Why we sing

By Claire Charles, Music Teacher and Director of the CDL Community Choir

“Come and sing!” invites the poster advertising our school’s Community Choir. Without fail ‘they’ do precisely that: bringing together singers from across the school community: students, teachers, friends, SLT, parents, parents of staff, children of staff, even a retired librarian.

The question is, ‘Why do they come?’

In these astonishingly unpredictable times, Music has demonstrated its central importance in our lives, be it as listeners, or as participants. It is present in all human cultures and its language is universal. In essence, it is diverse and inclusive: precisely the values we aim to live and teach by at Collège du Léman.

Making music is undoubtedly good for our ‘well-being’. Singing, in particular singing in a group, is one of the most profound and engaging ways to make music. It promotes a strong sense of social belonging as together we strive to create something beautiful, whilst also improving our physical and mental health. Controlled breathing, posture and muscle tension, as well as a fine cognitive workout create a release of endorphins – similar to that experienced after eating a bar of fine Swiss chocolate!

While the intrinsic importance of all the Arts is that they explore what it is to be human, Music is an art form which literally breathes through time, giving voice to the full gamut of human emotion. As Victor Hugo said, “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”

Our choir has weathered many storms in its nine-year history. During the darkest of covid days, when choral singing was feared as a super-spreader, still we sang: meeting virtually, recording ourselves individually and remotely mixing together our music to be shared with the school community and beyond. The need to be part of something bigger than ourselves is a very human trait. Our choir of 40+ voices exists and thrives because it is even more than ‘the sum of its parts’. Each and every singer is important and every single voice makes a difference.

Please take a moment to watch these performances. ‘Only You’ is from our ‘virtual’ days, this is a snapshot of our recent Christmas concert – our first live event for 2 years.  What a joy that was!

Everyone can sing (even those who will argue to the contrary). It is the most natural and accessible form of musical expression. So, if you hear the call to “Come and Sing!”, why not do just that? It might be the best decision you’ve ever made!

Please contact Claire.Charles@cdl.ch with any questions you may have or to join the CDL Community Choir.