On November 9th, a very special presentation was held at Friendship Village in Schaumburg. Sue Young, a resident of the senior living community, was inducted into the Senior Hall of Fame for the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA).

The Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame was created in 1994 by the Illinois General Assembly to honor Illinois residents ages 64 and older for their personal achievements in four separate categories.  Young was recognized for her record of accomplishment in artistic expression. She has generously shared her unique gift of music for more than 40 years, professionally, and more recently as an active volunteer.

Young was a vocal instructor, lecturer, adjunct professor, and conductor throughout the Midwest, having worked at a variety of schools, churches, and conferences. She was the choirmaster of the Evanston Symphony Orchestra Festival Chorus and the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra Festival Chorus, and the founder/conductor emeritus of the Northbrook Community Choir. Over the years, Young has received many awards for her teaching and dedication to music.

In 2011, Young moved to Friendship Village. In 2014 she began volunteering as the director of the Friendship Village Choir, which is made up of approximately 50 residents who, under Young's kind tutelage, sing their hearts out. She devotes many hours each week with tasks, including planning and directing rehearsals, preparing and ordering music, designing programs, communicating with singers, and coordinating live performances. Young also has volunteered out in the greater Schaumburg community with intergenerational events. These have included sharing music with children at Home and Aid Society in Schaumburg and collaborations with Hoover Math and Science Academy, Armstrong Grade School, and Ogden School.

The Senior Hall of Fame induction program on November 9th included an opening statement by Jill Steco, lifestyles director of Friendship Village." Receiving many awards for her years of teaching and dedication to music, Sue continues to be an advocate for music and encourages others to recognize the importance of song in any stage of life," said Steco. "Here at Friendship Village, we are honored and lucky to be the recipients of Susan's gifts and talents."

The event also included a performance by the Friendship Village Choir, conducted by Young, and the presentation of the Hall of Fame award by Paula Basta, director of IDoA. More than 100 people attended, including Young's family and her fellow-residents at Friendship Village.

Earlier this year, Young remarked that she finds great joy in the work she does. "I am so grateful for being allowed the privilege of being able to share my passion for choral music with the youngest children from Home and Aid, through the grade-school-age children, to the seniors at Friendship Village and beyond. The rewards of volunteering to make music within the community of Schaumburg and experiencing the joy it brings to others through mutual respect and collaboration are immeasurable."

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