Project "Grandes Cantores de Leiria" Gives Voice to Senior Population

Initiative by Academia Coral Mezzo, with Municipal support, aims to involve 120 seniors in choral music to promote active aging and inclusion.

Generic image of a group of elderly people singing in a choir in Portugal, with warm lighting and subtle musical notes in the background.
AI

Generic image of a group of elderly people singing in a choir in Portugal, with warm lighting and subtle musical notes in the background.

The project “Grandes Cantores de Leiria”, promoted by the Academia Coral Mezzo with support from the Municipality of Leiria, aims to involve up to 120 seniors from the municipality in choral music, fostering active aging and social inclusion.

The initiative, which receives municipal support of 7,500 euros, will take place in four institutions within the municipality, with up to 30 participants per location. The goal is to create opportunities for learning, personal growth, and strengthening social relationships through music.
Ana Valentim, the councilwoman responsible for active aging, highlighted the importance of engaging the senior population in cultural life. "We want the senior population to have an active role in the cultural life of the municipality," she stated, emphasizing that "music brings people together, stimulates social interaction, and helps combat social isolation".
Over ten one-hour sessions at each institution, totaling 40 hours of training, participants will explore breathing techniques, vocal preparation, diction, musical memory, repertoire learning, and group singing.
Four concerts are planned at each participating institution, accompanied by piano and violin, culminating in a final concert at the Teatro José Lúcio da Silva. This event will bring together the four groups into a single choir of up to 120 participants, accompanied by piano, guitar, bass, two violins, and drums.
The Academia Coral Mezzo will be responsible for artistic and pedagogical guidance, preparing the repertoire and coordinating the presentations. At the end, the project's impact on participants' well-being will be evaluated, with potential for expansion to other institutions.
Based on information from the official source: Câmara Municipal de Leiria (27/10/2026)