When I Sing: A Cappella Festival 2014

Celebrating Spirit and Song

At the heart of the When I Sing project was the dream of using the arts, specifically the barbershop chorus experience to promote positive change

and well-being for individuals and organizations in our community—combining spirit and song.

The “When I Sing” pilot was produced and coached by Nickel City Sound in collaboration with 7 community partners and 150 community voices.

On March 26 2014, the When I Sing initiative was presented with the Healthy Community Recognition Award by the City of Greater Sudbury.

The “When I Sing” project aims to enrich community spirit and foster health and wellness through respectful partnerships, the generation of community choruses across Greater City of Sudbury and a cappella singing in the barbershop style.

The Power of Barbershop

“ When I Sing” recruited folks who don't normally have opportunities to sing in an organized chorus, to just get out and sing! Coached by members of Nickel City Sound, eight community groups made up of colleagues, neighbours, families and friends rehearsed with coaching teams from Nickel City Sound for eight weeks and then gathered together to share their love of music with the community .

“When I Sing” drew upon the traditions of Barbershop music as a model for bringing community together. Barbershop singing, sometimes called “curbstone harmony” is a familiar and uplifting style of music that is strongly rooted in community.

"Music has to be recognized as an agent of social development, in the highest sense because it transmits the

highest values - solidarity, harmony, mutual compassion. And it has the ability to unite an entire community, and to

express sublime feelings" Dr. Abreu. El Sistema.

Singing and Wellness

The health benefits of singing are physical, relational and communal.

“Singing has psychological benefits because of its normally positive effect in reducing stress levels through the action of the

endocrine system which is linked to our sense of well-being. Social benefits are evident when people sing together because of

the increased sense of community belonging and shared goals.”

Singing has physical benefits because it is an aerobic activity that increases oxygenation in the blood stream and exercises major

muscle groups in the upper body, even when sitting.

Singing and Wellness

The Monetville MusicmakersThe title of the “When I Sing” project is based on a barbershop tune entitled

"When I Sing" with lyrics that go on to say "I just feel a lot better when I sing", and this sentiment is a belief held by all.

At the end of the show, a mass chorus of 200 voices filled the aisles and the stage to perform this song to a full house of cheering, laughing and crying people.

Walden’s “Group Therapy”“I really enjoyed the experience because it allowed me to get to know

individuals that I work with much better…however, performance day was the icing on the cake—it was such a beautiful experience to see

individuals from different communities and stages of life come together and enjoy the positive energy that singing brings to all of us.”

(participant)

“I am very happy and thankful that Nickel City Sound invited us to take part in this great initiative. I’ve always loved singing and to have the

opportunity to sing a cappella was a very enriching experience for me. I felt so energized after our first practice that I didn’t want the practices to

end. And YES I think we should continue.“ (participant)

The SDHU Sunsations

The Nesbitt Notes

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My students were so thrilled to be a part of the When I Sing festival. We were sitting in the audience waiting to go on and they started asking if we can do this again next year! They really enjoyed being able to sing in part

of something so amazing. They also told me that it was really cool that anyone could join, that there were "little kids and like really old people

too"

The Marvelous Murray Muskies

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They (the students) said that they thought is was great that people in wheelchairs and walkers could participate too, that it didn't matter who

you were, just that you wanted to sing.

Nothing But TrebleI was so pleased to be able to attend the "When I sing" Festival at

Sudbury Secondary School yesterday. It was an exceptional performance by everyone and our students were outstanding. Thanks to the dedication of our staff, Rainbow students broadened their experience and achieved

joy and success in this unique field of music. The audience was absolutely enthralled and delighted. Please share this message with all who were

involved. Thank you again.

The Alzheimer Society “Sweethearts”

“I really enjoyed the experience because it allowed me to get to know individuals that I work with much better…however, performance day was the icing on the cake—it was such a beautiful experience to see individuals from different communities and stages of life come together and enjoy the positive energy that singing brings to all of us.” (participant)

The Pioneer Manor “Pioneers”“I really enjoyed the day. I have made a lot of new and seen a lot of old friends and I want to be more involved now instead of being alone in my room…. Also this experience has made me feel very special that I was given the opportunity to be a part of the choir. I

felt like a super star for one day.” (participant)

“The resonance of collective voices making wonderful soundstogether - having created and practised when initially it seemedimpossible - is quite unlike anything else, and participants feel

the effects of this achievement in quite dramaticways.”(participant)