Choirs 'like a big hug' offer antidote to loneliness

In the coastal region of Illawarra, Australia, a growing choral scene is offering a powerful antidote to loneliness and a much-needed sense of community. Underneath a disco ball-adorned marquee at the Wombarra Bowling Club, a weekly drop-in choir brings together locals to sing hits from artists like Fleetwood Mac and Amy Winehouse.

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You start losing light behind the escarpment from about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Mid-winter is incredibly dark. People in this area seem to just head home. I was feeling it in such an incredible way last year when a friend of mine was dying of cancer. I found I didn't have the capacity to talk to people, but I needed to be around people.

For many attendees, the choir is far more than just a musical gathering. Newcomers to the area have found friendships, and some have even found romantic partners. Participants describe the experience as a "big hug," a space to process grief, and a more affordable alternative to therapy. Leah Russell, who has not missed a session in a year, joined after a friend's cancer diagnosis left her craving connection, especially during the dark winter months.

"I didn't have the capacity to talk to people, but I needed to be around people," Russell shared. She recounted an emotional moment when, during a choir session, members surrounded her with support as she wept while singing a song from her friend's funeral, without even knowing the reason for her tears.

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I didn't know anyone there well enough to tell them what was happening in my life at the time. But I didn't have to talk about it. I just got to stand there and cry and they kept singing. It was really beautiful.

Victoria Carrier, the choir's director, also works in suicide prevention and launched the Wombarra singalong as a "direct call to suicide prevention." She views the choir as a community-based model that moves away from clinical systems. "Singing really strengthens the vagus nerve, which is a really great way we can ground our nervous system," Carrier explained, noting that members have called the choir their "antidote to loneliness."

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The choir gears away from the clinical system and into the community model. Singing really strengthens the vagus nerve, which is a really great way we can ground our nervous system.

Similarly, in Thirroul, the Slapdash Choir, led by speech pathologist Elliot Peck, attracts about 100 choristers of all ages. Peck aims to make singing accessible in a casual environment, fostering connections that range from new friendships and housemates to romantic partners. The group's repertoire includes songs like Beyonce's "Halo" and Coldplay's "Fix You," demonstrating the emotional depth and joy found in these community singing initiatives.

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Members have told her it had become their "antidote to loneliness".