Researcher Belinda Moller from Clontarf went through an array of emotions before joining the Dublin-based female voice choir, Diva Voces, last year.
"I was nervous of joining because I didn't think I had a good voice or a particularly strong one. I was scared of being chucked out!
"But the prospect of making a beautiful sound with other people was very enticing."
Diva Voces meet for a two-hour rehearsal every Monday night in Dublin City Centre and after just one year with the group, Moller is already a believer in the emotional, social, mental and physical benefits of choral singing.
She can sing for longer than she could when she started and has growing confidence in her singing ability (though she admits to still being apprehensive in advance of performances).
"There are studies which show the physical benefit of singing. There are chemical and hormonal benefits which can be measured scientifically," she says.
"But I think I am far more in tune with the emotional benefits. By the end of rehearsals I feel buoyant and more upbeat. It's a really pleasant feeling. There is a very supportive atmosphere in the choir which I think is implicit in most choirs. It is very authentic and there are no false friendships. We do a lot of giggling and laughing too - it's great fun."