At the age of 10, Dorothy fell in love with what turned into, not only a career, but a lifelong passion: music. And, in particular, the violin which she purchased from an auction for only $2.
The fact that music brought her joy was not too much of a surprise because she comes from a musical family—her mother sang, her grandmother played piano by ear, and nearly every day after dinner, everyone gathered around the piano to sing hymns. Dorothy and her siblings were expected to take piano lessons, but she quickly realized that wasn’t the instrument for her. She obliged but felt a real pull to the violin. She asked her parents, found a teacher and chased after her true calling.
Her talents helped her achieve a scholarship at Stetson University in Florida where she was a music major. From there, she continued her education at Florida State University and went on to teach violin in public schools and in private lessons. Upon meeting her husband, an English professor at FSU, she was able to explore music on a global scale while traveling with him on his sabbatical trips teaching English as a second language. From France to Japan, China and Israel, Dorothy continued teaching and performing in whatever country they were in.
“Everybody likes music,” said Dorothy with a smile. “It’s a universal language.”
Throughout her career, her musical journey took her from local performances to professional stages. She worked hard for each accomplishment, including sitting first chair viola for the York Symphony. She also remembers fondly playing with a string quartet that would perform at weddings and other functions.
While preforming was always fun, teaching was very important in her life. The dedication to her craft and commitment to FSU students was celebrated in 2023 when the FSU College of Music dedicated the Dorothy Flory Holroyd Ensemble Room in recognition of the hundreds of students she supported, many of whom went on to perform at the highest levels themselves.
“People want to be good at something right away, but music and instruments take years, decades to really perfect,” she described. “But, if you love it, you don’t have to be told to practice—it’s something you do because you want to do it.”
Walking down the hallway of Country Meadows York-South, it’s common to hear Dorothy practicing her art and getting ready for her next performance: the campus’ Sunday chapel service. She shares her gift by leading the community in the spiritual music that guides the service, led by the campus Chaplain, Tim Wagner.
“It’s special when our residents are involved in the services,” says Tim. “They are using their gifts to enhance the experience while other residents are supporting them. It’s a beautiful thing!”
At 95, Dorothy considers herself fortunate that she is still fiddling around and bringing joy to others with her music.
“I can’t imagine my life without music,” says Dorothy. “The violin has become an extension of my body. It’s been my companion my whole life.”
All Interests and Hobbies Welcome at Country Meadows
Through resident-led activities, planned off-campus outings, and even clubs and groups, there are many ways for residents to express themselves, showcase their talents and expertise, and even connect with other residents with similar interests and skills. Whether a resident’s talents are musical in nature like Dorothy’s or they are crafty, a sports fan, outdoorsy, or anything in between, there is always something going on at our campuses that taps into our residents’ hobbies. Contact a campus community near you to meet more residents who do what they love and love what they do at Country Meadows.
Contact us to learn more.