Wellness Means Staying Involved

MVES Sings its Praises for Senior Chorus Performing in the Community

Marcia Cutlip, right, leads the Senior Echoes' practice.

A group of 20 North Reading seniors chat as sheet music circles the brightly sunlit room. Those arriving greet each other while others shuffle through their song binders. Seats are taken according to voice type—altos up front with sopranos to their left. In back are the tenors and basses. Marcia Cutlip, 63, takes her place in front and leads the group in a warm-up exercise of scales. The Senior Echoes’ weekly practice has begun.

The Senior Echoes, a North Reading chorus of about 25 senior members, perform regularly at community events. Today they’re practicing for MVES’ volunteer recognition dinner, where they’ll serve as the evening’s entertainment. Next week they might work on songs to perform at a local nursing home, town meeting, or society gathering. The following week, they’ll fine tune their set list for one of their own member’s 90th birthday party.

Cutlip, who started the Senior Echoes five years ago, believes that practices like these keep the group singing well and aging well too. “There’s no end to benefits of singing. Physically, it helps with breathing, posture, memory, and brain power,” said Cutlip, as she goes on to list even more physical benefits. “And then there’s the social aspect too.”

The social benefits seem obvious when watching the group interact. It’s clear that they’ve become friends over the years. “We’re our own little community within the community,” confirms Cutlip. “We’re a support group.”

Members, whose ages range from early sixties to late eighties, come from varying levels of musical backgrounds. Some are amateurs with no formal training, while a few have backgrounds as music teachers. Many have sung in their church choirs. There are no auditions to become a member of the Senior Echoes, so both experts and beginners are welcome to join.

Mary Rollins, 84, sits front and center during the rehearsal. She proudly announces that has been a member of the Senior Echoes since its beginning and shares the opinion that being involved in the group is good for its members. “Singing keeps us younger!” said Rollins.

Diagonally behind Rollins is Bill Denhard, the oldest member of the Senior Echoes, who will celebrate his 90th birthday in July. Denhard taps his feet to the beat throughout the rehearsal. In a clear and firm voice, he narrates a solo speaking part in one of the group’s favorite pieces, “Church Bells.” As practice is winding down, Denhard confirms with group members that they’re still able to perform at his birthday party. “Don’t worry about eating too much before you sing, because there won’t be much food!” he teases his friends. The Senior Echoes share a laugh.

Denhard’s birthday performance will be a special occasion for the chorus but more typically they perform at area nursing homes, sometimes as often as two or three times a month. Cutlip explains that one of the most rewarding experiences is singing for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. “These are people that may not have even spoken in a really long time,” she said. “Ten minutes into our performance the Alzheimer’s patients are singing along. They recognize the old songs.”

It seems their singing is good for both the members of the chorus and for those who get to enjoy their talents. Cutlip agrees, “For the half hour we’re performing, all is well in the world.”

Cutlip naturally leads the group through practice and it’s obvious she enjoys it. “This gives me a way to express myself. It’s what I love doing,” she said. “I’ve always said that you can retire from your job, but you can’t retire from your life.” Now that’s a tune we all can carry.