Published December 9, 2025
BY OLIVIA FORT
Since last spring, Echoes of Grace, a spirited music group started by three local high school students, has been filling local hospitals and nursing homes with healing instrumental tunes for residents.
The members of Echoes of Grace–Elise, Joanna and Emily–visit Merrill Gardens and CHOMP once a month to play music for those in need. Courtesy of ELISE YI
Carmel High School students Elise Yi and Emily Kim joined Joanna Lee from Monterey High Schoolto start Echoes of Grace when they got an offer to volunteer at Merrill Gardens, a local senior home. The trio has been playing together for three years, first performing at the Bach Festival in Carmel, with Yi and Kim both playing the violin and Lee playing the flute.
They accepted the offer to play for Merrill Gardens and soon after began performing in the lobby of the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula through the Montage Health music program.
“The program’s music volunteers help to create a healing atmosphere in the public spaces of selected facilities at Montage Health by playing quality, live, ambient music,” says Elizabeth Harbaugh, Montage Health’s arts in health program manager.
Echoes of Grace provides a way for music lovers who are bound to hospital beds or wheelchairs to experience live music without the stress, complications and cost of attending a modern concert venue.
For one hour every month, Echoes of Grace visits Merrill Gardens and CHOMP to play various kinds of music. The group started out playing classical music because that’s what they were trained in, but eventually branched out to other genres including jazz, holiday and even taking requests from their audience.
Lee, Yi and Kim (from left) have been playing music together since they were kids and share their love for music through their performances Courtesy of ECHOES OF GRACE
“I really like playing jazz music,” adds Kim. “It’s a little hard because of the rhythms, but the sound is worth it.”
Playing songs by artists such as Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys and The Beatles, the group likes to take into consideration their audiences favorite classics. Despite everyone’s love for the oldies but goodies, Disney songs are the most popular because they are well known and connect to the audience in a fun way.
“Classical sounds good, but not everyone knows those pieces,” says Lee, “so it’s fun for us to play songs that everyone knows.”
Volunteering in these settings has helped the trio further share their music, with them now receiving offers to play at churches and correctional facilities. Since the group grew up surrounded by music, they enjoy seeing the positive impacts that their visits have on those in need.
“It feels really heartwarming to play in these settings,” explains Yi. “People really feel the energy.”
Together, these dedicated musicians help create a positive atmosphere that calms both patients and visitors in stressful and isolating times.
