On Sunday April 19, the First Congregational Church will host "A Harpist at the Threshold: Hospice Stories of Love and Grace" with Jayne Demakos. The 4:00 pm program will occur in the church sanctuary at 309 Highland Road, Ithaca. It is free and open to the public.

Through story and the gentle voice of the harp, music-thanatologist Demakos offers tender reflections drawn from her work at the bedside of the dying. In this intimate performance, music and story become companions at the threshold, illuminating moments of sorrow, courage, mystery, and love.

With honesty and grace, Demakos invites us into a quieter understanding of the final passage-and where even in the shadow of loss there remains the possibility of beauty, peace, and deep human connection.

This event is organized by the First Congregational Church Adult Education Committee. Donations will be accepted to help cover the cost. It will also be livestreamed at fccithaca.org

Demakos is a contemplative musician and music-thanatologist, certified by the Music-Thanatology Association International in 2020. She holds a BA in Piano Performance from Ithaca College and has taught music as medicine at the Ithaca College School of Music. Over the past 17 years, she has provided harp and voice at the bedside in healthcare settings, including Hospicare and Palliative Care Services and Providence St. Peter Hospital. Demakos is a founding faculty member of the Accorda Music Thanatology Institute and an entrepreneur with programs like GriefSong and CompassionHarp. She is also a choir director and private music instructor, and has released three recordings including Sacred Chant: A Small Offering (2022).