A Lifetime in Harmony

The Rhythm of a Life

For singers like Deirdre and Clive, the choir has become part of life’s structure. Tuesday nights are sacred – a time set aside for focus, joy, and connection. Over the years, rehearsals been with them through marriage, careers, children, and now, the quieter tempo of retirement.

But the benefits of choral singing go far beyond the music. Studies show that singing together slows the breath, lowers blood pressure, and releases endorphins – the same feel-good hormones sparked by a brisk walk or a good laugh. Synchronising breath and rhythm with others fosters calm, connection, and belonging.

For members of the Guinness Choir, those wellbeing benefits are palpable. “You go out of here after rehearsal with the spring in your step, for sure,” says Mairead Byrne, who has sung with the choir for 45 years.

Many describe the same afterglow: clearer heads, lighter moods, better sleep. The weekly rehearsal keeps lungs strong and spirits high. “You would have come out and you were sort of buzzing a little – you felt alive. You might get home at 11 o’clock at night but you certainly didn’t want to go to bed because you were still buzzing from it, and the next morning you felt refreshed,” says Clive.

Friends in Harmony

The social fabric of the choir deepens with every passing decade. Some members have known each other since their twenties; others joined recently and were welcomed straight in. “I have lifelong friends in the choir,” says Mairead. “Some I see outside of rehearsals, others I just meet here – but it’s a special thing, I think, to be in a Choir. There’s a bond between people who’ve sung together for years.”

For newcomers, joining can be daunting. Con Feary, who joined 38 years ago, remembers that feeling. “It can be nerve-wracking, because even though you’re only one of the hundred members of the Choir, you can also go astray, and you don’t want to go astray,” he says. “So that keeps you on your toes. You want to give a performance that both you and the Choir can be proud of.”

The Pull of the Music

Every member speaks passionately about the process of learning and perfecting a piece together. “Sometimes you look at a new score and you don’t like it, particularly if it’s modern music that you’re not familiar with.” Deirdre admits with a laugh. “But when you get inside it, and it starts to come together, it’s wonderful. I just love the whole process of learning music.”

For Clive, it’s the shared pride that matters most. “We’re amateurs singing alongside professional musicians and soloists. But together we can create something beautiful.”

The Buzz of Performance

After months of rehearsal, the reward comes in performance – when the lights dim, the conductor lifts his hands, and the first note fills the hall. “You maybe have up to a thousand people listening to your performance so you’re on edge, but you’re ready to go and you really enjoy it,” Clive says. “When is goes well, it’s just fantastic – it’s the best feeling.”

Audiences often include friends and family who are amazed by the scale of it. “I have a number of friends who aren’t musical and they’ve no idea what’s involved. Then I drag them to a performance, and they go, ‘Wow, that’s why you go every Tuesday night!’.”

“And it’s lovely to share that love of music with people who wouldn’t necessarily go to any performance were it not for my involvement, including my children, who get dragged along!”

A Lifelong Companion

The Guinness Choir will celebrate its 75^th anniversary next year, and for its singers, it is a lifelong companion. Conductors, repertoire and rehearsal venues might change – but the essence remains.

“It’s not something I’ve ever thought about stopping,” says Deirdre.

Clive nods: “It’s been part of my life for so long, I can’t imagine not having it.”

The Guinness Choir will perform JS Bach’s ‘Christmas Oratorio’ on Wednesday December 3, 2025 in the National Concert Hall, Dublin. Ticket information and more »