Big voices, bigger hearts

THE Bigger Hearts Dementia Choir will be in full voice this month as they stage their annual concert Stand by Me.

Set for the York Street Church of Christ on Sunday 10 September at 1.30pm, the performance will see two sets from the ensemble, which has about 26 members, including a 102-year-old.

Four other likeminded community choirs, young and old, are supporting the group, and will sing pieces from their own repertoire.

Bigger Hearts member and neuropsychologist Dr Kerrie Shiell said attendees can expect some music choices that are more modern than what the ensemble has sung before.

“They’re still songs from the past, but we’re all getting older, so the songs we consider from our past are changing,” she said.

“When I first started doing this work, we’d be singing songs from wartime, but now we’re more into the era of The Beatles.

“The focus is also on fundraising for the continued support for the choir, so there will be raffles, and an afternoon tea. The concert will run for about two hours including the afternoon tea.”

Dr Shiell said the choir meets weekly on a Friday, and is going from strength to strength, describing the energy at practices as “beautiful.”

“Rehearsals are always a joyful space,” she said. “There’s always something, a joyful moment every week. Whether it’s duets between people, or impromptu moments of dancing, it’s always gorgeous.”

Membership of the Bigger Hearts Dementia Choir is currently capped, as not to overwhelm participants.

“We’ve made our focus engaging those folks that would otherwise be at home and quite isolated,” she said.

“We’ve got a good, strong, consistent group of people, and a regular one or two extra a month. Some people drift away as their situations change as well.”

Visit bit.ly/45pDTsr for tickets or purchase them on the door. Entry is free for children.