Young and old performers join forces for Big Sing

Young and not so young performers from across York are joining forces this week to stage a celebration of music.

The Big Sing event will be held at New Earswick Folk Hall from 11.45am-2.15pm on Friday 27th March.

Students from York St John University will perform to over 80 care home residents, sheltered housing tenants and their friends and relatives as part of Big Sing event, and residents from the homes will be staging some performances of their own.

The Big Sing event is being organised by the Musical Connections Project which currently runs weekly music sessions in City of York Council’s seven elderly person’s homes and sheltered housing accommodation.

The weekly musical sessions maximise social interactions between residents, incorporating a wide variety of musical genres and will enable residents to learn new songs and styles, contribute to writing songs and use percussion instruments.

Fiona Chapman, the founder of the Musical Connections project, said: “It is a well known fact that both care home residents and sheltered housing tenants are at risk of loneliness, low self-esteem, lethargy and depression, all of which can affect both mental and physical health.
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