03 May 2025 13 min read Community

The Healing Power of Singing

It is hard to put into words what it is about singing in a group that feels so good, but my spirit soars each time we rehearse together, and even more so after our performances; I come away feeling alive, energised, and more appreciative of my life.

by Milly Day | Some Voices Choir
April 2025

Just over half a year ago, I walked into an unfamiliar church, filled with people I had never previously met, who were warming up their voices in a way that was, to put it mildly, a tad unusual.

I stood at the back, feeling awkward and unsure of where to place myself, unsure if this was where I belonged, but I stayed put because I wanted to see what succeeded this unusual warm-up. Fast forward an hour and a half and the awkwardness had melted away, a sense of ease taking its place and a realisation that this is, in fact, exactly where I belong – that was my introduction to Some Voices Stroud.

It soon became apparent from the smiles, tears of joy, and the heartfelt messages in our Whatsapp group that I am not the only one who feels this way, so I decided to ask some of my fellow choristers what communal singing means to them.

Based on their responses and my personal experiences, I concluded that there are five main reasons we love singing together: it serves as a coping mechanism for grief, helps us forget our worries, facilitates connection, boosts confidence, and is just so damn joyful!

A way to cope with grief and hardship

RESEARCH SHOWS that singing in a choir boosts self-efficacy and self-esteem, two factors that can reduce the impact of grief. Several people that I spoke to have shared personal experiences of this, such as Suzie, who was at an all time low following a series of bereavements and a marital rock bottom when she was introduced to Some Voices.

“Joining the choir literally turned a lightbulb on in my brain and increased my confidence and self-worth significantly,” she said.

“It really has changed my life and has helped to liberate me.” Suzie’s sentiments are echoed by Some Voices choir ranger, Wendy, who describes joining the choir as “life changing” and “a regular pulse of enjoyment and happiness” following a traumatic divorce, the loss of her business, and the pandemic.

Annika, who has been singing in groups for over thirty years, was searching for something to help her deal with sadness when she first joined an adult choir.

“It was a turning point,” she told me. “It helped me with the grief.”

A fellow tenor told me that after losing their partner, singing has become a real positive in their life and has given them something to look forward to. Another member of our tenor family, Henry, who joined at the start of this year, shared that the choir has helped him through what he calls “a difficult and soul-searching time” in his life.

Rehearsing with the whole choir at The Long Table

A reprieve from stress and worry

I spend far too much time in my head, thinking, worrying and obsessing about things. When we come together during our choir rehearsals, however, I am freed: fully present and all those worries get parked.

After rehearsals, I feel less consumed by the things that were previously occupying so much of my headspace - there are few other activities that have that effect on me.

Singing releases endorphins, which promote overall happiness and when we are happier, we are better equipped to deal with stress factors (source: BBC Future).

It is therefore not surprising that many of the people I spoke to feel the same way as me.

Alex, who joined the choir at the start of 2023, said

“Whatever issues I might be having at any time, they are forgotten when I sing with the choir and my outlook on life becomes brighter.”

Clare, who discovered Some Voices after seeing House Gospel Choir live and deciding she needed to be part of something similar, told me that choir is the one place where she does not worry about anything. She puts this down to the high focus level required and the social aspect, as well as the singing itself.

For Jen, Some Voices has been their only experience of singing in a group, which she describes as a major stress reliever from her intense job.

“Adulting in general is hard work, with all the constant decision-making”

“It’s such a relief that when Wednesday evening comes around, all I need to do is walk through that door and I’m told what to do and I do it.”

Lucy signed up to Some Voices after attending one of the gigs. For her, the choir is an escape from work or whatever is going on in her head.

“When we're singing, I'm not really thinking about anything else, so it's a great stress reliever,” she told me.

Lucie has been singing in choirs since she was eleven years old and believes that when she is not singing, she experiences more stress in her everyday life.

In contrast, she shared that no matter how she feels before rehearsals, she leaves feeling energised and like her worries have magically melted away. Suzie shared similar feelings with me:

“The energy and positivity that is given off by the group and our fantastic choir lead is illuminating. You can turn up to choir after a bad day or feeling low and within 15 minutes, you can feel your mood rising.”

Community and connection

THE MOST PREVALENT theme across the responses I received was that of community and connection. Dennis, who first joined a choir by mistake during cancer treatment, said it turned out to be “the best medicine” for him.

Since being part of Some Voices, he claims to have met more people than he has done during his twenty years of living in Stroud. This was the same for another member, who moved to Stroud from London, where they sang in a choir that performed folk songs related to gardens.

“It's a great way to meet new people, especially when you move to a new area,” they said. “Joining Some Voices has helped me to make new friends as well as have fun!”

Jon, who refrained from singing in a choir after the age of thirteen for fear of looking uncool, told me a major upside of joining Some Voices for him has been meeting people with a common interest.

