11 pictures of Derry's Mellow DEEDS Choir with Calgach Singers and Männerstimmen Basel at Choir Festival

The Derry choir opened proceedings at Shantallow Community Centre in the company of the city’s Calgach Singers and the renowned Männerstimmen Basel Choir from Switzerland on Thursday last.

First held in 2013, the festival is now established as a major event and this year it coincided with Positive Ageing Month, which celebrates the ageing community.

Sinead Devine, Deeds Co-Ordinator at Old Library Trust, said: “The group were delighted to go along and perform alongside the Calgach Singers and the fantastic visiting choir from Switzerland.”

The lunchtime programme lasted an hour and the DEEDS social groups were invited to perform as well as enjoy the musical feast among their friends, family and the local community.

Speaking after Thursday’s performance, Mellow DEEDS musical director Anna Nolan commented: “Music is a wonderful connector for those living with dementia. Our Mellow DEEDS members enjoy coming together every Monday to practice and share their love of music and it’s a great way to start the working week as it is so uplifting to hear those voices and to be part of the music they love.”

Sinead Devine also stressed the importance of connecting with the local community and said: “We feel these events where DEEDS reach out to connect with the community as part of our city’s festivals is an important part of the work we do as it continues to support our aim to make Derry and Strabane a dementia friendly city and district.”