Te Aroha Singers Community Choir

30/03/2026

This was so thrilling, a joyous musical night

26/03/2026

Still strong in our memory

Exciiting news about the series CHOIR GAMES, about our very own World Choir Games in Auckland, which will be having its U.S. Premiere at ‘SeriesFest’ in May! Often referred to as the ‘Sundance of TV’, SeriesFest is considered one of the top television festivals in the U.S. and CHOIR GAMES is one of just eight unscripted programmes in competition. Producer Leanne Pooley will be going to Denver, Colorado for the festival which starts on the 6th of May.

https://seriesfest.eventive.org/films?filterTags[6967bb98eee5f4f1de7f60b0]=true

For those who haven’t seen it, Choir Games is still available on Neon and Sky Go in Aotearoa now.

26/03/2026

20/03/2026

This is why Wednesday night is so good for us!

Older adults who joined a choir improved their memory more than those who got health education. The secret wasn't music.

In a randomized controlled trial, researchers split adults at risk for dementia into two groups. One group received standard health education. The other joined a choir.

Two years later, the choir singers scored significantly better on cognitive tests.

But here is the part that fascinates me as a physician: this was not just about music.

Singing in a choir is an accidental full-brain workout. It combines at least five things that research independently links to cognitive protection:

Breath control. Singing requires coordinated, deep breathing that activates the vagus nerve, the main highway of your parasympathetic nervous system. This is the same mechanism behind breathwork practices used for stress regulation.

Memorization. Learning lyrics and melodies challenges working memory and verbal fluency, the cognitive domains that decline earliest in aging.

Social bonding. Choir members report reduced loneliness and stronger community ties. Loneliness is associated with a higher dementia risk comparable to other major risk factors.

Rhythmic coordination. Following tempo and harmonizing with others requires real-time motor and auditory processing, training neural pathways that weaken with age.

Emotional expression. Singing releases endorphins and oxytocin, which lower cortisol and reduce chronic stress, a known accelerator of brain aging.

A separate study found that choir singers had enhanced structural brain connectivity across the lifespan compared to non-singers.

You do not need a prescription. You do not need a perfect voice. You need a Tuesday night choir practice.

Joyful things can be medicine too.

08/12/2025

Sunday at the Museum - such a lovely venue.

13/11/2025

13/11/2025

Stunning Performances from 3 Choirs as their concert tour comes to a finale in Te Aroha on Saturday. Two shows- 1PM and 4PM. From Wade in The Water to Time After Time. Songs from around the world, old and new, reflection and joy. After performing last weekend in Pauanui and Whitianga the 65 singers sing together for the grand finale in Te Aroha. Reaction has been amazing with many coming down from Whitianga to hear it all again. Don’t miss out - tickets on sale at the door.