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The Riverstone Choir has evolved from a small gathering of casual singers into a thriving group of performers.
Meeting every Wednesday at Kingfisher Wharf in Fulham, the choir is now entirely resident-led, with Riverstone supporting behind the scenes, assisting with tasks such as organising venues or providing branded choir books.
“Over the months, we’ve learned to gel together as a performing choir,” says Sue Cook, the choir’s “mastermind” as members put it. “Hearing how far we’ve come gives everyone a real sense of pride. By the time we reached our Christmas concert, everyone felt ready for the challenge.”
For members, the choir is about much more than music - it’s a source of connection. It’s also an exciting challenge, regardless of one’s experience or confidence in singing.
“It’s been wonderful to see people who had started saying, ‘I can’t sing,’ joining in,” shares Emma. “It’s especially rewarding to see how good it made people feel and how much they evidently enjoyed it.”
Sue echoes this sentiment, noting, “We’ve become a group both inside and outside the choir. Choir gives us common ground, and it’s been wonderful to see that grow.”
The Emotional Power of Music
Music have been linked to emotions at least since Ancient Greece1, and there is a direct link between the two. This is why music is often called the “language of emotion” and we use it to stir up feelings2. For the choir, this connection becomes palpable during rehearsals.
“One of the pleasures of the choir is that we are all encouraged to suggest songs we want to sing,” says Emma. These personal selections can sometimes evoke powerful memories, both joyful and poignant.
Sue adds, “We’re used to passing around the Kleenex when a song touches a nerve. That’s part of what makes it so special.”
Beyond the emotional connection, choir members have noticed unexpected benefits.
“A number of the singers have commented on how they now feel their breathing has benefited,” shares Sue. “Learning how to project your voice and use your diaphragm is very beneficial to an individual’s health.”
For others, the experience has brought renewed confidence. “Following a stroke, I had thought that my voice had become too cracked to sing,” says Emma. “To my surprise and delight, I quickly recovered my ability to reach both high and lower notes. It really helped me to regain my confidence.”
Both Sue and Emma encourage others to embrace new interests, regardless of age or experience.
“Being at Riverstone offers the opportunity, people, and resources to join in with others with similar interests, such as opera, chess, bridge, backgammon, painting, or golf,” Emma explains. “One of the benefits of getting older, and perhaps retiring from active work, is having time to do things you might not have had time for when you had a busy working life.”
Emma’s post-retirement pursuits are nothing short of inspiring. “I volunteered for several years with Citizens Advice, which I loved and learnt so much from. I went back to university and did a master’s at SOAS, learned botanical water-colouring, and took up piano and singing lessons. Now, I sing in the Kingfisher Choir and the more classically oriented JAGS Choir in Dulwich,” she shares.
Sue adds, “As we get older, it’s important to try new things when we get the opportunity. New things come in all different shapes and sizes, so just take a deep breath and jump in!”
1 Oxford Handbook of Music Psychology - Google Books
2 The Emotional Power of Music: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Musical ... - Google Books
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