Musical Tastes

As some of you may know, I have booked and coordinated the Sunday concerts at the McMichael Gallery of Canadian art for over ten years. Planning a season to please all tastes is a delicate balancing act. Recently, I was asked to assist with programming for a teachers' organization. I agreed but already I am having misgivings. The first performance I have been asked to plan is an exciting programme of music to interest 90 year olds and also others in order to keep them coming back for the rest of the season. This is for the first programme in September. The criteria are that not everyone likes jazz, not everyone likes classical, the 90 year olds do not want to pandered to. My contact likes Celtic music like Danny Boy and Molly Malone. My goodness, what am I supposed to plan for? The difficulty is that some people are very limited in what they choose to listen to and there is no convincing them that some jazz like Dave Brubeck, Herbie Hancock-album of the year at this year's Grammies, Chick Corea, Diana Krall is wonderful- I admit that some experimental jazz will not be to all tastes. I have never enjoyed Miles Davis although I can admire his talent. The same can be said for classical- who has trouble listening to Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky? My list could go on. I can enjoy a few rounds of Celtic music but soon I am hoping for cheerful songs. Love watching Celtic dancing but again only in small doses; hard to convince me that I should watch Lord of the Dance for the full two hours. Despite, 10 years of planning concerts, I do not feel that I will able to make this work. What kind of music is left that will appeal to this group. Ideas?