CÓRus launches new adult singing class in Maynooth starting next week

By Kim O'Leary A new and exciting adult singing class is set to come to Maynooth next week, which follows research suggesting that singing can help to improve physical and mental health   Studies increasingly find evidence that singing is one of the quickest ways to improve both mood and general health; especially singing in a large group.   Mary Lowe O’Gorman and Yvonne McDonald, set up adult group singing classes: CÓRus.ie seven years ago and have found it to be a life-changing experience for both themselves and their members. The ladies actually met when they were teenagers in a musical society, but lost touch with each other.   Both ladies happened to work in RTE (Mary sang backing vocals for Linda Martin at the Eurovision and sings for Rebecca Storm, and Yvonne was a documentary film maker) but never bumped into each other. Then they both adopted children from Russian orphanages and met at an adoption meeting.   The songs they cover can be anything from Jessie J to Doris Day. They have 15 classes all over Dublin, and have now decided to branch out into the Kildare area with classes starting in Maynooth.   Over the years they started to get more and more reports of improved mental and physical health from members. They have members of all ages and walks of life, including cancer survivors, individuals who suffer from anxiety and depression and even mental health workers (who go for 'therapy).   Due to demand, the duo, who would love to start a singing for mental health revolution, are now opening a Maynooth class and are calling on those who love to sing to come along and try out a class for free! The classes start from the 25th of January at The Presentation Girls National School, Dunboyne Road, Maynooth, and will be on every Thursday evening after that from 7.30 to 9pm.   Classes are filled with enthusiastic singers from all walks of life and of all ages. And, even though their love of singing was the reason they joined, CÓRus members have reported improved mental and physical health, as an unexpected (but very welcome) side effect of their weekly classes. “We profoundly believe that your health and wellbeing improves from singing; we’ve seen it happen!” said Mary Lowe O’Gorman.   The repertoire is based on contemporary hits and older classic hits, musicals and the list goes on. Pop, rock, country - all kinds of songs end up with a CÓRus twist.   A recent study from Oxford University looked at how people attending adult education classes grew closer over a seven-month period. The study found that people in singing groups bonded more quickly than in other classes, such as creative writing and art.   Other studies have found that singing improves cognition, lowers blood pressure, releases endorphins and oxytocin (the cuddle hormone) both of which decrease stress, pain and anxiety; and, a joint Yale and Harvard study found that singing regularly can increase life expectancy!   Yvonne McDonald said: “Perhaps there’s even an evolutionary aspect to it, that we had to be in groups to survive and this is revisited happily every time humans sing together! We’re not a choir, we provide singing classes. People don’t have to audition or read music like a lot of choirs expect, that fact helps them relax about joining the classes in the first place. We’re based in 15 locations in the North and South of Dublin and now in Maynooth, Kildare, and we’re looking at expanding nationwide. We want to bring about a singing revolution in Ireland."   She added: "Many of our class members were told they couldn’t sing or were never encouraged in school or at home to sing, so our lessons have helped to bring out confidence that they never knew they had. So many have now formed friendships, with busy social lives and holidays booked as a result of joining CÓRus! Our singers love performing at our big May concerts in the Helix. It’s always a sell out!” For more information visit CÓRus.ie