Is Choral Singing a Cure for Ephebiphobia?

This is a position paper which considers the case and prospects for researching intergenerational relationships within choirs as an issue of health or well-being. The paper considers what is meant by the term “choir” and sets out why choirs are sites of intergenerational contact worthy of study. It draws on recently completed work on boys and singing and work currently in progress on the subject of ephebiphobia (the irrational fear of teenagers). The former demonstrates that the word “choir” can be a socially divisive term as young people tend to associate “choir” with older people from predominantly the middle class backgrounds. This has been shown to be a significant disincentive for boys to consider choir singing. The latter draws on a significant series of recent reports that highlight the degree to which the negative perception of young people is increasing within a society that apparently cares less about them. The paper sets out the case for treating this as an issue of social health or well-being, and for investigating choral singing as a health promoting activity within this context.