While social, sporting and community groups are all busy preparing for phased returns to normal activities, performing arts groups on the Coast are still waiting for their curtain call.
Debate over when and how live music and entertainment will return in NSW continues to rage, but it’s apparent that choirs and other singing groups will likely be facing a longer delay than their peers.
The singling out of communal singing comes after mass outbreaks of coronavirus amongst choirs in the United States and Europe during March.
While experts remain divided on the merits of singing as the source of transmission, it has been theorised that the act of projecting one’s voice through song helps distribute viral particles into the air and onto surfaces via droplets, just like coughing and sneezing.
Other experts argue that the choirs in question could have become clusters by more traditional means, as their cases emerged prior to the widespread adoption of social distancing as a preventative measure in cities that had already experienced high rates of transmission.
The choirs at the heart of this line of inquiry are the Amsterdam Mixed Choir and Skagit Valley Chorale from Mt Vernon in the US.
102 out of 130 members of the Amsterdam Mixed Choir contracted the virus with one dying, while 52 members of the 122 member Skagit Valley Chorale contracted the virus with two deaths.
Back on the Coast, choirs and singing groups have been unable to meet since late March, but that hasn’t stopped some from singing together.
Coastal A Capella has 49 members scattered around the Coast from Summerland Point to Woy Woy, and some further afield in the Hunter Valley.
The vibrant, award winning women’s harmony group opted to cease meeting prior to the formal ban and have since turned to Zoom meetings to keep connected.
Jennie Harrison is their Event Coordinator.
She said being apart has been tough, but members have been helping each other stay strong.
“Our Zoom sessions always start with a social catchup and it’s still just as exciting getting to see each other and just have a chat for half an hour,” Jennie said.
After catching up, members then run through some music education workshops.
Jennie said this segment of their sessions has grown to be fun and informative.
“We’ve done some fun activities around breathing practice and listening exercises to help us better identify beats.
“It’s helping us all be better singers,” she said.
After that, the group practices their repertoire as well as two new numbers they’ve started learning during quarantine.
“We work in breakout groups with our sections, as online group rehearsals can be tricky,” Jennie explained.
Tech issues and timing has also proven a challenge, but according to Jennie, members would happily navigate the perils of modern technology than not sing at all.
“We all love singing, so feeling cut off from it has been hard, and while Zoom might not be the same as meeting face to face, it’s helping us stay connected with each other and with singing,” Jennie said.
Members are now working on a roadmap for what an eventual return to face to face rehearsals will look like.
A staggered return with shortened session times and different start times for different sections is likely on the cards until further notice from the government.
Jennie hopes members will be together by Christmas.
“We travel all over NSW to perform at Christmas time, and hopefully, we’ll be able to do it again this year,” she said.
And a Yuletide revival isn’t that farfetched, with the NSW Government sticking with its one singer only rule for the time being.
“Communal singing and chanting should not occur because of the high risk of transmission of the virus.
“Instead, measures such as one singer standing at least three metres away from others would be safer,” said NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant.
Source:
Press release, Jun 1
NSW Government
Interview, Jun 5
Jennie Harrison, Coastal A Cappella
Reporter: Dilon Luke