At CMC, our Neighborhood Choir Program for Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities brings people together through the joy of singing. These tuition-free choirs provide older adults (60+) and adults with disabilities with an opportunity to connect, create, and experience the numerous benefits of music.
Abby Ross, the program’s new coordinator, was drawn to this role by her lifelong love of music. In high school, she and a friend started Music for the Soul, performing classic songs at retirement homes and discovering the power of music to connect people. She earned a degree in Communications with minors in Psychology and Music from UC Davis and has gained experience with the San Francisco International Film Festival, iHeartMedia, and Jewish Life Television.
She says, “Music has always been woven into my life, not just as something to listen to, but as a kind of therapy and a way to connect with others. When I learned about CMC’s Neighborhood Choir Program, it resonated with me immediately. I was drawn to the way it uses music to ease loneliness, create joy, and build real community.”
Abby hopes to bring “openness, creativity, and genuine enthusiasm to support the choirs and the people in them. My goal is to help every participant feel comfortable, encouraged, and excited to sing—whether they’ve been in choirs for years or are joining for the very first time. More than anything, I want to help nurture a space where people feel they belong, where making music together feels like being part of something bigger than ourselves.”
What inspires her most is the way singing together transforms a room. She explains, “You can almost feel the room shift—voices blending, energy lifting, and barriers disappearing. Singing side by side brings connection, joy, and a sense of belonging. With community choirs, it’s never about being perfect—it’s about the shared joy of making music and the healing that comes with it.”
Even in her first weeks, Abby has found many highlights. “It’s been such a joy to meet all the wonderful choir directors and participants. One of the first things I got to do was hear Bayanihan Equity Center choir perform at their facility as a welcome into the choir community. Watching the directors share their passion and seeing how much the singers respect and learn from them reminded me why this work is so meaningful. Getting the chance to sing with each choir and discover new music together has already been one of the highlights of my time here.”
CMC would like to thank Tim Costigan, the program’s former coordinator, for his dedication and leadership. Tim brought extensive experience in volunteer management and community service, including his work at St. Anthony Foundation where he started a CMC Neighborhood Choir prior to his work with CMC. CMC Program Director, Sylvia Sherman speaks of Tim, “He led the choir to come back to in person programming after the pandemic and has brought tremendous compassion, humour, energy and commitment to strengthen and expand the program and the community it serves. We are so thankful for his service while we look forward to a strong new chapter for the choirs!”
CMC’s Neighborhood Choir Program is offered in partnership with 17 senior and neighborhood centers across San Francisco. For more information about Neighborhood Choirs, contact Abby Ross at (415) 647-6015 x 181 or aross@sfcmc.org.