The Bucks County Choral Society recently hosted its first highly successful, sold out "Singing for Seniors" workshop at The Manor at Yorktown in Jamison, PA. Led by noted area teacher, conductor, singer and composer Helen Kemp, the workshop was designed to provide a pleasurable and educational experience for Bucks County's singing seniors, regardless of their level of musical expertise.
In morning and afternoon sessions (with lunch in between), Dr. Kemp and the 80+ participants sang through and then musically developed four pieces of choral music covering a range of styles. While learning the music, workshop participants were treated to the full width and breadth of Kemp's renowned instructional and inspirational skills. In the highly convivial and energized atmosphere created by Dr. Kemp, singers learned about warming up their voices and bodies, breathing techniques, tone production, pronunciation, as well as how to instill their musical expression with emotion and passion.
Dr. Kemp, whose solid conducting techniques and engaging personality make singing together a fun experience, has been training teachers, conductors and singers of all ages for more than six decades. She has guided and shaped successful choirs in schools, universities, churches and communities in all 50 states and around the world where her books and instructional materials for professionals and non-professionals have become standard resources. Upon her retirement, after two tenures on the faculty of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N. J., she was named Professor Emerita of Voice and Church Music and awarded an honorary doctorate. In 2003, Helen was the recipient of the Elaine Brown Award for Choral Excellence by the American Choral Directors Association of Pennsylvania. Among many other things, she is know for her memorable mantra: "Body, mind, spirit, voice: it takes the whole person to sing and rejoice!"
Recent scientific studies have conclusively shown that singing in one's golden years can have a salutary effect on emotional, physical, and mental vitality. The Bucks County Choral Society's design for the Singing for Seniors workshop is to acknowledge and embrace this valuable asset, and to promote it to Bucks County's growing 55+ senior population. Future plans call for BCCS to host additional workshops, assist interested senior centers and retirement communities in starting and maintaining choirs for seniors, culminating in the development of regular "Singing For Seniors" joint concerts, featuring area senior choirs and BCCS.
In the full spirit of the BCCS mission, Dr. Kemp has recently started a choir for seniors at The Manor at Yorktown, where she currently resides. Great things are anticipated.
For more information about the Singing for Seniors Workshop or for general BCCS information, please contact the Bucks County Choral Society at 215-598-6142 or 215.348.8683, or visit us online at www.buckschoral.org.
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