SELINSGROVE — The Susquehanna Valley Chorale will present “Alzheimer’s Stories: A Monument to Memory” at 7:30 p.m. March 8 and 3 p.m. March 9 at Stretansky Hall at Susquehanna University, a press release said.

“‘Alzheimer’s Stories,’ with music by Robert S. Cohen and lyrics by Herschel Garfein, is a poignant and inspiring performance that includes firsthand accounts of Chorale members and their families.The moving work is filled with compassion, love, and humility,” said the press release.

The performance will feature three acclaimed soloists: Alyssa Ronco, Amanda Stante and Ted Keegan. Holly Kyle, Alzheimer’s and dementia care representative at Union-Snyder Agency on Aging, Inc., will serve as the emcee for the event.

“Much of the text of ‘Alzheimer’s Stories’ is derived from firsthand accounts of the disease offered by members of the Susquehanna Valley Chorale, who commissioned the work. The members of the Chorale and its community of friends submitted personal narratives to a weblog concerning the experience of those they love who had suffered through Alzheimer’s. Taken together, these accounts form a moving testimonial to all that is best in human beings: qualities of compassion, love, tirelessness, humor; and an inspiring resilience in confronting…an incurable disease,” according to librettist Herschel Garfein.

At the beginning of the second half of the performance, Fiona Powell will interview Cohen and Garfein about their experience writing the songs and lyrics.

ABOUT THE WORK

In 2008, a member of the Susquehanna Valley Chorale, who asked to remain anonymous, made a donation to the chorale to help fund the commissioning of a musical work about Alzheimer’s disease. He did this to honor his parents, who both died of it.

In collaboration with Grammy Award-winning opera librettist Herschel Garfein, the SVC set up a blog to record chorale and community members’ experiences with loved ones who had Alzheimer’s disease. A select group of the stories shared became the basis for the work.

“Alzheimer’s Stories” premiered on Oct. 9, 2009, at the Weis Center for the Performing Arts, conducted by Dr. William Payn. It was recorded for broadcast by PBS television station WVIA and subsequently performed throughout the U.S. and Europe over the last 15 years.

Tickets are available at SVCMusic.org or by calling 570-547-0455. For more information, visit SVCMusic.org.

SOLOISTS

Alyssa N. Ronco, soprano, is a native of Mifflinburg. She has performed all over the United States, Canada, and Italy including performances with New Jersey Opera, The Susquehanna Valley Chorale (soprano solo in Poulenc’s “Gloria,” Gabriel in Haydn’s “Creation”), Green Valley Presbyterian Church Concert Series, Henderson, NV(soprano solo in Handel’s “Messiah”) and made her Carnegie Hall Debut under the baton of John Rutter (Soprano solos in Rutter’s “Gloria” and Monteverdi’s “Gloria”).

Amanda Stante serves on the music faculty at Susquehanna University as Assistant Professor of Voice. This summer, she will return to New England Music Camp to teach voice and other courses for the second time.

Ted Keegan is a native of Watertown, New York with an undergraduate degree from Ithaca College and a graduate degree from UNC-Greensboro. He was last seen as the Phantom in “Phantom the Las Vegas Spectacular.” He starred in the national tour of “The Phantom of the Opera” following a run in the Broadway Company.