My wish this afternoon is that after you hear this speech, you will decide to join a choir.

Some of you might be thinking right now, “I’m sorry but I never liked singing.” That’s probably not true, or maybe it is but only because you’ve never tried singing before. Scientists say that singing helps produce endorphins and oxytocin. Endorphins are hormones that are associated with the feeling of pleasure while oxytocin is a hormone that is found to alleviate anxiety and stress. Others might also be thinking, "I love singing but singing does not love me." That is exactly why you should join a choir. A choir will help you develop your singing and musicality without professional training. There’s also probably one or two people in this room who are thinking, “Why should I join a choir? I’m too good to sing with a group.” I will tell you honestly right now, "You sound better when you're singing with someone."

Singing in a group or a choir has its benefits, or as others would call them— “perks.” Aside from the advantages of singing alone, making music with other people improves your musical and social skills. When you sing in a choir, you learn how to listen carefully. You need to listen to the sound of the choir and match your sound with it. Your voice needs to blend with theirs. Singing in a choir also trains your ear. A solo singer usually does not have someone singing a different tone with him, but a choral singer has all these other voices singing with him, therefore he must carefully listen to the chord and find his note there. In a big group where you spend a lot of time doing the same thing, you’ll have lots of opportunity to socialize with others, especially in a choir. Often, you will find people with similar interests in music and this might help boost your sense of belonging. When you sing with your peers, this also reduces stage fright or anxiety. If you fail, you’re not going to fail alone! Joining a choir increases your experiences. It can also bring you to many places. Choir performances and competitions are held in different places. You will get to do what you love and travel to different places with your friends. What fun!

Out of these many benefits of singing with a choir, there is one that I want you to remember the most. Singing in a choir helps you think less of yourself. You learn to care more for the group—for others— instead of just yourself. Your goal is not to be heard individually or to sing as loud as you can, but it is to produce the best sound you can together, and you help each other towards that goal. You learn to sing for others. I believe this is the essence of choral singing.

Before I end this speech, I would like to quote something from a fellow conductor of mine, “In every concert, in every competition, or in every performance, you are given the opportunity to touch the lives of those who have come to listen to you. It doesn’t matter whether your audience is a thousand people or just one person. It doesn’t matter whether you’re going to sing in the best concert hall in Singapore or an open space somewhere in the country. There will always be one person who will be inspired by your music. Sing for that person.”

Everyone, I would like to invite you to join a choir, and if you are already a part of one, then I invite you to continue singing, and to continue singing together.

Purpose: To persuade each one of the audience to join a choir

I. You should join a choir. A. If you don’t like to sing, scientifically, everyone likes to sing.B. If you don’t think you’re good enough to join a choir, then you should join a choir.C. If you think you’re too good to join a choir, you should know that everyone

sounds better singing together.II. Making music with other people improves your musical and social skills.

A. You learn how to listen carefully.B. Singing in a choir trains your ear.C. You’ll have lots of opportunity to socialize with others.D. Singing with peers reduces stage fright or anxiety.E. Joining a choir increases your experiences.

III. The most important benefit of singing in a choir is learning to sing with others and for others.

IV. Join a choir, but if you’re already a part of one, continue singing with others.