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The Vivace Chorus,
- from Guildford
meets on May 17
2021 as restrictions
- briefly- ease
jenny. seymour@reachplccom
4and pant over everybody w1th no masks 7
or distancing and thatis acceptable.”
Like all Surrey choirs we spoke to, the
THOUSANDS of smgers in Surrey have Vivace Chorus has been meeting
been banned from choirs following a weekly on Zoom. The online delay
1 rule U-turn which means no more than makes it impossible to sing together, so
@JenSeymoufl
,
six people can perform together.
Some choir leaders have said they
feel singled out, after more than a year
all members perform at their screens,
muted.
It is a “poor compromise’, said Mr
1 oftheir members singing to themselves Backhouse.
“The last time we sang together
- with. thear computers,set to
" on Zoom
_ [before last Monday] was March 2020
ot
:
-Some choirs met for the first time in It has been really difficult.
“Singingis an empathetic thing anymore than a year as restrictions eased
last Monday (May 17) but were swiftly way, being a singer requires not just
going out to have a bit of ayell.
“Itis doing things together, it is very
much about teamwork, youbuild on
canmeetuptosing. . Itis part of the soul.
relationships
Among them was the Vivace Chorus,
“When we did the rehearsal last
‘which met at Guildford Baptist Church
a lady came up and said ‘T
Monday,
with strict rules in place- including
mask wearing, distancing and a shorter “have got my life back:
“They have really felt deprived ofa
session than normal.
Like many, Jeremy Backhouse, its big part of their lives.”
He said he, and others, feared limits
‘musical dlrector for the past 27 years, is
on choral singing will continue even if
- the eas“Slx people is not a cho he said. the final part of the roadmap
sent back to Zoom when the governmentstated no more than six amateurs
“This basicallyis a ban anhm:al.smg- : ‘ing of all restnctnons --goes ahead on
ing”
Choirs feel targeted” he added.
June 21.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dawden
- “Thereis no justificationfor this retro- said the decisionto restrict choirs was
de step, nojustification at ali.
- made on the basis 0f“veryclear pubhc
can»b!%e and puff health guldance”
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