Some of you might remember me as the redhead in the choir who not only loved to sing, but who also served for a short while as a trainee Lay Reader at St Luke’s and St Mary’s.
Since leaving the parish I’ve trained as a music therapist and music for health practitioner and I’ve been carrying out God’s service in the world through music-making with people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. This exciting and challenging vocation has included working with premature babies and their families on a neonatal unit, with men living with schizophrenia in a rehab unit, with adults in intensive care and with children and families in a paediatric emergency department.
Music has an incredible capacity to help the most vulnerable people, giving them a sense of progression. It can offer relaxation and stimulation and can mediate where words fail, providing a means of communication for those who are non-verbal.
I set up the Adages project to give people with dementia the chance to create a beautiful new piece of music which celebrates their creativity. Funded by Arts Council and Music in Hospitals, creative sessions were delivered in local dementia care settings. The sessions included singing, poetry-writing, dancing, percussion improvisations and creative conversations supported by me on the kora (West African harp) with students from the RNCM and local professionals.
So Many Beauties is the resulting musical story, or oratorio. It will have its premier at Manchester Cathedral on Thursday 6 April at 7pm. The hour-long performance will involve a massed choir, featuring members of the Choir of St Mary’s, Bowdon, and a small instrumental ensemble. It will be dementia friendly and accessible for all, and will be followed by informal networking with dementia agencies.
Tickets are available at www.adages.eventbrite.co.uk (07935 601196) and I would love to see people from Bowdon Parish there.
Holly Marland
Holly
Easter Lilies