Meet Mary Minielli
“Music touches every sense and bridges generations.” says High Notes Avante’s newest member of its Board of Directors.
Music Touches Every Sense and Bridges Generations
“Music touches every sense and bridges generations, from newborns to seniors,” says Mary Minielli, newest member of High Notes Avante’s Board of Directors. “Even when someone with memory loss can no longer recognize surroundings or people, music evokes a response. It calms, uplifts, and creates a sense of belonging when words fail.”
Whether it is watching her own grandchildren’s faces light up to a rhythm or observing older adults living with Alzheimer’s find deep calm and tranquility through a familiar melody, Mary has seen music as a clinical and emotional lifeline.
A Supportive Community Can Change Everything
Having walked alongside family member through their own mental health journeys, Mary also understands the invisible nature of these struggles. “Mental health challenge is something we all face, whether to a small or significant degree,” Mary reflects. “It’s often hidden, and people become very skilled at masking it. Life is a constant balancing act, and when it becomes overwhelming, having a supportive community can change everything.”
“High Notes Avante offers a unique, non-intimidating doorway to better mental health through music. When donors invest in this mission, they aren’t just funding lessons, they are helping build a healthier, more connected community for all of us.”
Mary’s Relationship With High Notes Avante
Mary’s relationship with High Notes Avante began when Chartwell Retirement Residences, where her role is Regional Business Development Manager, first sponsored the High Notes Gala for Mental Health at the Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts. Recently, she and HNA’s Founder, Ingrid Taheri, met to discuss further community engagements. Recognizing Mary’s rare blend of corporate expertise and passion for advocacy, Ingrid invited her to join the Board of Directors.
“Mary has a powerful combination of strategic vision and genuine compassion” says Ingrid. “It is with open arms that we welcome Mary to join the board, to head up the newly formed fundraising committee. She will help us raise much needed funds to expand and sustain our programming so we can continue to provide support and healing through music for years to come.”
Summer Soirée at Chartwell Oak Ridges
Mary is already spearheading High Notes Avante’s first fundraising Summer Soirée, a pilot event hosted at Chartwell Oak Ridges, one of the Chartwell properties she works with. The Summer Soirée is all about creating a space where people can connect, enjoy great music and see the tangible value of investing in mental health. “When we bring the community together with a shared purpose, incredible things happen,” says Mary.
Quarterly Corporate Networking and Fundraising Events
To help ensure sustainable growth, Mary envisions quarterly corporate networking and fundraising events for High Notes Avante. “People want to support causes, but they also want connection and real value,” Mary emphasizes. “By creating consistent spaces for local businesses, community leaders, and advocates to network, we can speak openly about how to pool resources and make a lasting impact together.”
With thirty per cent of the population projected to be seniors by 2031, Mary also envisions High Notes Avante helping to fill a vital gap in intergenerational programming by helping to create low-barrier entry points for mental health supports.
Join Mary and High Notes Avante on August 13
Please join Mary and the High Notes Avante team for the Summer Soiree at Chartwell Oak Ridges on August 13.