Songs of Light

Daniel Keeling shares his relationship with Alzheimer’s as he performs with UC Irvine Chamber Singers at the Irvine Barclay Theatre: A Q&A session 

On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 8 p.m., the UC Irvine Department of Music and UCI MIND will present Finding Light: Alzheimer's Stories by Robert S. Cohen at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Conducted by Dr. Irene Messoloras, the concert explores the profound journey of Alzheimer's, featuring soloists, choir, percussion and piano, brought to life by 200 voices. This contemporary and melodic work divides into three movements to capture three different perspectives following the arc of the disease, from consciousness to unconsciousness.  

Daniel Keeling, an assistant professor of teaching in the Department of Drama, joins the performance as a soloist. As a versatile performing artist, educator, and voice teacher — Keeling brings extensive experience interpreting, instructing and performing various genres of vocal repertoire. Even more, Keeling’s personal connection to the performance’s message shines through in creative preparation.  

Q: What drew you to participate as a soloist in Finding Light: Alzheimer's Stories? 

Daniel Keeling (DK): Well, Irene Messoloras, director of choral activities, mentioned this piece to me at the end of last spring quarter, and I expressed interest. Then, during the fall quarter, she asked me if I was still interested, and I said yes. At the start, Messoloras informed me that this would be an initiative with UCI Mind in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior. The relationship between neurological studies and music — especially as a tool to improve neurological conditions or differences — has always interested me. 

Q: You have a personal connection to this piece. Can you share how Alzheimer’s has impacted your life and how that experience influences your performance? 

DK: As I said, I have always been interested in neuroscience. Some of that interest stems from growing up with family members employed at the Kansas Neurological Institute in Topeka in various capacities, myself included. Also, I had a great-grandmother who had Alzheimer's disease and lived with it for a long time. I remember how Alzheimer's kept eating away at her memory — first poking holes in her short-term memory, then spreading to her long-term memory. She was a sweet, warm person, full of life. I will lean into these memories. My grandmother was her caretaker for a while, and I will reflect on her behaviors and feelings from that time as I prepare. 

Q: How has preparing for this concert been artistically different from other performances you’ve been part of? 

DK: No difference, really. Besides learning the music, I’m exploring the composition for interpretive insights. Like any work, I analyze its lyrical (textual) and musical components and inventions — turns of phrase, punctuation, intention, dynamics, musical word painting, motifs, meters, tempo and key signatures to help me contextualize the story and find throughlines for interpretation. For me, this is meticulous work, and there is something very clinical about my preparation process. Also, since this is in conjunction with UCI MIND, I have the opportunity to peruse their research data on Alzheimer's, which, for me, will deepen my understanding on the subject. 

Q: As a soloist and performer, what makes this concert distinct from other choral works you've performed? 

DK: First, my prior performances with choirs have been mostly theatrical. Second, as a soloist, I have mostly performed with orchestras and instrumental ensembles without a choir. Third, the uniqueness of this interdisciplinary initiative makes it quite distinctive, and spearheading more collaborations like this will bring more understanding of and appreciation for the arts and foster meaningful cross-campus relationships. 

Q: What do you hope audience members take away from this concert? 

DK: In all my work, I hope to cultivate more empathy in the world. I want people to be inspired by the dedication and efforts people have made to understand, endure, and confront this mysterious and crippling disease. 

For ticketing information to Finding Light: Alzheimer’s Stories, visit here.