Westbury Choral Society’s members say they are “intensely frustrated and hugely disappointed” that singing groups, who were told they could restart last month, were stopped again when the government changed the rules at the last minute.
Following the relaxation of Covid restrictions, government guidelines stated that singers could get together to sing again from 17th May, and most groups put arrangements in place to facilitate that.
But just hours before the restart, the government made a u-turn and choirs were told they could only have sessions of six people meeting indoors and 30 outdoors – meaning most choirs would have to remain closed to personal meetings and rehearsals.
Chair of Westbury Choral Society, Allison Smith said, “We had made significant plans to begin rehearsals again on 19th May and were intensely frustrated and hugely disappointed to find out at the last minute that we would not be allowed.
“What has been the most frustrating is the appalling lack of evidence to back up the government’s assertion that singing is such a dangerous activity.
“For a good part of the autumn term we met, in a Covid-secure way, under government guidance. No mingling, spaced out two metres apart, taking temperatures on entry and wearing masks while arriving and leaving.
“As far as I’m aware, not one person transmitted Coronavirus from one person to another. No infections were reported amongst members of the choir.”
Allison said many members are retired and now vaccinated, so the ability to meet was a massive boost to individual morale and the health benefits of singing, both physical and mental, are huge.
“I would like to ask the government, where is the evidence that choirs are sources of infection transmission? she said. “What is the justification for prohibiting singing? Surely there is less risk in controlled singing than in a football crowd singing and chanting at the top of their voices from the terraces.”
The society’s secretary, Sandra Maidment, said, “We were extremely disappointed with the news that singing groups of more than six could not meet indoors, which we learned about only the day before we were due to restart rehearsals.
“It was an awful rush to inform all our members, and the fact that all our careful preparations for a safe start were wasted. Worst of all was that we could not sing together, having looked forward to this for many months.
“We had planned for a concert in July, not having been able to perform all of last year and having had to cancel our spring concert for the second year running.
“We obviously share these feelings with choirs all over the country, and with articles in the press, hope that a government change of heart will take place as soon as possible.”
Wiltshire choir leader Emma Webb says over the last 15 months Rock Choir has had to adapt to what has been the ‘new normal’ of online sessions instead of meeting in person.
She said the difficult times had “made things even more evident what music and group singing can do for people’s mental health.”
