Sing Ireland and Creative Aging International, supported by Creative Ireland, are developing Ageing Voices to offer tools and networks which encourage singing for health and well-being amongst adults, whether they live in the community or in care.

Singing is fun, therapeutic, social, and stimulating. It takes place in groups, choirs, health centres, and even hospitals. Older adults who sing might be fit as a fiddle or challenged by illness. Great innovation in connecting singing with care is happening across Ireland. Inspiring and appropriate pandemic responses are being led by singing groups.

Four lunchtime panel conversations online from the 9th-12th of November will celebrate and explore this topic for musicians, carers, health care teams working with older people, and everyone lucky to be ageing with a love of singing.

The online panels will be informal, hour-long sessions, featuring accessible expertise made from practical experience to showcase great examples of singing groups for ageing voices, care and well-being, and also to highlight tools and training opportunities.

Monday 9th of November, 1pm to 2pm

“The Ageing Voice” focuses on the voice as an instrument. What happens as we age? How can we maintain and sustain our voices? What happens if we do? Speakers include Michael T. Dawson (CEO Irish Institute of Music & Song), Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness (Honorary President of Sing Ireland), Professor Kathleen Tynan (Head of Vocal Studies and Opera, Royal Irish Academy of Music).

Tuesday 10th of November, 1pm to 2pm

“Special Interest Choirs” focuses on choirs in the community that are friendly to and made with people living with conditions like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. These choirs support people, their families, and carers. Practical music-led approaches for richer lives with challenging conditions, and great music-making. Speakers include Norah Constance Walsh and Orla Horn (The Forget-Me-Nots Choir and Organisation), Dara MacMahon (Move4Parkinson's Wicklow Choir), and Fiona Flavin (Founder and Musical Director of Singing for the Brain, Ireland).

Wednesday 11th of November, 1pm to 2pm

“Community Connections” shares learning from projects where cultural leadership has been connecting organisations through song in pursuit of care; Inspiring stories of hope, creative resilience and “can do” collaboration. Speakers include Sinead Dowling, (Creative Ireland Programme Coordinator and Arts Officer, Carlow Co. Council), Aileen Nolan (Assistant Staff Officer, Carlow Co. Council, Carlow Streams Singalong Sessions), Justine Foster (Programme Manager: Education and Community, West Cork Arts Centre), Denise Rogers, (Senior Clinical Psychologist, Waterford Wexford Mental Health Services).

Thursday 12th of November, 1pm to 2pm

“Singing For Care” discusses singing in healthcare settings, sharing the experience of groups led by nursing staff for their wellbeing, made by care staff who sing; communities of health and care workers for whom song carries care. Speakers include Carol O'Neill, (Community Music Leader, Ennis Hospital Staff Choir), Norah Constance Walsh (Musical Director, MISA Choir), Áine Murphy (Healthcare Assistant), Fergal Fox (Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Communication, Health and Wellbeing, HSE)
...and more panellists to be announced.

Each panel has its own individual registration link. You can sign up for as many as you wish. The events are free, but even online space is limited, so please register to attend: https://www.singireland.ie/news/ageing-voices