This exciting duo jaunting through the Michiana area brings its uniquely spirited music to senior living facilities and special events of all kinds. The Swing Sisters specialize in entertaining seniors in memory care, performing at assisted living, nursing and any kind of elder care residences.
From southwest Michigan to St. Louis, northern Indiana to the Bavarian Alps in southern Germany, The Swing Sisters have gained international status sharing one of America’s gems; popular music from the 1770’s-1970’s.
The Swing Sisters' lively singing and piano playing of beloved songs steeped in nostalgia, accompanied by vivid storytelling and historical trivia, awaken the hearts and minds of their audiences with feet irresistibly tapping along with beaming smiles.
From Tin Pan Alley to the Great American Song Book, this is the music that keeps our souls alive. The music our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents grew up on.
Hearing about the reminiscing of days gone by of canning fruit in the kitchen with mothers and aunts, singing “I Want a Girl, Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad” (1911). What a matriarchal song-fest! Or standing around the piano harmonizing to 1914’s “Play a Simple Melody”, or not realizing when you’re at a baseball game that “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is from 1908!! This is the best of a "Sentimental Journey" (1944).
Our American classics have no end. Just like baseball fans of all ages know the chorus to 1908’s “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and who doesn’t know the words to Irving Berlin’s, “White Christmas” (1940) or "Bushel and a Peck" (1950)!
The Swing Sisters are diligent about having new monthly programs, seasonally oriented. The audience is continuously amazed with our music selection filled with humor, wit and fascinating information regarding the songs.
Creating specialty programs for most any occasion is what sets The Swing Sisters apart and what we thrive on. Our most popular are the Armchair Road Trips, Patriotic programs for Memorial Day,Veteran's Day and 4th of July. Other favorites include Mother's Day Tea, Labor Day, Antique & Vintage Automobile Clubs, National Volunteer Week, and more.
“I just want to thank you again for your part in helping mom keep the music alive in her mind when you would go out to see at the nursing home. Know that she truly enjoyed that and it gave her joy and made her smile. You shared yourself and your gift and it made mom smile and for that I will always be ever so grateful”
Gabriela Winkler
Gabriela Winkler, piano player, storyteller & entertainer, gave up a lucrative career as a substitute teacher in 2005 to embark on a new journey, The Swing Sisters.
Gabriela is the proud mother of 2 handsome sons, daughter-in-laws and is "Gigi" to two beautiful young granddaughters and a brother and sister who put an extra spring to her step and a special song in her heart! Not to mention 2 parti-colored Cocker Spaniels, Daisy and Violet.
Gabriela is the organist at Sacred Heart Parish at the University of Notre Dame.
A 1979 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Gabriela has quite a varied background, which has proven optimal in running Swing Sister Entertainment.
Hobbies are "Music! Music! Music!"
Nancy Entstrasser
Nancy Entstrasser, songstress & entertainer, had been helping out the Swing Sisters since 2010 when she became a permanent, full-fledged Swing Sister starting January 2012.
Happily married to John for over 40 years, they have 2 grown, wonderful children and 2 highly talented grandchildren.
Nancy has sung tenor in her church choir at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles, Michigan, has been in charge of her church’s bi-annual rummage sale and active for many years in the church’s Ladies Aid working with local community outreach programs.
A 1977 Valparaiso University graduate, Nancy received a B.S. in education with a minor in music. Retiring from Northwest Airlines after 20 years has allowed Nancy and her husband to travel here and there, to and fro.
Hobbies are cruising/travel and more cruising. Oh, and “Sing, Sing, Sing”!!