From Duke to Durham Retirement Community, The Music Has Never Stopped for Harmonious Couple
He’s from the Netherlands she’s from California. Both share a passion for music, and met in a university music ensemble, where they fell in love and went on to have rewarding careers at Duke University in music and performing arts. It’s a beautiful story, but the music didn’t stop with retirement. For Kathy and Lex Silbiger, residents of Croasdaile Village, a senior living community in Durham, it was only the beginning.
Inside the Silbiger’s garden home on the Croasdaile Village campus, it’s not uncommon to hear the sound of music, as “The Rusty Pipes,” a band of 16 fellow Croasdaile Village residents, sit in chairs and practice their craft. Thanks to the expertise of their Duke bandmates, The Rusty Pipes have made a name for themselves in and outside of the community.
As you might expect, both Kathy and Lex are very musically inclined. She plays trumpet and recorder; he plays a number of instruments, including piano and harpsichord. Lex also still writes music. After moving to Croasdaile Village, they wanted to be part of a musical group, and learned there were others in the community who play or had once played instruments. Thus, The Rusty Pipes were born.
“We all share a love of music and a desire to stay involved,” said Kathy. “We get a lot of joy out of this experience.”
Aside from three performances a year at Croasdaile Village, The Rusty Pipes also perform outside of the community about seven or eight times a year. Kathy and Lex say the socialization aspect is great, and the band has a good time getting together. The couple also stresses the benefits of music in keeping the brain fit, something very important to the residents who call the community home.