'TIS the season to be jolly and the Christmas caroling tradition brought joy to around 50 family and friends gathering to watch their loved ones’ choir performance in Nundah this week.

The Zion Lutheran Home residents’ debut concert featured a selection of old time tunes from the Ulverscroft songbooks chosen by the choir members who practice regularly on a Monday. 

Zion Music Therapist Chantelle Suttor led the group through warm-ups and played the piano. She said the group, 70 and above, was an intergenerational coming together to promote social interaction.

“I like to learn about songs that meant something to them during the war time,” she said.

“It’s nice to see people who don’t attend other activities but come to music therapy sessions.

“I think it also helps to settle residents with dementia.

“It’s a reflection of their stages of life and the traditions they’ve lived with.”

Chantelle said they all have their own song books, are steadily building up a repertoire of songs and the next step will be for choir members to sing in rounds.

She explained music therapy is an allied health profession practiced in Australia and 40 countries around the world. It incorporates the planned and creative use of music to attain health and wellbeing.

Zion Lifestyle Coordinator Neal Price said the choir formed in September and have never looked back.

“Some choir members have advanced dementia and this is evidence that the memory of song remains with people for a very long time,” he said.

Husband and wife Herbert and Ellen Armitage love practicing together in a group setting.

“I’m not such a great singer but it’s very pleasant to be a part of this choir and my husband’s got a terrific voice,” she said.     

Choir member Anne Devlin’s son Sean came to watch his mother perform.

“This choir is important to mum because she’s always liked to sing and dance,” he said.

“She’s always loved Christmas and playing music during the yuletide season.”

Thelma Bock, 88, encouraged other residents to come along and join in the fun for Christmas.

“We don’t have to be good singers and it’s nice to celebrate Christmas,” she said.

“I have a lot of happy Christmas memories.”