A decade of song for Peninsula Singers

The group of residents at the Stanmore Bay, Auckland retirement community are less about perfect pitch and more about having a good time together. What they may lack in formal training, they more than make up for with enthusiasm, humour and a willingness to put on a good show. For a decade now, the Peninsula Singers have been part of life at the Stanmore Bay retirement community, with rehearsals bringing together residents who enjoy music, laughter and the occasional dramatic flourish.

The group’s 20+ singers, aged from mid-seventies to 90’s, don’t consider themselves a choir. In fact, Sandi is quite clear about that. "Some people can sing and some have a different sound, but it actually doesn't really matter," she says. "Our voices all blend together nicely."

Over the years, they’ve tackled everything from 1950s rock and roll hits and Broadway favourites to wartime classics for special events. Their repertoire includes sings like The Happy Wanderer, The Birth of the Blues, High Hopes, and I’m a Rockabilly Rebel. Through lively performances across retirement communities and appearances around Orewa, they’ve built a reputation for bringing plenty of fun along with the music.

Sandi believes the secret to the group's longevity isn't complicated. “We have a lot of laughs," she says. "I always tell everyone to give it some razzle dazzle and really go for it." For a group that has lasted team years, the formula seems to be working. When nobody is taking themselves too seriously, hitting every note matters far less than enjoying the song together.