Forget-me-not Chorus

It works throughout the UK, and through five community choirs, twenty ‘Singing Strong’ care home choirs, a library of free pre-recorded singing sessions and a hospital service, the team of highly skilled professional musicians reach over 1000 people a week. Those who benefit are of all ages, and include those with young-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s, their families, and those who care for them. The sessions use music as a tool for meaningful communication and engagement, bring joy and laughter and offer respite from the relentless routine and isolation of dementia.

Through bespoke artistic projects the charity creates original works to share with the wider community, which fosters a sense of worth and achievement. These projects include the Arts Council Wales funded, ‘Digital Threads’, where the charity partnered with Cardiff & Vale Health Board to collect in patients life stories and musical heritages. From this, writer Emma Jenkins created poetry and in collaboration with artist Nathan Wyburn and ‘It’s A Sin’ actor Callum Scott Howells an immersive piece of visual artwork was created.

As part of the charity’s 10th anniversary celebrations, over 450 choristers from across the UK, North America and the Far East united to record the premiere of a specially commissioned choral work ‘With Joy My Soul Sings.’ World-renowned Soprano Rebecca Evans performed with the global choir for the event, hosted by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.