When Chuck Heuer moved to Edina from Moorhead after his wife died six years ago, he felt alone and without direction.
Then he saw an ad for the Edina Singing Seniors, a choir of older adults aimed at enriching the lives of others through music.
“I had some family down here but otherwise I was at square zero with knowing anybody and knowing what to do,” Heuer says. “Then I found this group, and I had sung in church choirs all my life. It’s really been a godsend for me to have this to do.”
Research has shown that community choirs can make a big impact on the lives of their participants, providing a way to regularly engage with others. A 2018 study of senior group choirs in California, published in The Journals of Gerontology, found that participating reduced loneliness and improved interest in life—providing a greater sense of purpose. Some physical benefits have even been tied to singing, such as increased stamina, improved posture, and—according to a study from the University of Frankfurt—a boost to the immune system.
Community choirs are abundant throughout Minnesota, many offered at no cost and with few requirements for joining. Many area choral ensembles are listed at neverstopsinging.org. Local community centers are also a good place to look.
The Edina Singing Seniors, which rehearses at the Edina Community Center, welcomes new members with no auditions, and many members are from outside Edina. The group primarily performs at senior centers and is big on engaging members of the audience—inviting them to sing along and dance.
“It is so heartening, the venues where we go,” says choir member Shirley Gutknecht, 84. “People with illness, people in memory care. And music is like an international language. And we just have a whole lot of fun together.”
Heuer says he’s enjoyed the camaraderie of the group and has met many new friends.
“And I always have something on my calendar,” he says.