Bridging Generations in Song: The Intergenerational Choir as Shared Space
Paper Presentation
23 August 2025
15:00 - 15:30 hrs (GMT + 7)
C501
School of Music, Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music, Thailand

As Thailand is projected to become a super-aged society within the next few years, bridging the gap between generations has become an increasingly important social priority. In response, national policies such as the Act on the Elderly (2010) and the Promotion of Non-Formal and Informal Education Act, B.E. 2551 (2008) support lifelong learning and social participation among older adults. One initiative arising from these frameworks is intergenerational learning (IGL), which encourages reciprocal engagement between age groups. While IGL and intergenerational programs (IP) have been implemented in various Thai educational and community settings, intergenerational choir initiatives remain underexplored. Various international studies suggest that intergenerational choirs can reduce age-based stereotypes, foster empathy, enhance emotional well-being, and promote musical collaboration across generations. Despite this importance, few empirical studies in Thailand have examined choirs as a platform for intergenerational connection. Guided by Intergenerational Learning, Intergroup Contact Theory, and Sociocultural Theory, this proposed qualitative case study will explore the musical and social experiences of participants in the PGVIM Singers—a community-based intergenerational choir in Bangkok. This study introduces the rationale, conceptual grounding, and research design of the study, which aims to contribute to both scholarly understanding and inclusive community music practices.