Evaluation of the Rockers of Ages choirs
The Rockers of Ages Elders’ Choirs is an initiative of the MUSE Community Music Trust, a charitable trust based in Christchurch.1 The Trust is run mostly by volunteers with contracted (paid) tutors and some contracted support staff.
After the major earthquake on 22 February 2011 many people had damaged homes, the normal infrastructure was not working, and people’s social networks of friends, family, neighbours and their support services were scattered. The Rockers of Ages initiative aimed to provide an enjoyable activity in a non-threatening supportive environment that would lift people’s spirits and give them something positive to focus on. Although the aftermath of the earthquake gave impetus to the project - “Sing your way out of the earthquake blues” was the by-line used to promote the choirs - the MUSE Trust had been planning for some time to organise choirs for older people, inspired in part by the movie “Young at Heart” which featured an older person’s choir in the United States singing modern, popular songs.
Four choirs were set up, each in an area that had suffered significant earthquake damage: Kaiapoi, St Albans, Aranui, and Sumner. During the subsequent year, the Aranui choir moved location to Linwood, where it now meets. The cost of the tutors has so far been covered by a grant from Hagley Community College from adult education funding. The project receives promotion and coordination support from the Communities Team of Community & Public Health, CDHB. Additionally, Wellbeing North Canterbury and the Sumner Bays Union Trust cover the cost of the choir venue hire and provide promotion in their respective areas.