An Orange County choir of retirees has taken Reata Glen by storm thanks to one woman’s idea to share her passion for music with her neighbors.
You may have heard Phyllis Lovit’s name before. She’s appeared on stage with some of Hollywood’s most popular entertainers of the mid-20th century, from Steve Martin, Liberace, Perry Como, Burt Bacharach and many more.
This former Ms. Senior California has now taken her musical chops to a different stage and is teaching her neighbors at Reata Glen that the power of music is simply ageless.
Lovit, a performer since childhood, conceived the idea of The Glen Aires choir in 2021 upon moving into Reata Glen. The 20 participants, many of whom had never sung in a choir or performed in public, took a leap of faith.
“When we’re harmonizing, the vibrations in your body are so healing and so wonderful … then there’s the comradery of the people.” Lovit told CBS Los Angeles reporter Rina Nakano.
Their performances at various events and serenades at the San Juan Capistrano senior living community are a testament to their newfound courage and blossoming love for music.
“It’s a marvelous motivation to get out and do things and start enjoying life again,” said tenor John Maher.
The choir gathers every Wednesday. Its mission is to spread joy through music and celebrate its members’ diverse talents.
Beyond the sheer pleasure of singing, research has shown that community choir participation can foster a healthy lifestyle for seniors, keeping them active and engaged as they gracefully age.
“When you’re an older person – older, not old – you got to have something to look forward to, like something that you’re contributing to,” said Lovit.
Join The Glen Aires And Find Your Voice at Reata Glen
The Glen Aires choir is more than a hobby for many of our Reata Glen residents; it’s a pathway to socialization and community building. Along with making music, they’re creating lasting friendships and sharing experiences and memories. We love sharing the many talents of our residents and the unity many of them feel while calling our active community home.
The Glen Aires choir is open to all residents and is a perfect invitation to express themselves, meet new people, and be part of something special. Contact us today to learn more about the choir and the more than a hundred other life enrichment programs we offer residents. We’re excited to see how Reata Glen can take your retirement living dreams to new heights.moved since we can’t start sentences with “and” for CL
