Musical Memories Choir
The Rewire Musical Memories Choirs are inclusive, community-based choirs that aim to support people living with dementia and their family and friends who support them.
The Rewire Musical Memories choirs are facilitated by registered music therapists (RMTs), who are trained in using music to support people in using music to improve and maintain their health and wellbeing. Our choirs are co-designed with members and based on best-practice evidence from music therapy research, to maximise social support, cognitive stimulation, emotional and musical expression, and communication.
The first choir began in 2016 part of a research project led by researchers from the University of Melbourne and Austin Health, which found that choir singing can provide important benefits for people living with dementia and their family and friends.
Since then, the Rewire Musical Memories choirs continue to grow; we have three choirs currently operating in Banyule, Nillumbik, and Bayside, and all offer in-person and online attendance options.
Watch our short film produced by Jessica Carascalo Heard.
Events, Performances and Media
2026: Dr Zara Thompson featured on ABC’s AM program to discuss choir singing for people with dementia.
2025
- Rewire Musical Memories Choir (Heidelberg) members Gwlad and Cheryl, along with Dr Zara Thompson, featured on ABC’s ‘The Art Of…Memory’.
- Dr Zara Thompson featured on 10News+ to discuss the science behind choir singing for people with dementia.
- Rewire Musical Memories Choir (Heidelberg) – performed at MannaCare Aged Care (Templestowe)
- Rewire Musical Memories Choir (Heidelberg) – performed at Wantirna Views Care Community Salford Park
2024
- Rewire Musical Memories Choirs (Hurstbridge and Heidelberg) performed at the Ageing Well Expo (Nillumbik and Banyule)
- News article about choir singing for people with dementia.
- Rewire Musical Memories Choir (Heidelberg) – performed at Charlesbrook Aged Care (Templestowe)
2023: Article and Radio Interview about Dementia Inclusive Choirs.
2022: Rewire Musical Memories Choir (Heidelberg) featured in ABC’s Classic Choir.
2021: Nick Murray interviewed on Plenty Valley Radio (88.6fm) about the Rewire Musical Memories Choir (Hurstbridge)
2020: Rewire Musical Memories Choir (Heidelberg) performed virtually.
2019
- ‘Hear Our Voices’ Music Festival – hosted by Rewire Musical Memories Choir (Heidelberg) as part of Senior’s Month 2019
- Performed at the Australian Music Therapy Association National Conference (at The University of Melbourne, Southbank)
Contact Form
Research and Resources
The Rewire Choirs are informed by many years of research and music therapy expertise – many of our choir members have been involved in research, and some have even co-authored research papers on this topic! Below are some links to research papers that inform how we run our choirs.
- ‘A Light at the End of the Tunnel’
The Experiences of Members of a Therapeutic Community Choir for People Living with Dementia and their Care-Partners who ‘Went Online’ During the COVID-19 Pandemic – an Arts-Based Phenomenological Study - How Singing can Help People With Dementia and Their Family Care-Partners: A Mixed Studies Systematic Review With Narrative Synthesis, Thematic Synthesis, and Meta-Integration
- Remini-Sing: A Feasibility Study of Therapeutic Group Singing to Support Relationship Quality and Wellbeing for Community-Dwelling People Living With Dementia and Their Family Caregivers
- Community-Dwelling People Living With Dementia and Their Family Caregivers Experience Enhanced Relationships and Feelings of Well-Being Following Therapeutic Group Singing: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis
- Therapeutic Choirs for Families Living with Dementia: A Phenomenological Study