Cochrane’s Good Vibes Memory Choir is returning to the community with two concerts that are set to take place on Dec. 15 and Dec. 16.
Their first performance, dubbed That’s what Friends are For, on Dec. 15 is set for 3 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Their following performance on Dec. 16, The Colours of Christmas, will take place at Hawthorne Living community at 3 p.m.
Both concerts are free of charge, and donations will be accepted at the concert at St. Peter’s
Artistic director for Good Vibes Memory Choir, Erica Phare-Bergh, explains that their group is composed of people who have been impacted by dementia.
“It’s a mixture of people, some who have dementia, volunteers, and people who have family or friends who’ve either passed away with complications from dementia,” she said.
The choir first debuted earlier this year, but Phare-Bergh explained that she used to run the same type of choirs in Victoria, where research found it provided benefits for the brain and respiratory system.
“We wanted to make sure we brought that when we moved back here to Cochrane,” Phare-Bergh said. “The choir is actually free of charge, we’re just grateful for organizations like the Lions Club, Rotary Club, and St. Peter’s for helping out with that.
“We’re definitely trying to grow our donor base as well, so that we can offer this to more people.”
Each concert will have their own theme, with a different collection of music that they are set to perform. With their concerts drawing near, Phare-Bergh outlines that all of their singers are ready to harmonize for the community.
“The one at Hawthrone is more unison two-part, but the one at St. Peter is more in the community,” she said. “It’s three-part harmony and very high energy. I know they’re excited to be singing.”
Phare-Bergh invites anyone who is interested to listen to their choir. She adds that there are no stigmas involved in their choir, since that is generally associated with those diagnosed with dementia.
“I think that often people feel that they are stigmatized,” she said. “One of the things that the choir does is it totally eradicates that, and just the joy of singing comes through.”
For anyone in the community who is impacted by dementia, Phare-Bergh said they are invited to step out and be part of their choir. Their season will be restarting on Jan. 22 at St. Peter’s and it is completely free of charge.
“We have a professional accompanist and we have a professional opera singer who vocal coaches, and it’s not your run-of-the-mill choir,” she said.
