Jewish Care’s music and singing groups, for people living with dementia in the community, came together for the charity’s first Singing for Joy competition at The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre campus in north London.
Members of the Sam Beckman choir in Friern Barnet, the Noé Nightingales choir at The Zalman and Ruchi Noé Centre in Stanmore, and The Dennis Centre’s music group in Redbridge – all of which are Jewish Care centres for people living with dementia – together with Jewish Care’s Singing for Memory groups in Redbridge, Stanmore and Southend, each performed alongside their carers to win one of six awards.
These were judged by a panel that included renowned choirmaster and broadcaster Gareth Malone from ‘The Choir’, as well as Jewish Care’s chief executive Daniel Carmel Brown and director of care and housing services Rita Rousso.
Malone said: “Today is a beautiful day, seeing people coming together at any age and singing together and being part of a community. We all need that. It gives us hope. When you are living with dementia, singing is one of the few tools we have to help us retain our feelings, our emotions and our personality. I think it is the closest thing to magic. It’s so important for people to have access to fun, and singing is such a great way to do that.”
Tanya Miller, Jewish Care’s community hub manager in Friern Barnet, who organised the event, said: “We know that music and singing has huge benefits for people living with dementia. It helps to support and maintain cognitive abilities, reduce anxiety, boost confidence, stimulate memories, help maintain speech and language, as well as allowing people to express themselves, enjoy social interaction and have fun, which our members most definitely do. It’s very important to us that we support and empower people living with dementia to continue to do the things they have loved throughout their lives, as well as to enjoy learning new skills that stimulate them and help to instil confidence.”
Sheila from Jewish Care’s Sam Beckman Choir for people living with dementia accepts ‘Most Emotional Performance Award’ from Gareth Malone. Pic: Justin Grainge
Among the performers was Thomassina, who joined Jewish Care’s Singing for Memory group in Redbridge with her daughter, Nicole, about nine months ago, and sometimes attends with her granddaughter, Arabella.
Nicole said, “As a mother and daughter, joining the singing group is a great way for us to go out and spend time together, doing something that my mum really enjoys. She likes getting out the house and spending time talking to other people. We sing old songs, and she remembers the words. It’s lovely.”
Rita Rousso, Daniel Carmel-Brown, CEO and choir master Gareth Malone OBE are judges at Jewish Care’s Singing for Joy competition. Pic: Justin Grainge
Singing ‘Any Dream Will Do’, Thomassina and the rest of the Redbridge Singing for Memory group won the award for Best Group Harmony, with Gareth Malone saying: “I didn’t like it. I loved it!”
Rita, who has been attending the music session at Jewish Care’s Dennis Centre in Redbridge for about two years, sang ‘Getting to Know You’ with the rest of her group, winning the Timeless Voices award.
She said: “It was nice to sing a song I knew well. There’s no judgement. Singing makes me feel relaxed and gives me more confidence. Going to the Dennis Centre shapes my week.”
Jewish Care’s chief executive Daniel Carmel Brown added: “What a fantastic team effort! Everyone was singing in harmony and there was even a bit of dancing too. Thank you for bringing such joy into our afternoon. Days like these make me really proud of the important and meaningful activities we offer throughout our services, which really make a difference to the lives of people living with dementia in the community.”
‘I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You’ was the song choice for the Sam Beckman choir, which won them Most Emotional Performance. Edmond Jeffery, a music and healthcare practitioner who leads the group each week, said: “Singing gives the members a sense of community and achievement, and a new-found confidence, which I see grow after each session. They are such a great group of singers and characters.”
The Noé Nightingales, who have only been together for five weeks and sang ‘Those Were the Days’, won The “Feel Good” Factor Award with Malone saying: “There was so much passion and joy on your faces.”
Angela-and-Barry-from-Singing-for-Memory-at-Sandringham-perform-at-Jewish-Care-Singing-for-Joy-competition. Pic: Justin Grainge
Angela and Barry, who have been attending the Singing for Memory group at Jewish Care’s Sandringham campus in Stanmore for the past two years, sang ‘Hey Jude’ together with their fellow choir members. Talking about his wife, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease seven years ago, Barry said: “Angela comes alive at the group. She talks. She waves her hands. I see her happy and enjoying the company.”
The group’s performance earned them the Showstopper Award with an emotional Malone saying: “I don’t think I’m going to get through this afternoon without crying. You had the whole community joining in.”
The Singing for Memory group in Southend gave a video performance of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, winning them Most Creative Interpretation.
As well as running Singing for Memory groups in Southend, Stanmore and Redbridge, Jewish Care also supports Finchley Reform Synagogue and St Albans Masorti Synagogue to run these groups, and is training other synagogue community volunteers, including those at New North London Synagogue, to deliver sessions.
