Michael (Mike) Hutchinson, talented musician at Sweetwood of Williamstown, demonstrates what it means to reignite a passion in later life, and in the process connect in entirely new ways with the next generation of musicians. As an audience member, he was impressed by the quality of an orchestra that played at Sweetwood one afternoon, and he reached out to James (Jimmy) Bergin, Director of CIAO! (Community Intergenerational Action Orchestra). Inspired by “hearing how well the kids and adults played together,” Mike proposed an idea to transpose an “old piece” for the orchestra, an original composition that he had written for brass instruments in the 1980s or ‘90s, that Mike thought would work wonderfully for this orchestra of talented beginners to experienced musicians. Mike knew he would have to transpose the piece to work for strings. He got to work using Lime musical notation software. With his exceptional technical skills, Mike remarked that musical notation that used to take him days “now was a breeze.” Using this software, for example, he could transpose a trumpet pitched for B flat into the correct pitch for strings, with special attention to ensuring fun for all levels of musicians.
The idea of bringing Mike’s piece to the orchestra became a reality when CIAO! Director received an email “out of the blue” from Mike and was “amazed!” Jimmy was surprised by “Mike’s lush, interesting jazz harmonies,” and added, “The kids love him. “In May 2024, CIAO! premiered Pastorale I and it was an instant hit. At age 85, encouraged by the players response, Mike transposed a second composition, and in April 2025, CIAO! premiered Pastorale II. Mike says he has a third composition forming in his head, and he continues to grow along with his music and his relationships with the musicians.
Jimmy was instantly impressed by Pastoral I’s jazz ballad, describing it as “very expressive and rich with six different parts, a thick harmony and rewarding to play with parts for all instruments.” Especially important, “Mike is democratic in his mindset with parts for six brass players, transposed so that each player has fun playing it.”
CIAO! was conceived when Jimmy Bergin wanted a way for his young students to rehearse and play in a larger ensemble rather than just in occasional solo recitals. The “action” part of Community Intergenerational Action Orchestra comes about when CIAO! plays a concert at which, while open to the public at no charge, voluntary donations are solicited from the audience on behalf of a worthy cause in the local community or farther afield, even internationally. Out of Jimmy’s idea was born a multigenerational orchestra of musicians aged 10 to 70-plus, playing year-round at community venues. Janice Paquette, Sweetwood’s Director of Recreation, was delighted when Jimmy brought a few students to Sweetwood to play and then introduced the orchestra to Sweetwood as a regular venue. CIAO! and all performances are open to the community, and part of the fun is when musicians, families, residents, and community members linger afterwards getting to know each other over refreshments.
CIAO!’s intergenerational philosophy aligns with Sweetwood’s. Both Community Intergenerational Action Orchestra and Sweetwood embrace and celebrate the value of adults and young people working together as equals and doing work that benefits others. Jimmy Bergin noted, “It’s about music. Not about how old you are. Adults respect the kids and the kids respect the adults. Some kids have more formal training than adults, and vice versa. There is no eye rolling! Everyone enjoys the experience!”
As the mastermind of multigenerational programming in her role as Director of Recreation at Sweetwood, Janice Paquette picks up clues and encourages residents to pursue lifelong interests. Janice said, “After a career in engineering, Mike reenergized his love of music and has not only offered new compositions for the local mutigenerational orchestra, but also has created one-of-a-kind shows for the community, including conceiving and performing 100 years of top hits.” His recent performance of “top three hits from each decade” beginning in 1914 through 1964 was a rousing success with residents guessing the tunes after a few notes, singing along, and marveling over songs that their parents sang in the nineteen teens and their children sang in the Beatles era. He clearly loves the fun, asking, “Try to guess the #1 tune from 1914? You’ve never heard of it! But most people know the second most popular, ‘It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary.”
Janice Paquette is the behind-the-scenes motivational support helping residents tap into what they love but perhaps haven’t had a chance to do in a long while. In the process, Janice learns a lot. For example, she pointed out that Mike has taught her how to read scores, and noted with admiration that, “Mike has perfected both his compositions and his performances, demonstrating that everyone can get better, no matter their age and stage in life.” She herself receives great pleasure as “residents reignite their talents and share their passions for everyone’s pleasure and enjoyment.”
Sweetwood resident Mike Hutchinson continues to have all sorts of musical ideas. “My head is in engineering, and my heart is in music,” Mike said.
As a child, Mike recalls hearing far too often, “Oh no, Michael, you must only play what is the written note.” He has been improvising, writing and “fooling around with compositions since I was a kid.” His first instruments were piano and violin, and then in high school he took up the French horn “since that’s where all the pretty girls were.” Mike played the horns until ten years ago when his embouchure, use of his mouth, lips and facial muscles to vibrate air in the horn to create a buzz, no longer allowed him to control and create the tone and range he desired, although he hastened to add that he “can still kiss!” In Mike’s words, “the ‘buzz’ disappeared, but the seal remained!”
At Northeastern where he studied engineering, he “snuck off” to the Boston Conservatory to play the violin, seated next to the concertmaster. As an adult, he auditioned and was delighted to join a band called Dixie Cats, formed by a trumpeter from Williamstown, where Mike played the piano and did most of their arranging. He played at churches, organized dance combos, wrote scores for trumpet, tenor sax, trombone and big band combos, and was a member of the Berkshire Symphony Orchestra in the 1960s. Mike’s long and varied music resume belies his low-key humility and humor. “We used to have dances in Vermont and New Hampshire where people would dance away the evenings”, quickly adding, “I’m the music guy, you don’t want to see me dance unless you want a whole lot of laughs!”
Jimmy Bergin is delighted that Mike reached out to him, “I think it is good for older people to be around younger people and younger people to be with older people since their worlds are totally different. It is going to be the kids’ world, and these positive interactions make a huge difference.”
Mike is already dreaming up another piece for CIAO! and the orchestra can’t wait. Jimmy Bergin, CIAO!’s Director, remarked that “the kids continue to ask for Mike’s piece by name and it has become a favorite, a rare feat for a nonfamiliar tune!” As for Mike, he is “amazed that the kids enjoy his music!”
Written By, Anne E. Doyle, CEO, Spark Living and Learning, LLC