That grand and glorious sound you might have heard coming from the Central Bucks Community Senior Center in Doylestown on April 20 was being made by 112 singers at the first -- in what promised to become an annual -- "Singing for Seniors Choir Festival," a gathering of area senior choirs hosted by the Bucks County Choral Society.

Six senior choral groups from the Bucks County area joined with BCCS artistic director Thomas Lloyd and internationally renowned conductor, composer, and clinician Helen Kemp for a full day of choral music. Each group had an opportunity to present their own selections, and the entire ensemble rehearsed and performed two selections, with Ms. Kemp and Mr. Lloyd each conducting one of these pieces. The Singing for Seniors Choir Festival represented a wide array of Bucks County musical talent, and included the Joyful Singers (conducted by Mary Louise Varricchione-Lyon), the Choraliers (conducted by Janet Gundrum), the Heritage Towers Singers (conducted by Ruth Sauter), the Pine Run Choir (conducted by Lola Glass), the Manor Singers of the Manor at York Town (conducted by Helen Kemp), and the all-female Love Notes (conducted by Doris Kodikian).

"An important part of the Choral Society's mission is to promote the virtues of choral singing for both the soul and the body," comments Lloyd. "Scientific studies have shown that singing has a significantly more positive impact on the aging process than other kinds of activities, since it involves physical, mental, emotional, and social activity all in one, so it is only natural for the Choral Society to want to encourage the growth of a 'singing for seniors' mentality." In this light, the mantra that Helen Kemp has used for years with children's choirs all over the world seems especially applicable for seniors: "Body, mind, spirit, voice -- it takes the whole person to sing and rejoice!"

The Festival was divided into two sections. During the morning session, the full ensemble was welcomed by Ms. Kemp and Mr. Lloyd, who then ran the singers through a series of vocal warm-up exercises. The two directors then took turns working with the choir to rehearse the day's two finale pieces. The members of all the choirs then joined the Community Senior Center regulars for lunch and conversation before returning for the second half of the day's events.

After lunch, the senior choirs took turns telling a little about their individual histories and then performing. Some of the choirs had been going for twenty or more years, while one was only formed last Fall, inspired by the first Singing for Seniors Workshop with Helen Kemp. A wide range of choral music was covered among the six participating choirs. The groups then joined together to create one large Senior Choir and performed two songs, Douglas Wagner's "For we wish you music" and the "premier" of a new arrangement of the popular oldie "Smiles" composed by Thomas Lloyd just for this occasion. Unexpectedly, but most pleasantly, the choirs found themselves performing to a welcome and receptive audience, as most of the Community Senior Center's lunch crowd stayed on after lunch to listen to the music.

"I'm enthused about the results of our first Singing for Seniors events and very much enjoyed the Senior Choir Festival," notes Kemp. "I like to say that 'you don't stop singing because you get old, you get old because you stop singing.' Seniors are a still vital force in our society and there is strength in song. This is a wonderful idea which can go quite far." Kemp's choir, a relatively new group, will be presenting "A Spring Choral Concert" at the Manor at Yorktown on May 31 at 1:30 p.m. To reserve seats, call 267.488.0398.

Adds Lloyd, "We were so fortunate to have so many people contributing to make this event a huge success, especially to Ed Shean and Joan Schumacher and their team of volunteers at the Central Bucks Senior Center for accommodating over 200 people for lunch and making us all feel right at home. It was just the low-pressure, comfortable environment we were hoping for. The Singing for Seniors workshop and festival this year have obviously tapped into a need and a source of community vitality that the Choral Society looks forward to supporting for years to come as this new program grows."

For more information about Singing for Seniors 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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