This year Chicago Chorale celebrates its 20th Anniversary. In honor of this momentous occasion, some of our singers have agreed to share their experience of singing with the Chicago Chorale. This is a reflection by Chicago Chorale member Jacob Karaca:
Chicago Chorale has saved me, many times over, and continues to do so. I don’t just mean in the obvious ways – musical beauty, being part of a millennia-long tradition of musical excellence, bonding with a tribe of like-minded individuals, or being fortunate enough to add to the beauty of the world. Chorale has given me personal purpose and space to continually heal my body and spirit from the hurts of everyday life and complex trauma, by activating those parts of me that provide me calmness and grounding, of connection and compassion, of joy.
I have sung with Chorale since December of 2004, after having run into my old college choir director Bruce in a courthouse elevator. I was there as a matter of course as a part of my job as an attorney, and he was there for the adoption proceedings for his oldest son. I had lost contact with him, and the choral tradition I so relied upon in college at the University of Chicago. But he invited me to audition for Chicago Chorale, and I have been singing with him ever since.
I have always known that preparing and performing the greatest choral works from Palestrina and Tallis to Bach to Beethoven to Mahler to Rachmaninoff to Martin and to Talbot, had centered me and given me purpose beyond my daily life. Singing has given me focus for my musical inclination. Singing has given me space to regularly find time and place outside myself and outside everyday demands on my attention and energy. Singing has given me space to become more in touch with myself, working towards a common goal of beauty and inspiration.
It wasn’t until recently, though, in my own struggles with addiction and trauma healing, that I’ve become aware of the biological and spiritual causes of these benefits.
Most of us are at least vaguely aware of the mystic traditions of group singing. Traditions of ancient chant from across the globe point to a common spiritual reality for the human condition. From Buddhist traditions of “nam myoho renge kyo” to western chant to community healing ceremonies in tribal cultures everywhere, singing together has been a constant way for people to heal and to come together and to find higher meaning.
More biologically, singing activates the vagus nerve system, a group of nerves and braincells that control breathing, heart rate, and connection to others. Singing activates those parts of us that take us out of the nervous system’s activation in shame, of disconnection, of anxiety and depression. Activation of the vagus nerve moderates our overactivations to stressful stimuli. Singing heals us.
And it heals me, every day.
Not only has Chicago Chorale given my somewhat elitist musical upbringing a mentally satisfying outlet for my inclinations, but it also provides me the space to reorient my body towards a centered calm, bringing me mentally up when I need it, and bringing me down when I need that.
Ever since that day in the courtroom elevator, singing with Bruce and Chicago Chorale has helped me survive and moderate job loss, divorce, recovery, and everyday struggle. The art of producing our sublime repertoire, over the years, has given me solace and peace, as well as an inimitable tribe, community, fellowship and sangha.