The Chorus Impact Study SINGING FOR A LIFETIME GA GRUNWALD ASSOCIATES LLC The Chorus Impact Study page 2 Photo: Young People’s Chorus of New York City CONTENTS Cover photo: Giving Voice Chorus Foreword . .1 Figures Executive Summary . 2 Figure 1: Optimism . 7 Key Findings . 3 Figure 2: Resilience . 8 Figure 3: Reasons for Singing . 10 Finding 1 . 5 Choral singing is a significant part of American life, Figure 4: Diversity and Tolerance . 12 with more than 54 million Americans singing today Figure 5: Roles Among Volunteers . 14 Finding 2 . 5 Adults who sing in choruses report significant Figure 6: Quality of Life . 16 personal benefits, including feeling less lonely Figure 7: Health Conditions and and more connected to others Improvement . .17 Finding 3 . .11 Figure 8: Mental Health . 20 Choral singers are remarkably strong contributors to their communities Recommendations . 21 Finding 4 . 16 Older choral singers report both a better quality of life Acknowledgments . 23 and better overall health than the general public About Chorus America . 24 Suggested citation: Grunwald Associates LLC and Chorus America . (2019) . The Chorus Impact Study: Singing for a Lifetime . About Grunwald Associates LLC . 24 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3 .0 Unported License . To view a copy of this license, visit http:// Methodology . 25 creativecommons .org/licenses/by/3 .0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA, 94105 . Research Notes . 27 The Chorus Impact Study page 1 FOREWORD As the advocacy, research, and leadership address challenges we are facing today . At a development organization for the choral field, time when we feel increasingly stressed and Chorus America’s mission is to empower sing- disconnected, singing encourages mindfulness ing ensembles to create vibrant communities and meaningful social relationships . At a and effect meaningful change . Our focus on time when we are searching for ways to research is key to this mission . Research shines bring different communities together and a bright light on the amazing impact that group find common ground across divisive issues, singing has on our communities and our world . choruses are powerhouses of connection and In the case of our new Chorus Impact tolerance . And at a time when we are living Study: Singing for a Lifetime, the data is clear . longer and looking to maintain a high quality The sheer number of Americans singing today— of life into retirement and beyond, singing over 54 million, more than ever before—is promotes healthy, vibrant aging . truly striking . What’s even more striking are the On any given day, people are singing benefits that singing in a chorus offers to both together in small towns and big cities, in individual singers and to communities . And orchestra halls and churches, and at formal the more engaged singers are in their art, the performances and casual community singing more benefits they report . Put simply: Singing is events . Their songs draw on musical traditions good, and more singing is better . from gospel music to symphonic choral works This new study builds on our previous to barbershop harmonies . The diversity and Chorus Impact studies by tracking data on the commitment of singers and the joy found in number of people who sing and the ways in singing have the very real potential to create which group singing enriches their lives and positive change . our society . For the first time, the study also We hope this report serves as a call to explores the value of singing for older adults, a action to leverage the power of choral singing growing area of the choral field . to improve lives and strengthen communities Why is this research important now? everywhere . Because the benefits of group singing directly Catherine Peterson, Chair Catherine Dehoney, President and CEO This project is made possible by funding support from: Katherine B. Andersen Fund of the Saint Paul Foundation Cincinnati May Festival Chorus San Francisco Girls Chorus Choral Arts Society of Washington Encore Creativity for Older Adults Kirkwood Baptist Church Colorado Children’s Chorale Indianapolis Children’s Choir The Chorus Impact Study page 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Studies commissioned by Chorus America over communities . And as our population ages, the last decade on the social and civic impact of choruses may contribute to keeping older choruses in America provide the go-to source Americans healthier, happier, and more active . for understanding the benefits of choral singing . As with the 2009 study, this research was This new Chorus Impact study, commissioned conducted by Grunwald Associates . It is based in 2018, builds on the 2003 and 2009 Chorus on online surveys completed in November 2018 Impact studies to compare findings across by 5,736 chorus participants and comparative more than a decade . This latest study, Singing surveys with a representative general population for a Lifetime, also provides a current look at sample of 506 U .S . adults age 18 or