About:
The Beat Goes On, is a community choir project that aims to grow the Town-Gown relationship between the Virginia Tech community and older adults population in Blacksburg, Virginia, with a big data twist. The Beat Goes On started in Fall 2023 with a start-up grant from the Institute for Creativity, Arts and Technology.
This choir is specifically designed to invite persons experiencing cognitive change (usually due to a form of dementia) and their caregivers to engage in choir singing together with students, faculty and staff from VT, along with other members of the community. Singing in a choir has a wide range of physiological benefits, such as improving breathing, posture and muscle regulating heart rate, supporting a healthy immune system, helping symptoms of some chronic diseases and overall improving status of someone’s physical health.
Have any other questions or comments? Email joculligan@vt.edu.
2025-2026 Season
We held our annual community choir concert on Tuesday, May 5th. If you are interested in joining the choir in Fall 2026, click HERE to fill out the form.
If you weren’t able to attend, the introductory video and concert livestream can be accessed through Google Drive by clicking HERE.
Sing the Songs with the Band!
For our choir members, or audience members if you are interested, below are the song recordings with the band if you would like to practice outside of rehearsal!
Count on Me by Bruno Mars:
Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper:
Cheers Theme by Gary Portnoy:
Pack Up Your Sorrows by Joan Baez:
Stand By Me by Ben E. King:
Interested in learning more about our choir? Check out the videos and articles below.
News:
The Beat Goes On earns 2025 Best Practice Award from the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services and the Commonwealth Council on Aging! Read more about it here!
Spotify Setlist
Below is our official setlist for the 2025-2026 season, available on Spotify.