‘Music has a powerful impact on our brains’: After weeks of practice, Lake Song Chorus to perform
Published 9:00 pm Friday, May 23, 2025
Diane Heaney, director for the Lake Song Chorus through the MacPhail Center for Music, leads the choir through a warm-up Thursday in the chapel of St. John's Lutheran's Community's Luther Place campus. The choir has met for about 10 weeks and is preparing a concert to share with the community June 7. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
Members of the Lake Song Chorus look on as Diane Heaney directs Thursday. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
The Lake Song Chorus is available for people with dementia, their caregivers and other community volunteers. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
Bill and Cheryl Intihar, in back, sing and clap to "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
Diane Heaney leads the Lake Song Chorus Thursday at St. John's Lutheran Community. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
Terry and Iris Tarvestad sing during rehearsal, along with Don Malinsky, at left. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
Debbie Holmen, left, and her mother, Nancy Houg, sing during the rehearsal Thursday at St. John's Lutheran Community. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
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The chapel at St. John’s Lutheran Community’s Luther Place campus came alive Thursday with the sound of music.
Intertwined with familiar songs such as “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” “Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Head” and “It’s a Wonderful Life,” were conversation and laughter.
Since late March, about 50 members of the Lake Song Chorus have rehearsed weekly as part of MacPhail Center for Music’s Music for Life program designed for adults 55 and older.
The choir, new to Albert Lea this year, is designed for people living with dementia, their care partners and community volunteers.
Director Diane Heaney, MacPhail Center for Music faculty member and retired Albert Lea High School choir director, said the rehearsals are based on similar choirs formed through the Giving Voice initiative, which inspires and equips organizations to bring together people with Alzheimer’s and their care partners to sing in choruses.
Each practice begins with snacks and social time, followed by a 40- to 45-minute rehearsal of the songs the choir will perform at its final concert. Then, there is a break in the middle for movement and to hear stories about the different members of the choir, followed by additional rehearsal.
Now, after about 10 weeks of rehearsals, the choir’s first season is winding down, and on June 7, it will present its concert, “It’s a Wonderful World” for the community.
“In my over 40 years of directing choirs, this is the most joyous and fulfilling experience I have had. Each rehearsal is full of life and love,” Heaney said. “Music has a powerful impact on our brains, and it makes us happier and healthier.”
Heaney said while she loved her high school students, having the opportunity to be a part of the Lake Song Chorus has been such a positive experience for her. Some of her former students and mothers of former students are even participating as community volunteers.
“I love leading choirs, but most of my life the goal has been musical excellence. …” she said. “But this, our motto is, ‘There’s no wrong in the room — only joy.’ If we make a mistake, we laugh.”
Iris and Terry Tarvestad are two of the participants in the choir.
Iris Tarvestad said her husband, who lives at Oak Park Place, is “a big music guy” and has lots of stuff related to music in his room. When information came out about joining the choir, they jumped at the opportunity to participate.
She said she thinks Heaney has been instrumental in the success of the experience.
“Music will do anything for you,” she said.
Cheryl Intihar said when she and her husband, Bill, first decided to participate, she at first thought the choir was never going to work.
She said people with dementia often have a hard time concentrating and reading all of the words to songs. But, she said, Heaney has been so organized that the experience has worked well.
“It really has been a wonderful experience,” she said.
Bill Intihar, who now lives in Prairie Senior Cottages, was a drummer with rock ’n’ roll band The Sonics for many years in high school and college. The couple moved to Albert Lea in 1968 for his teaching position and have been here ever since.
“I like it,” he said of the choir. “I can sing and hum.”
Cheryl Intihar said she hopes word gets out about the choir, as she has many friends who didn’t know about the opportunity.
Debbie Holmen, who has attended with her mother, Nancy Houg, said the choir has been a wonderful opportunity and has given her and her mother something fun to do instead of just going to doctor’s appointments.
“I think it’s fabulous our community is offering this,” she said.
Her mother is 90 and lives in an independent living apartment. She lived in rural Glenville for most of her life and was a farmwife.
Holmen recalled when she and her siblings were younger, their mother would always entertain them at the park by singing.
“This is a really great opportunity,” she said.
Heaney said during the concert June 7 there will be a demonstration of their typical rehearsals — with a little help from the audience, too.
The concert will be at 1 p.m. at St. John’s in the dining hall to accommodate more people. There is a suggested $5 donation.
The space was donated for use by St. John’s Lutheran Community, and Heaney thanked those who have sponsored the cause, including MacPhail Center for Music, Idea Fund, ACDA of Minnesota, Freeborn-Mower Electric Cooperative and Age-Friendly Freeborn County.
Jean Eaton, one of the organizers of the Age-Friendly Freeborn County initiative, said she is glad Heaney stepped forward to lead the choir and noted that similar choirs have been happening in larger communities for many years. She said it complements other age-friendly efforts taking place right now throughout the county.
She said she wants to make people with memory loss and their caregivers aware of the opportunity and overall help reduce the stigma surrounding dementia.
The choir is accompanied by Bob Tewes.
With the success of the choir’s first season, Heaney said she is already planning a new season that will likely start in October.
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