Insights and information
about music, brain health, aging, and much more.
Make a Joyful Noise: Snowbird Day
This blogpost is from Sandy Siegel Miller, our amazing uber-volunteer and #1 cheerleader, with photos by Hyde Park Chorus Master Joy Rosner: I arrived at Thursday’s Snowbird Day with the first verse of Psalm 100 on my mind: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all...
Social Connectedness: Encore Singers in Community
by Sandy Siegel Miller, Encore Illinois Board President This isn’t an unusual scene at Encore rehearsals -what’s unusual is that I took a photo. The Hinsdale rehearsal ended about 15 minutes before this photo was taken and around half of the choir had already headed...
Chorus America: Featuring Helen Gagel, Jim Lavin, & Karen McGuire
We are pleased and excited that three of our singers were featured in this new article on the Chorus America website about the experiences that older adults have singing in a choir. The article features Helen Gagel from the Evanston Encore Chorale, Jim Lavin from the...
Sheila’s Reflection
Sheila Haennicke is a social worker in the Alzheimer's field and a college classmate of our artistic director, Jonathan Miller. Sheila's mother has Alzheimer's disease, and her dad, Bob Black, sings with Encore in Arlington Heights. Sheila wrote this touching...
Singer Profile: Sue Schoenberg
When did you first sing in a choir, and what got you started? Age 11, Somerset County (N.J.) Music Festival, Elementary School Chorus, loved making harmony. List three adjectives that describe the way singing makes you feel. Peaceful, joyful, sad In what ways do you...
Singer Profile: Jan Harnish
When did you first sing in a choir, and what got you started? If Encore is your first choir, what recently drew you in? Sang in choir in concert choir and swing choir in high school. List three adjectives that describe the way singing makes you feel. Happy,...