It does not take much convincing amongst the retired, active and former nurses that make up the Winnipeg Nurses Choir that music has a lasting healing impact on those that hear it. It’s something that they noticed when they first started rehearsing with conductor Bill Quinn in the multi-purpose room at Misericordia Place. 

“We could allow the residents to come in there at any time, we could do a couple of concerts for them,” recalls Quinn.  

This led to an annual tradition for the choir of touring through around a dozen long-term care homes throughout the course of its season, culminating in a spring concert, which this year is called Singing Together in Harmony.  

“It’s a very special thing to share [music] with as many people as we can, no matter what the context is,” smiles Quinn. “It’s always a really joyous occasion when we perform.” 

 

Connections between healers and singers 

Quinn says that when the choir makes their visits to long-term care facilities and retirement communities, the part that everyone appreciates most is the connections made between singers, audience members, and caregivers.  

“You can see it on the faces of the people that we sing for,” says Quinn of the appreciation the choir feels during these performances.


 

That appreciation has an added layer as it is rooted in the knowledge that healthcare workers have that music can play a big role in improving the health and quality of life of residents and staff alike. “As we know, the healthcare situation in Manitoba and across the country is challenging, and especially for working nurses,” says Quinn. “It’s all of these things that come together every time we perform.” 

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Joining voices with communities in support 

For Singing Together in Harmony, the choir will present a wide range of repertoire spanning the years to ensure that as many people as possible can share in music’s healing effect. “We always get a great response because I make sure that we do stuff from the ‘30s to the ‘90s,” says Quinn, “so somebody’s going to know at least a couple of pieces.” 

The Winnipeg Nurses Choir will be joined for the concert by the vocal jazz choir from Balmoral Hall, where the choir has been rehearsing now for a couple of years. “Balmoral Hall has been really generous to us,” says Quinn. “They’ve made it possible since COVID for us to rehearse in their brand-new performance studio there, which is absolutely gorgeous.” 


 

As is the case at all Winnipeg Nurses Choir performances, audience members are encouraged to bring donations for Harvest Manitoba, an initiative that the choir knows has a huge impact on the community that they serve. “There’s a growing need, unfortunately, at all the food banks in Winnipeg, and so we’re happy to do our part,” says Quinn. 

Singing Together in Harmony takes place on May 11 at 7 p.m. at Westworth United Church in River Heights. More details can be found at the Winnipeg Nurses Choir’s social media pages.