We Forged Folks With Dementia Into A Choir. It Changed Them - Free Websites, Share News And Posts Publicly

Good morning.

My relationship with my grandmother is defined by two distinctive eras: Pre-dementia and post-dementia. The ‘after’ was her in a nursing home, repeatedly asking me: “Whose child are you?”

I’ve always been a distant spectator, never fully aware of the lived realities of those who were intimately caring for someone living with the condition.

That is, until I started Singapore’s first choir for those living with dementia and their caregivers.

While there is no cure for dementia, science is proving that choral singing can slow the decline of a disease that threatens an ageing population.

With the expertise of vocal coach Angelina Choo and Jason Lai, principal conductor of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Orchestra, our amateur choir underwent 3 months of rehearsals for a concert along Orchard Road.

It was a journey filled with fears, like when one member went missing; many tears, from loved ones especially; and twists.

Our profiles shared intimately, and there was the indomitable spirit of people like Peter, a former army ranger grappling with early-onset dementia.

And the insights gleaned from our series of assessments of choir members before and after the process proved that music can indeed be transformative.

So ultimately, this is not a story about the debilitating nature of dementia – but a story about hope.

Eve Voigtlander

Producer