The power and importance of music was certainly heightened this weekend, but it has been ever present throughout the last year. We have witnessed virtual recordings from many groups unable to meet face to face. We have had performances streamed live into our homes and the musical world has remained innovative and a lifeline to many. The knowledge that so many professional musicians have not been able to perform has been heart breaking, let alone earn money. Whilst some of these restrictions have eased, this is not the case for amateur music makers, and we wait patiently for 17th May. Choirs throughout the country have spent a considerable amount of time looking at risk reduction and risk assessments and how to respond effectively to the guidance. What I think is sometimes forgotten is that whilst a choir or orchestra may hold amateur status, it is made up of professional people in their own right. These skills have been vital in ensuring that a safe return is possible.

My own choirs have those qualified in medicine, science, human resources, workplace risk assessment and that is just a start! We are well placed to guide and support and protect our members and to ensure that they comply with all guidelines and that they understand their individual responsibility.

We are ready to sing again, and we want to sing again, and we will, but we will do it safely because we will have planned and prepared fully and with rigour.

Until then we shall have music in our hearts and our minds. I am reminded of the words from Arthur O’Shaughnessy’s Ode.

“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.”