NZ’s Oldest Chorus Is Making Hearts Sing!

Media Release May 2018

Arvida presents ‘Younger Now’ in Christchurch by the NZ Young@Heart Chorus

If you think ‘touring with the band’ is something that’s reserved for the young, then you need to get tickets to see this inspiring show! On June 9, Arvida is proud to present a one-night only concert in Christchurch with New Zealand’s oldest pop singing group – the NZ Young@Heart Chorus.

Come along ready to hear a range of favourites, with numbers from the likes of Oasis, Imagine Dragons, and the Backstreet Boys, through to Miley Cyrus and ‘This is Me’ from the Oscar nominated film The Greatest Showman. The group is made up of singers all aged 70+, but their songs come from every era!

The NZ Young@Heart Chorus, which started nearly six years ago, is made up of more than 30 singers who regularly perform smaller concerts to audiences at schools and prisons. With the aim to redefine the way people see ageing, the group chooses songs that embody the way they feel about getting older.

Chris Bevan, the Musical Director and founding member of the NZ Young@Heart Chorus, says: “People think that because we are a chorus made up of all over 70s, we’re going to be singing songs from the 40s and 50s. While we love those songs, we still very much live in the modern world and also love the songs you hear on the radio. Plus the love of music is an awesome way to connect with younger generations.”

Now in its second year supporting the group, Arvida is ecstatic to be working with Young@Heart again. CEO Bill McDonald says, “It’s exciting working with a group that has the same enthusiasm for changing the way people think about ageing as we do. Young@Heart and Arvida retirement villages have a message to tell and are focused on keeping active, keeping fit, keeping engaged and showing the world that life truly doesn’t stop at retirement!”

The chorus boosts camaraderie, promotes wellness and gives its members a real sense of purpose. They’re also proud to tout that research shows singing speeds up recovery in stroke victims and synchronises the singers’ heartbeats.

www.nzyoungatheartchorus.org.nz

Concert details:

YOUNGER NOW

Saturday 9 June, 7pm

The Piano Centre for Music and the Arts, Christchurch

Get your tickets now from www.iticket.co.nz. Tickets are $27 for Adults, $22 for Seniors and $20 for Children.

Notes to editor:

• The Young@Heart movement was started in 1982 by Bob Cilman, with members living in an elderly housing project in Northampton, Massachusetts. They performed concerts to packed houses and standing ovations for years, eventually touring their show through Europe and around the world. A documentary of the same name aired in the UK to critical acclaim, winning awards and subsequently being shared around the globe.

• The original Young@Heart Chorus toured to NZ in 2010 with five NZ singers called in to sing for members unable to travel. Three of those five are still in the NZ Chorus.

• The original Chorus is still performing today, regularly doing concerts and touring Europe and Japan.

• Three singers still in the NZ Chorus sang in the original group when the American group toured here in 2010.

• The NZ Young@Heart Chorus is the first and only official Young@Heart Chorus to form outside of the US.

• Featured in this concert: Christchurch Pops Choir, a bagpipe player.

• Arvida Group Limited (Arvida) is a retirement village group with an emphasis on providing a continuum of care from independent living through to high quality aged care services. Arvida has 29 villages across New Zealand comprising: Aria Bay, Aria Gardens and Aria Park, Auckland; Copper Crest and Bethlehem Views, Tauranga; Cascades, Hamilton; Lauriston Park, Cambridge; Glenbrae, Rotorua; Molly Ryan, New Plymouth; Mary Doyle, Havelock North; Lansdowne Park, Masterton; Olive Tree, Palmerston North; Waikanae Lodge, Waikanae; Village at the Park, Wellington; Oakwoods and The Wood, Nelson; Ashwood, Blenheim; Ilam, The Maples, Mayfair, Park Lane, Rhodes on Cashmere, St Albans, St Allisa and Wendover, Christchurch; Bainlea House, Bainswood House and Bainswood on Victoria, Rangiora; and Strathallan, Timaru. See www.arvida.co.nz.

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