Chorus Members Say Singing is Great for Health

International Chorus Members Say Singing is Great for Health

A bunch of Waikato District Health Board employees are proving that singing is great for their own health!

They are all members of the Waikato Rivertones, New Zealand’s champion four-part harmony chorus, which is heading to Denver, Colorado for international competition later this month.

The Rivertones are representing New Zealand in the world harmony championships in Denver, with about 13,000 other women from all over the world.

The health employees heading off to Colorado include delivery suite midwife Pauline Martyn, theatre nurse Carla Oosten, hospital pharmacist Janet Milne, nurse Bronwyne Albright, part-time food and nutrition administrator Alison Rennie, Population Health administrator Janice White, GP Kate Sinclair and medical receptionist Shona Meddings.

More than 80 women of all ages, from teens to over 70, who come from throughout the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, King Country, Auckland and Taupo sing with the Rivertones.

Their music ranges from standards, big ballads and classic well-known songs to more modern music by artists such as Queen and Billy Joel, all sung in a cappella (unaccompanied) harmony.

In 2007 the Rivertones won the world champion mid-sized four part harmony chorus title at the Harmony Classic contest in San Antonio, Texas – the first time the title had left the United States. That win has led to regular television appearances and concerts around the country.

The Waikato Rivertones final practice section before heading to Denver

ENDS

About Waikato District Health Board and Health Waikato:

Waikato DHB is responsible for planning, funding and providing quality health and disability support services for the 372,865 people living in the Waikato DHB region. It has an annual turnover of $1.2 billion and employs more than 6000 people.

Health Waikato is the DHB’s main provider of hospital and health services with an annual budget of more than $701 million and 5238 staff. It has six groups across five hospital sites, three primary birthing units, two continuing care facilities and 20 community bases offering a comprehensive range of primary, secondary and tertiary health services.

A wide range of independent providers deliver other Waikato DHB-funded health services - including primary health, pharmacies and community laboratories.

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