“We meet up for separate rehearsals and go out for meals together, so it’s become more than a choir,” he shared.

Fiona discovered Some Voices when searching for a fun non-audition choir that fit in with her work schedule and she too spoke about these separate rehearsals:

“Our soprano section rehearsals feel like a privilege to attend because someone offers their home, and we turn up to chat, laugh, share our difficulties … I really do appreciate the sense of community and friendships that are developing.”

One article, which describes communal singing as “a mega-mechanism for bonding” referenced a study in which strangers emerge with unusually close bonds after singing together (source: The Guardian), something that many Some Voices members seem to have experienced. Clare spoke about the “incredible bonds” she has established with her voice part friends through singing together and Jen shared that she has made what she calls “proper friends”, who have supported her through difficult health issues over the past couple of years.

For Lucie, being a choir member means being part of a team of people that care for one another, which helps her feel connected.

Several others highlighted the diverse nature of the people that make up the choir.

Henry and another new member, Eleanor, remarked that Some Voices attracts “people from all walks of life”, which Henry feels is not to be underestimated in today’s world.

Alex believes it is “marvellous” that people from different backgrounds who are united through the choir become friends, and Jo, who has been a Some Voices member since the very start, described how she has bonded with people who are, in many ways, completely different.

“There's a gentle and generous love between us, born from our mutual love of singing,” she said. “It's a great leveller and when we sing, we're all equal. We combine to make something that's greater than the sum of the parts.”

A confidence boost

IT HAS BEEN SAID that being part of a choir cultivates confidence: when individuals come together to sing, their voices unite and they share in the collective strength of the group (source: The People’s Orchestra).

Several Some Voices members shared personal experiences with me that back up this claim, such as Elaine, whose confidence had been knocked after not making the cut for any of her university choirs.

Elaine said she has not once felt that she is not good enough for Some Voices, or encountered any toxic competitiveness, and that blending her voice with the voices of the other tenors has helped her “experience and enact successful living.”

Jo remarked that her confidence has improved since joining the choir and Dennis shared that singing with others has contributed to “health-enhancing changes and a sense of achievement.” Henry also talked about enhanced wellbeing and improved confidence through the “genuine happy times” he has had with the choir.

Some Voices helps boost members confidence by pushing them out of their comfort zone too. Lucy admitted she is not naturally one to perform in front of others, and Eleanor shared that attending choir has meant sitting with the discomfort of something she finds challenging, which has given her a reason to feel proud of herself.

Jen told me she “barely made a noise” when she first started singing with Some Voices.

“The choir has really enabled me to find my voice, not only at choir but in other areas of my life too”

It appears she is not alone; Suzie felt what she described as “complete imposter syndrome” in her first session, but she quickly gained confidence and now feels that she is an instrumental part of the choir.

“I am a different person now”

This in turn has given her the confidence to discover other social pursuits and open up her creativity. “I am a different person now,” she told me. “From feeling full of self doubt, social anxiety and low self-confidence, this has transformed.”

Joy

Local MP and still a practicing doctor, Simon Opher, claims that he sees patients less often if they join a choir due to the wide range of health and social benefits of communal singing (source: London Evening Standard).

I asked Dr. Opher what it is about singing in choirs that is so beneficial to wellbeing and he said it is because “You are with others and when the singing soars, so do your spirits (and therefore your mood!).”

As adults, I believe we underestimate the healing power of mood-boosting activities, as we are so busy trying to heal ourselves through other means. Eleanor shared similar sentiments, telling me she loves the “joy and silliness” of rehearsals and that she thinks people could do with more laughter in their lives.

For Elaine, choir offers “regular doses of collective effervescence.” This notion of collective effervescence refers to the joy experienced through engaging in a shared activity (source: Menlo Innovations).

Annika, Jen and Suzie all used the word “joy” when describing what singing with others means to them, and Jon said he continues to feel the buzz from his first session with Some Voices.

“I still get that feeling each week, even with songs that I’m not so keen on,” he added.

Wendy believes her life is poorer when she does not sing.

“Singing with others and sharing in the fun and joy is life affirming to me”

For Fiona, this feeling is not only present when she comes together to sing with her fellows, but in the lead-up to and after rehearsals too.

“I drive into Stroud feeling excited, and home again with a satisfied tiredness and a touch of euphoria,” she told me.

Some of the emotions that singing in a choir brings

Some Voices is one of many local choirs in the Stroud district. You can find out more and sign up below.

There are plenty of amateur and professional choirs to suit everyone's needs.

Milly Day writes about addiction, self-development and conscious living and has had her writing featured in Cosmopolitan UK and Glamour UK.

You can find more of Milly's writing on her Medium blog.

Amplify Stroud is supported by Dialect rural writers collective. Dialect offers mentorship, encouragement and self-study courses as well as publishing.

You can find out more at https://www.dialect.org.uk/