Philadelphia Corporation for Aging helps seniors celebrate spirit of the season with annual concert

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Paid Sponsor Partnership: Philadelphia Corporation for Aging

The 3rd annual Golden Voices Festival lets older voices shine. The Stars Choir from the Star Harbor Senior Community Center was just one group that performed.

"Each senior center, they have a great choir group," says Esther Lee, Assistant Director of Community Engagement at Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. "We celebrate our talents."

Lee says many older adults look forward to the fun event every year.

The program was hosted by KleinLife in Northeast Philadelphia.

"All the songs are telling us history, stories from different cultures, and that's what makes it wonderful," says Inna Gulko, Director of Senior Services at KleinLife.

Nine choirs participated from senior centers around Philadelphia.

Deborah Freeman sings soprano in the Southwest Senior Center Choir.

"I love it. It makes you feel good," says Freeman. "It's just a wonderful spiritual experience."

Along with holiday music from the Lutheran Settlement House Senior Center Singers, there were folk songs from On Lok's Senior Services Center Choir and KleinLife's Fargenign Choir.

"Music is the powerful tool that bring people together, regardless of the culture or different languages," says Lee.

Many groups sang gospel, like the newly formed choir from St. Edmond Senior Community Center, which is led by Choir Director Bernadette Brooks.

"This is our first outing. We are very excited," says Brooks. "Music has always been my source of peace and my other connection to God."

Northern Living Center brought its North's Golden Notes Choir.

Fellowship is a big part of the choirs.

"We're glad to be together, you know, it keeps us from being lonely," says Cynthia "Lola" Lawton, a singer with North's Golden Notes Choir. "It's a lot of fun."

"PCA's mission is to help older adults to live independently with dignity," says Lee. "It is really important to our members, and our older adults, to participate in events like this."

The Philadelphia Senior Center represented with both its Avenue of the Arts Choir and Coffee Cup Choir.

"We want our older adults to be seen, to be heard, and then be a part of our community life," says Lee.

"I'm hoping that the music and the entertainment and everything just gives someone an uplift in some kind of special way," says Lawton.

"This unites us," says Gulko.

If you'd like to join a senior center choir or find another form of fellowship, you can call PCA's Helpline at 215-765-9040 or you can visit their website at PCACares.org to find a senior center in your Philadelphia neighborhood.

For more information:
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging's 3rd Annual Golden Voices Festival
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging Senior Centers
KleinLife
Star Harbor Senior Community Center
Southwest Senior Center
Lutheran Settlement House Senior Center
On Lok Senior Services Center
St. Edmond Senior Community Center
Northern Living Center
Philadelphia Senior Center

KleinLife
10100 Jamison Ave.
Philadelphia, Pa. 19116