The Art of Mental Health

First Fortnight invited socially engaged composer, musical director, and musician Norah Walsh to compose a choral piece inspired by the vision and aims of First Fortnight to end the stigma associated with mental ill health. The completed composition will be performed by Laetare Vocal Ensemble, with conductor Róisín Blunnie, associate professor of music at DCU in St Patrick’s Cathedral on January 16th as part of an evening of song.

This will be a joy filled event celebrating the positive effects of group singing. Group singing or joining a choir has been shown to reduce the stress hormone (cortisol) and increase the comforting hormone (oxytocin), resulting in reduced stress levels and improved mental health. You also gain when singing in a group from social interaction and a sense of belonging to a community of people.

Laetare Vocal Ensemble will perform a varied selection of engaging and uplifting choral music by composers from past and present. All of the pieces explore the idea that ‘music can express – music can reflect – music can connect’. The programme will finish with the world premiere performance of Norah Walsh’s composition, entitled ‘Out From Under The Overwhelm.’

In the making of this event, Norah visited four choirs around the country from Kerry to Kildare and Armagh to Dublin Norah attended choir rehearsals and discussed ideas for lyrics and music. The performance in St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a result of Norah’s collaborative work with these groups.

Norah has created arrangements of this composition to suit all singing groups from school and community choirs to semi-professional and professional choirs. Let us know if your choir would like the music to perform at a future event.