older, and the array of social, health, and psychological a separate representative general population benefits that older chorus members reap now sample of 600 U .S . adults age 62 or older . and over a lifetime . Choral singing remains strong in America . About the Findings That’s good news, because choruses play Unless otherwise noted, all differences in the an important role in society today . While this findings are statistically significant . Information research does not prove that choruses cause on the diversity of the sample, steps taken to singers to lead healthier lives, connect with rule out potential confounding variables in the others, or contribute to their communities, the results, and details on how the research was data shows some remarkable connections . conducted are provided in the Methodology People who sing are more connected to others section on page 25 . and more likely to contribute positively to their Photo: Washington Master Chorale © Shannon Finney Photography Finney Shannon © Chorale Master Washington Photo: The Chorus Impact Study page 3 KEY FINDINGS CHORAL SINGING IS Choral singers credit singing in a chorus Finding A SIGNIFICANT PART with making them more optimistic, 1 OF AMERICAN LIFE, mindful, and resilient . Eighty percent of WITH MORE THAN 54 singers expect more good things than bad MILLION AMERICANS things to happen to them, while only 55% SINGING TODAY. of the general public has the same positive The number of Americans singing has outlook . Singers are also more likely to feel increased over the past decade, with a sense of purpose in their lives and to find more than 54 million adults and children their lives meaningful . participating in choral groups today . More The more exposure people have to choral than one in six Americans over the age of singing, the more benefits they report . 18 sings in a chorus . Choristers who belong to more ensembles, The percentage of Americans singing today rehearse more frequently, and have been has increased over the past decade, up to singing longer are more likely to perceive 17% today from 14% in 2008 . benefits . Music education in schools is key to Younger, low- or middle-income chorus lifelong singing and the benefits it brings . members, and those with lower levels of The majority of adults singing today education, are also more likely to feel they say that they began singing because benefit from participation . of a school choral music education opportunity . Over half of all choral singers started in elementary school, and three- CHORAL SINGERS ARE quarters started by the end of high school . Finding REMARKABLY STRONG 3 CONTRIBUTORS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. ADULTS WHO SING Chorus members give back to their Finding IN CHORUSES communities in a big way . They are more 2 REPORT SIGNIFICANT likely to contribute financially to the PERSONAL BENEFITS, organizations that they support than the INCLUDING FEELING general public . They also volunteer more LESS LONELY AND frequently than the general public in a MORE CONNECTED wider range of areas of need, both inside TO OTHERS. and outside of the arts—and they are more Nearly three-quarters of singers (73%) say likely to take on leadership roles within the choral singing helps them feel less alone groups where they volunteer . or lonely . Compared to the general public, Chorus members are good citizens and they are far less likely to report indicators of exhibit greater civic leadership than the isolation or depression . general public . Ninety percent of singers Choral singers report stronger relationships report that they vote regularly in national and better social skills than the public at and local elections, while only 55% of the large . Nearly seven in 10 singers say that general public makes the same claim . singing has helped them socialize better in Choral singers also run for public office other parts of their lives . more often than their fellow Americans . The Chorus Impact Study page 4 Chorus members credit singing with than the general public to say they have helping them be better collaborators, challenges with cognitive abilities, such as team players, and listeners . Compared doing calculations in their heads, finding to the general public, choral singers rank the right words to use, or organizing themselves more reliable and are less likely activities . Nearly eight in 10 older choristers to prefer electronic communication to credit their choral participation with face-to-face interaction . helping to keep their mind sharper . Chorus members are more adaptable Older singers (age 65+) engage in a and tolerant of others than the general broader range of activities than the population . Almost two-thirds of singers general public in the same age cohort, (63%) believe participating in a chorus has such as reading, attending cultural made them more open to and accepting events, and physical activities . They are of people who are different from them or also significantly more likely to continue hold different views .