Community choir is hitting all the right notes with members

A COMMUNITY choir set up for Mental Health Month 2019 has continued to stay in rhythm, with the 48-strong troupe sharing the stage with the Dublin Gospel Choir later this month.

Back in 2019, the Kingswood Community Choir started as a four-week project.

However, due to an interest from locals and the overall wellbeing benefits of singing in a group, it has become a permanent fixture in the Kingswood Community Centre.

Led by local resident and music teacher Pauline Dalton, who has been teaching the Kingswood Youth Choir for 18 years, the adult community choir has been hitting all the right notes with members.

Speaking with The Echo, Pauline said that she teaches singing for health and wellbeing.

“When you sing, you feel good,” Pauline said.

“It is good for your breathing, your posture, and it releases happy hormones, especially when you sing with others.

“So many people started and said they ‘can’t sing’.

“However, everyone can sing, especially in a group setting.

“There’s always a place for everyone in a choir.”

She added: “It’s all about fun, everyone is here for each other.”

Alongside the health and wellbeing benefits of the choir, members have made new friends and community connections.

Caroline Creaner has been living in Kingswood since 1985 and is one of the original members of the choir.

“I felt that the choir could get me out of the house and help me connect with my community,” Caroline told The Echo.

“I can hold a tune, I used to sing in a school choir but that was many moons ago.

“I’ve always liked music and love a sing song so when I heard about the choir [in Kingswood CC] I thought it was a good way to get out into the community.

“Meet new people, meet people who live around me.”

Encouraging other people to give it a go, Caroline said: “Lots of people at the start were saying they were ‘not a singer’… everyone sings now.

“Everybody has a tune in them, you just need to find the right song.

“I really would encourage people to do it, come and join us… the more the merrier.

“We have a laugh, some banter and chats, [the choir] is really good for people.

“Being in the choir has brought me out [of my house] and I know loads of people now.

“It’s amazing how one thing can lead to another.”

On Friday, May 13, the community choir will support a fundraiser for the Kingswood Community Centre, which will see the Dublin Gospel Choir perform in the Maldron Hotel, Tallaght.

The community choir will start the show, performing from 8pm to 8.40pm, with the Dublin Gospel Choir taking to the stage from 9pm to 10.30pm.

Everybody is invited to attend the concert, with €20 tickets on sale from Kingswood Community Centre between 10am and 8pm, Monday to Friday.

Alternatively email info@kingswoodclc.ie or call 086 2372655 / 01 4520590.