding Voice Through Music: Seniors Turn to Song to Process the Moment

At Episcopal Homes in St. Paul, Music for Life students came together to reflect, connect, and create—writing and recording protest songs rooted in history, community, and lived experience.

In January and February, communities across the Twin Cities experienced a profound period of uncertainty and disruption as federal immigration enforcement actions—known as Operation Metro Surge—unfolded across the region. The operation brought a visible federal presence, widespread community response, and ongoing concern for many residents, including those at Episcopal Holmes in St. Paul.

In response, communities across Minnesota began finding ways to gather, reflect, and raise their voices. A group of older adults in St. Paul did just that—through music.

Earlier in the fall, MacPhail teaching artist Andrea Leap had planned a protest-music workshop as an alternative to regular choir rehearsals at Episcopal Homes in January. A highly engaged community with a history of advocacy, the program was originally designed to explore the history of protest music alongside a collaborative songwriting experience.

But as events unfolded across the metro, the workshop took on a deeper resonance. What had been planned months earlier became something timely and meaningful—offering participants a space to reflect, connect, and express their perspectives through music.

Over several weeks, residents worked together to write original lyrics, share feedback, and shape their ideas into three original songs: We’ll Be Dancing On the Shore, Show Us Your Faces, and ICE Out.

The workshop culminated in a recording session, where residents brought their songs to life together—capturing not just melodies, but moments of reflection, connection, and collective voice.

For Andrea Leap, who also leads the Sage Singers choir at Episcopal Homes, the project reflects a long-standing belief in music as a powerful tool for self-expression at every stage of life—creating space for people to be heard and to connect with one another.

Through MacPhail Music for Life, older adults continue to engage creatively, build community, and explore their own experiences through music.

As Minnesota and the nation prepare for a weekend of large-scale demonstrations, these songs offer a powerful reminder: music has always been one of the ways people make sense of the world—and make their voices heard within it.

🎧 Listen, learn, and share the music:

Show Us Your Faces

ICE Out: An Anthem of the North

(When It’s Ice Out In Minnesota) We’ll be Dancing On The Shore

Created and performed by residents of Episcopal Homes of St. Paul in collaboration with MacPhail Center for Music.

Free sheet music is available to download—and the residents invite others to learn, share, and carry these songs forward in their own communities.