The comforting, healing power of song: Threshold Choir and Blue Moon Rising celebrate milestone anniversaries

BY KAT BRAZ

In her final days of life, a woman rests in bed surrounded by loved ones. A trio of harmonic voices softly sing, filling the air with warmth and tenderness akin to a lullaby. The meditative repetition of lyrics exudes comfort and peace to all who listen.

You are not alone.

We are here beside you. You are not alone.

We are here now.

Founded in California in 2000, Threshold Choir celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Through nearly 200 chapters worldwide, volunteers sing songs of comfort to people facing death, illness, grief or suffering. The local group, Greater Lafayette Threshold Singers, was initially formed in 2018 and formally launched as a Threshold Choir chapter the following year.

“It’s a special privilege to sing at the bedside of someone who is dying,” says Bridget Baker, director of the Greater Lafayette Threshold Singers. “Not only are we soothing the individual, but we are also supporting the family by helping them come to terms with the emotions they are feeling. Often, family members feel like they must be stoic in front of a loved one who is dying and they don’t really process their emotions. Once we start singing, we see family members begin to cry, to grasp their loved one’s hand or even climb into the bed and hold them. Those moments are so special because we witness their profound love for one another and we offer compassion for their grief.” Baker, who also serves as co-chair of the board for the international organization, is helping to organize a regional gathering in Lafayette in August. This event will be one of 25 regional gatherings in honor of the 25th anniversary of Threshold Choir.

Greater Lafayette Threshold Singers welcomes new members. Formal voice training is not required, but choir members should meet some vocal guidelines outlined on the organization’s website, thresholdchoir.org:

• Be able to carry a tune

• Be able to hold your own part while others sing harmony

• Be able to sing softly and blend your voice with others

• Be able to communicate kindness with your voice

• Be willing to use self-monitoring and accept peer feedback as we work together to bring the sweetest, most blended and graceful sound to our precious clients.

The local chapter of about a dozen singers meets weekly to rehearse in the chapel at Westminster Village in West Lafayette. Many of the clients the group has sung to are residents of Westminster, however Threshold Singers welcomes requests from individuals and families throughout Greater Lafayette. They’ve sung in hospitals, in homes and even at memorial services. Typically three singers come together to allow for harmonization, and they always sing a cappella. The repertoire of songs has been developed specifically for Threshold Choir chapters over the years.

“We describe the songs as adult lullabies,” Baker says. “Many have a spiritual component that can be interpreted through any religious lens, but they’re all written with calming rhythms and comforting words.”

During rehearsals, members take turns in the center of the circle, being sung to as if they were a client. The soft voices begin singing the melody in unison, then separate into harmonies as the lyrics layer over themselves, unlocking emotions within. Jack Albregts, a founding member of Greater Lafayette Threshold Singers, says choir members receive as much from singing as they give to others through their songs.

“It’s very fulfilling to sing at someone’s bedside,” Albregts says. “To be welcomed into that precious space — it’s a pleasure. It’s very per- sonal to us. They say hearing is the last of the senses to go. We want to give them comfort, and in doing so, it brings us so much joy.”

Learn More

To request Greater Lafayette Threshold Singers or learn more about joining the organization, contact director Bridget Baker at lafayette@thresholdchoir.org or 765-357-5217.

Blue Moon Rising

Ever been told that you can’t sing? Or carry a tune in a bucket? Denise Wilson begs to differ.

The founder of Blue Moon Rising has spent the past decade building a supportive and welcoming community to sing for the pure enjoyment of singing — no previous experience required.

A lifelong musician, Wilson played in the Tippecanoe Fife and Drum Corps as a teen. Performing music — mostly Celtic, French-Canadian and folk music — with Bon Jolais in the ’80s and ’90s and Traveler’s Dream for the past 25 years gave her confidence in her own voice.

“Over decades of performing, I had many conversations with audience members who told me they’d always wanted to sing but they’d been told by someone — often parents or teachers — that they have a bad voice,” Wilson says. “Coming from someone you respect, that’s a message people can carry for a lifetime.”

Searching for a way to help others feel comfortable and confident with their singing, she attended a two-week Community Choir Leadership Training that’s held in Victoria, British Columbia, annually. There, she learned how to create and lead a welcoming choir, one open to anyone who wants to participate. She founded Blue Moon Rising in 2015 and the choir is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

In April, 80 audience members packed into The Arts Federation for a relaxing and funfilled evening of community singing for Blue Moon Rising’s Spring Sing event. Throughout the evening, the audience was invited to join in singing familiar or easy-to-learn songs. Wilson primarily teaches using a call and response method, which makes it easier for singers who don’t read music to learn their parts. In Blue Moon Rising, the process of singing together is more important than perfecting music for a performance.

“For thousands of years, people came together to sing to express joy, celebration and grief; to accompany work tasks; and to enjoy the way music lifts the spirit as it was woven into daily life,” Wilson says. “Singing was for everyone, not just those with a good voice. The emphasis is on community.”

In selecting songs for Blue Moon Rising, Wilson draws from many oral traditions, such as South African freedom songs, African American spirituals, sea shanties and well-known folk songs. She also leans in to her love for traditional music from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Many of the songs fall into categories of songs for peace and hope or songs of resilience and justice. All foster a spirit of belonging and community. One group favorite is “Hold Everybody Up” by Melanie DeMore, a songwriter and vocal activist whom Wilson brought to town in November 2024 to lead a community concert and offer singing workshops for the public.

Just because you look like you and I look like me

It doesn’t mean we can’t be friends You’re not my enemy

We gotta hold everybody

We gotta hold everybody up

“There is so much more to a community choir than singing,” Wilson says. “Shy singers move past their fears. Friendships blossom as members connect before and after our practices. I am filled with awe when we sing a song of peace or unity and at the end, there is just a holy silence. Each of us feels such a deep gratitude from contributing to that beauty.”

Over the years, Blue Moon Rising has participated in numerous community events, including the LUM Community Thanksgiving Feast, Earth Day celebrations at the Celery Bog, community MLK Jr. Day celebrations and gatherings at the courthouse. The group performs at area senior living centers including Westminster Village, Friendship House and Joyful Journey. Wilson also periodically holds informal one-time sings at pubs and parks so individuals who are unable to commit to a full session in the choir can still share in the benefits of community singing.

“I’ve watched the healing power of song to build community, to lift people who are struggling, to build hope and resilience in hard times,” Wilson says. “Singing with others is good medicine for just about whatever ails you.” ★

Join Blue Moon Rising Blue Moon Rising is a community choir open to anyone who wants to sing. There are no auditions and all voices are welcome. Fifteen-week sessions are held in fall and spring with a membership fee of $165 per session. Scholarships are available and no one is turned away due to inability to pay. The next session begins August 19. Visit denisewilsonmusic. net/blue-moon-rising.