Recent studies have shown that choral singing has the potential to help cancer patients stay in remission.
The charity Tenovus Cancer Care, who co-led the study alongside the Royal College of Music, found that an hour of choral singing boosted immune systems and relieved stress, resulting in an improved mood and general good feeling.
The study involved 193 choristers from five different choirs who were asked to provide saliva samples before and after an hour of singing.
The samples were then analysed and the levels of certain hormones were recorded – namely the hormones most associated with stress, cortisol and cytokines. These hormones also play a major part in the body’s immune system by directing cells to fight important illnesses, such as cancer.