Why did we want to start a non-auditioned community choir for women?
UNISONg is now part of the Wagga Women's Health Centre's well-being programmes but it began as an idea that blossomed in the hearts and minds of a small group of local women who believed in the benefits that group singing offered to communities. The volunteer choir committee, Cate, Annabel and Ruth knew that group singing brings connection, healing, strength and harmony to a diverse community and provides a non-judgemental and supportive environment. This was truly needed when the Covid pandemic started in 2020.
The choir was officially formed in June 2021 after a group of interested women were asked to meet together one evening at the Wagga Women's Health Centre. The small group of singers had to meet online for the next few months due to Covid lockdowns. The first choir director was Judy Ferguson who also conducts a number of other choirs in Wagga Wagga.
The name, UNISONg was selected because the aim of the choir was to bring the voices of women together so that they could enjoy the health and well being benefits of singing songs in a group.
In July 2022, Lynette Hogan became UNISONg's second choir director. In one year the choir doubled in size and the decision was made to move from the large room the choir had been provided during 2021/22 at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga and into a more central venue in town. In 2023, UNISONg began meeting at the Wollundry Dreaming Room near the Wollundry Lagoon. The central Wagga venue drew more members and the choir committee made the decision to find an even larger venue to accomodate the growing interest in community group singing. In Term 2, UNISONg began singing in a room at the newly opened Wagga PCYC. More than 30 singers meet each Monday evening.
Wagga's UNISONg Women’s Community Choir aims to improve connection, safety, mental health and wellbeing in our local community. Professor Sarah Wilson, a leading researcher on the neurological benefits of music, says that “music is to mental health what sport is to physical health and it improves self-confidence, teamwork and social skills.”
The non-auditioned, 'come when you can', community women’s choir focuses on supporting, inspiring, empowering and building community in a safe and inclusive environment through meaningful and importantly, fun musical connection – regardless of musical ability.
The effects of singing are more powerful when people belong to groups. Research has clearly shown that singing regularly in a choir promotes social connection and cohesion. It makes people feel more supported and provides opportunities to improve empathy and understanding.
In 2018 research conducted by Moss et al. found that choral singers had significantly higher wellbeing than those who sing by themselves and had a more meaningful social group connection than players in a sporting team. These supportive community choir networks help people feel safe and less isolated.
Steward & Lonsdale (2016) have also demonstrated that singing together becomes an intervention or therapy which positively affects community wellbeing. It can improve: psychological and social functions; thinking; learning; literacy and numeracy; self-discipline; spatial abilities; executive function; self-confidence; and teamwork.
Australian soprano, Tania de Jong, said, “When we sing with others there is something really magical as we sing in harmony together. Not only do we breathe together, but studies have shown that our hearts start to beat together.”
