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NEW ULM -- A new community singing group in New Ulm is designed for people living with dementia and Parkinson’s disease, their family and friend care partners, and community volunteers.
The Sunshine Singers is sponsored by the New Ulm Area Memory Care Friends and directed by Anna De St. Croix. Program coordinator is Karla Hansel.
Hansel said the group was formed to address isolation.
“There is an ever-growing need to address the loneliness and isolation associated with cognitive decline,” Hansel said.
The program creates engagement opportunities for community members, patients and their families.
“We are super excited about this opportunity as music is so powerful in fostering joy, purpose and connection,” Hansel said.
The Sunshine Singers does not require prior singing or choir experience.
Participants include people with a dementia diagnosis, people living with Parkinson’s, family members, friends and community singers who volunteer to sing with the group.
Hansel said participants feel welcome from the moment they walk through the door and that no audition is required.
Lyrics will be provided and participants will sing as a group.
Hansel said long-term memory for familiar songs often remains preserved as other cognitive functions decline. Music can also support recall, comfort and emotional expression.
Group singing can reduce stress, improve mood and stimulate brain activity.
The set list includes classic songs, old favorites and tunes that are familiar across generations.
Hansel said familiar songs were selected because participants are more likely to recognize and sing along to them.
The fall session includes six classes and a final celebration performance for family, friends and community supporters.
Each session meets at the CAST Senior Center at 600 N. German St. in New Ulm. The sessions meet on Thursdays: Oct. 15, Oct. 22, Oct. 29, Nov. 5, Nov. 12 and Nov. 19, starting at 9:30 a.m.
Each gathering follows the same schedule.
It includes 30 minutes of social time with refreshments and 45 minutes of group singing under musical leadership.
Hansel said the social time gives care partners and family members a chance to network, share experiences and reduce caregiver isolation.
The 45-minute singing portion is led by De St. Croix.
“We anticipate a small group 10-20 at the most,” Hansel said.
Jefferson Elementary School is partnering with the Sunshine Singers.
Music teacher Madeline Cacciatore and third-grade students will participate in two of the fall rehearsals and the final concert.
The partnership is intended to create intergenerational opportunities and to engage children in senior enrichment.
The students will sing alongside seniors during the rehearsals they attend and at the final celebration.
The Sunshine Singers builds on a network of senior enrichment programs in New Ulm focused on community engagement, support for families and emotional well-being through shared artistic expression.
The program is designed to create a consistent space where every voice matters. They said the goal is to offer a dependable place where participants can attend when it works for their schedule.
Participants can attend one session or all six sessions in the fall. The final celebration performance on Nov. 19 is open to family, friends and community supporters. The performance will conclude the six-week session.
The program is recruiting community members to volunteer as supportive singers.
For more information, contact program coordinator Karla Hansel at 507-354-3187 or email sunshinesingers.nu@gmail.com to register. Hansel said registration is open and participants can join at any point in the session.
We’re happy to have you join us for whenever it works,” Hansel said.