What’s in a Name?

A lot. A name has meaning and power. In it, an identity is held, and a culture is cultivated.

Very recently, our community choir for singers “50 and better,” Coda, underwent a name change, and from now on, it shall be called Encore.

Why? Because Coda, for its purpose in a piece of music (a concluding passage that brings a piece or a movement to an end), is great. But not too great for a choir made up of singers who are 50 and above. This summer, we underwent a name change where our members suggested names; those names were whittled down to 3, they did one final vote, and Encore won.

While a musical encore happens at the end of a concert, it’s another chance to do another song or 2 or however many times. Also, an encore is on the performer’s own terms, whatever they want to do. How powerful is that? This is the message we want to send to people: There is beauty and power in aging, and there are many ways to reinvent yourself so you can keep doing the things you love in life.