Choral Group Brings Residents of Brightmore of South Charlotte Together in Song
Lynne Fairley, a resident of Brightmore of South Charlotte, a premier rental senior living community, has been singing for 80 years, and she’s not stopping now.
Fairley is a member of the Brightnotes, a choral group that brings together residents of the retirement community to enjoy one of their favorite past times—singing, and to occasionally perform for others in the community. Nestled near the Ballantyne neighborhood, Brightmore of South Charlotte is a retirement community offering a continuum of care including independent living, assisted living, and memory support.
“I’ve been singing since I was three years old so that’s almost 80 years,” says Fairley who participated in church and school choirs throughout her life.
Front Row (left to right): Fred Lang (plays trumpet), Ginny Belue (director/pianist), Nancy Mackey, Marcia Dorfman, and Ginny Yeager
Not pictured: Ruth Ann Manning,Janice Rank,Marge Sloat,Cynthia Gabriels, Jim Jackson,Lynne Loerop,Bill Loerop
The group was created about eight years ago by a resident who enjoyed singing and invited others to join in. The group gets together regularly to practice and has performed seasonal concerts and at other events for their residents and families.
“I think the audience enjoys it and it is fun to do,” Fairley says.
Another resident, Ginny Belue, has been a member of the group since 2017. Currently she plays piano to accompany the practices and performances.
“We are just a group of folks that enjoy music,” Belue says modestly.
Caroline Boyce, life enrichment director at Brightmore of South Charlotte, says the residents benefit from being part of the choral group in multiple ways including by enjoying the socialization, building friendships, getting the physical activities of breathing and using their voices, and improving their cognitive abilities.
“I’ve done some research, and singing is good for the brain,” Fairley agrees. “It’s also good to be with other people and to do something you enjoy.”
Whether they are perfecting their performances of “Jingle Bells”, “Silent Night” or other tunes, Fairley says being part of the group always hits the right notes for her.
“I like singing and I’m a social person,” she says. “I enjoy being with people, meeting people and making new friends.”