The choir is a place that builds confidence and where friendships are formed. The group comes together weekly to sing, it is a place of support, they feel less lonely, and they help each other along. Singing together brings out the best in people and for some it has helped them get their voice back.

From light chit-chat to focused rehearsals, fun physical warm-ups to exhilarating performances, the reach of our choir support network is broad. As our members say in our song: We have a little place, a little refuge. It’s fun and it’s safe… When you step inside your worries leave you …

Mercer’s Melodies has been life-changing. Originally focused on lung health, it has grown to boost voice strength, breathing, and most importantly mental well-being. We’ve made new friends, reduced stress, and gained a sense of belonging. Singing together lifts our spirits, supports us through tough times, and enriches our emotional and social wellness enormously! We’re delighted to unite in our common love of music and song!

Our choir offers individuals an outlet for expressing emotions associated with surviving cancer and connects singers with others who understand what they are going through. It helps people find their voice again after cancer, enhances their mood and reduces stress, while also providing physical benefits such as improved lung health.

No matter what cancer does to us, no matter how ill we are, we will laugh again, we will sing again, and if we haven’t before, damn it, we’ll do it now!

Participation in the choir provides us with physical, mental and emotional autonomy and control over our recovery journey – and facilitates inclusion, contribution and motivation. The rehabilitative effects of singing enhance brain recovery, speech function and cognition. It’s medicinal! 

We find support, friendship, and belonging, especially powerful for those affected by cancer and who have come through treatment and are a bit lost. It builds our self-esteem and confidence proving that every voice matters.

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be extremely traumatic and isolating. The choir offers members a sense of belonging to a community of people who have had similar experiences. It provides informal support and reduces social isolation and loneliness, whilst providing an uplifting experience, both physically and mentally.

Through breathing exercises and singing, participants have improved their lung function test scores and vocal strength, and gained tools to self-manage COPD, which helps prevent social isolation. Every member also reports that it has boosted their mental well-being and that they always feel better physically and mentally after a class.

An environment where everyone shares similar experiences allows people the freedom to just be without explaining their struggles or feel defined by their illness. Singing provides a sense of normalcy and joy. Focusing on something positive and uplifting is invaluable in navigating the emotional and mental challenges cancer often brings.