I think we are all hoping, especially for those whose choirs fell silent in March 2020 that this will be a summer where we find our voices again. It’s hard to believe that we are now a week past the 12-month anniversary of the cancellation of our rehearsals and concerts. I have spent most of that year online, not only in rehearsal, but in meetings, discussion groups, quizzes….you name it and I will have done it! We have all become used to that look which tells us that we should leave the meeting, but don’t know how! Maybe – zoom face – will enter the dictionary this coming year! There have been many opportunities to laugh whilst being online and it has been so important to do that. My only regret is that I have not been able to see and engage with every member of my choirs. I realise that for some online just wasn’t for them and I hope that as we return, we will all work hard to bring our community back together and make it even stronger than when we parted.

This weekend, I did something that I have not done in a long time which was read the newspaper. Being able to access the headlines online has very much become the norm, but for some reason I wanted more than just the gist of a story. I have become disillusioned with the press over this past year, realising though that it has been a necessary evil and our only way of coming to terms with our situation, as well as remaining informed.

I have thought a great deal about where I stand on certain subjects and for the most part have a very definite view; on others I am still to weigh up both sides of the argument. For those who follow me on social media, you will have picked up my little outbursts or my commentary on particular issues and some of you may even know why or what has prompted me to comment. But why do it publicly at all? Well, I suppose I could say why not!

Being a ‘celebrity’ affords you a platform, and we have certainly witnessed how that has been used for good or ill this last year. But shouldn’t everyone have a platform? Shouldn’t everyone have a voice? It may not be through social media, but everyone should be able to voice their opinion. But there is a difference between expressing your opinion and being rude!

I am worried that soon we shall no longer be able to express our opinions for fear of upsetting an individual or group or cause and in this sense our liberty is removed, and we all know how we have felt this past year not being able to perform the simplest of tasks and not having the freedom to see our family, our friends or simply go for a coffee! We have, out of necessity restricted ourselves to the bare minimum, but we are now ready to be free again.

There is still some way to go, and I am sure like many others I will wait quietly, watch the data, play my part and eventually, hopefully emerge from the darkness. As I sit writing my blog, the headlines pop up – ‘London Covid deaths fall to zero’ – ‘No evidence to halt lockdown easing’ – but the one to capture my attention this morning – ‘The BBC Proms will take place this year in person at the Royal Albert Hall, in line with government guidance’.

We will all have to adapt to the guidance and I sincerely hope that as the days and weeks unfold, we will find our way back to ‘normality’, that we will find our voices and sing like we have never sung before!