Well, everyone has an opinion on it, and never have we been more divided! Actually, I can think of a few things where we have been as equally divided. Whichever side of the fence you are on, it is important to respect each other.

It’s been a glorious weekend, but then again probably too hot for some! Where’s the rain when you need it most…. or is that tempting fate!

Three live rehearsals for me this week – two in groups of 6 and one full rehearsal with those who wish to come back. It’s a start and we have longed for this day. But we will be cautious, and we will be following our risk assessments and our own restrictions. In reality it will be September before we return to normality. But we shall have to wait and see what the summer brings. I think what is most tiring is the uncertainty.

If I manage to get all my choirs back in the last week of July, it will feel good, and I am sure quite emotional for many. We will still run online as well, so still a little more zooming for the time being. Two choirs will then take a break in August, whilst one will continue. We are planning for the Autumn, as much as we can!

With 190 cancelled rehearsals, although most were replaced by online sessions and 26 cancelled concerts, it has been a different kind of musical year.

It will be nice to think of the music again, but I believe we still have hurdles to jump and different scenarios to ponder, so sadly it won’t only be the music we have to consider.

I realise that I am not alone in this and there are many in exactly my position and I know that we have been resilient, creative and have wherever possible advised and guided our choirs as best we can. In doing so we have to be proud of those achievements. I also know that many choir committees have had to steer the ship carefully and will continue to do so as we return.

There will be one more Corona Blog and then it is time for a rest! I expect I will continue to write, but from September and you will be able to access them online. I will be producing an e-book of my writings, and this will be available to purchase, with donations going to Fairfield school.

Having written almost 64,000 words it feels right to share my individual and collective thoughts through what has been a difficult time for us all.

As we enter our next chapter let us remember that ‘we are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.’

Since the announcement last week that all legal restrictions will be lifted on 19th July I have seen so many comments both for and against this. However, whatever your personal stance happens to be it is not an excuse to be unkind or critical. Since March 2020 everyone has had to come terms with so much and the last thing anyone needs now is to be criticised for their opinion. I have said this before and I will repeat it again today, we must be kind to each other…it’s that simple!

This last week and for the first time in many months I had live rehearsals with all of my choirs and without exception it felt good to be back singing together. But, and you knew there was a but, we had only 6 singing and we were following the guidance that remains in place for us, but also for our rehearsal venues.

We shall, find out tomorrow what the ‘unlocking’ will look like! But will we actually have any guidance to follow, or will it simply be to have common sense? I am hopeful that before the end of July we will have returned as a full choir, or rather with as many who wish to return, to at least allow us to know what it will be like in September!

We will remain cautious as we return because I and our committees who have worked so hard, have a duty of care to our singers and we have and will continue to take that responsibility very seriously. Remember, our committees are still volunteers, but we should all be thankful for their resilience, professionalism and patience in working to keep our choirs connected.

Many of you have gone above and beyond to keep everyone connected, both those who have been able to join us online and those who have kept in touch via other means. We are all one and we can be proud of our collective achievements.

It feels strange that we may soon be able to enjoy the music again, and it will be a joyous occasion, but you must all remember that it is your moment, your triumph and your determination to get our voices heard. You have all proclaimed loudly that choirs matter and that message has been heard.

Who would have thought that choirs would have been debated in the House of Lords, but it was and members on all sides were in support and cited the wholly inconsistent approach as illogical.

In a week where one man’s actions have proved to be at odds with many others it has prompted me to reflect on the lack of consistency that has surrounded us throughout the last 15 months.

I dare say many of you would say that inconsistency has always been present, but for me the stark contrast has very clearly come into focus. It is not the first time that someone in public office has made an error of judgement, but the impact of this error is that trust and believability have been irreparably damaged.

I received many favourable comments on last week’s blog as it highlighted the almost comical situation in which we find ourselves.

This week, however, I am confused at how some can interpret guidance to suit their own agenda or rather to allow the inconsistencies to benefit the few, but not the many.

My choirs are ready to return to sing, but like so many others the circumstances and interpretation of guidance prevents this.

Yet, I see that other choirs have already returned, and I am pleased that some have been able to find a way back, or rather their individual circumstances have been deemed acceptable and therefore received the go ahead.

But it is the lack of fairness that causes frustration and if a different approach can be allowed to happen because of inconsistency, then this needs to be addressed. It shouldn’t be one rule for one or the few and another rule for everyone else. We should be equal! We all want to sing again, and we all want to benefit from our shared love of music.

In pointing out the inconsistency, I am not in any way suggesting that those choirs who have managed to find a way back are wrong to do so, just that we should all be given the same chance.

Uncertainty still eats away at us all and we still don’t know what the 19th July will bring! I still look at the daily statistics, but this week decided to look a little deeper. “In England, the number of deaths increased from 7,302 in week 22 (week ending 4 June 2021) to 9,554 in week 23 (week ending 11 June 2021) which was 208 more deaths (2.2%) higher than the week 23 five-year average.” This was taken from the Office for National Statistics own figures. As I read further, it became more interesting. “Of these, 83 deaths involved coronavirus in week 23, a 13.5% decrease compared with week 22 (96 deaths). Of all deaths registered in week 23 in England, 0.9% mentioned COVID-19 on the death certificate.” Now, any death is sad and the circumstances equally so, but I was surprised at this low percentage.

These figures show the true picture and are not subject to interpretation or inconsistency. I quote them merely to make a point, and in making that point and in the full knowledge that 61.6% of the adult population have now received both vaccinations, surely it’s time for the inconsistencies to be removed and to look toward a positive message on 19th July! 22 days and counting!

Isn’t it strange what prompts certain thoughts to go through your mind? After a pretty ordinary day gardening and realising how unfit I was, I sat down to watch the fascinating documentary about the new RHS Garden Bridgewater and how, despite numerous setbacks, including Coronavirus, its staff remained resilient and determined in its unique creation.

Reflecting on their individual and collective journey made me stop and think about my own over the last 15 months. I have for the most part remained positive and have been thankful for all those who have supported me both professionally and personally.

I cannot pretend to understand how incredibly difficult this must have been for our politicians and scientists, but what has become abundantly clear is that it has had an impact on us all. Admittedly in different ways, for some it has been devastating, whilst for others it has caused an unexpected interruption to normal service.

Despite all the good and sustained work carried out by so many people, there will always be those who point the finger and poke the wound and for no one’s benefit but their own.

The choral world will not be beaten, and it will come back stronger than ever before! For all the singers and choral leaders that have tried to understand the science and reasoning behind decisions made, have kept going because they are resilient! In a week where we have witnessed Government guidance in Wales telling us that “tenors are more likely to emit more virus than altos and sopranos!” Need I say anymore? But because we reflect and because we are determined to get our choirs singing again we refer to research carried out in 2020 which in commentary references previous research undertaken in 1968.

Further commentary on the 2020 research “suggests there is no specific excess risk of transmission due to singing” (Beale). (Tang) counters this by saying “the study was performed on individual singers one at a time – when the particle profile was found to be similar to talking. Again, this is not necessarily the main problem. The risk is amplified when a group of singers are singing together, e.g. singing to an audience, whether in churches or concert halls or theatres”.

Again, because we are reasonable and professional, we understand these opposing arguments and as recommended we undertook rigorous risk assessments, put in place significant mitigations, developed health declarations, gathered data on our members vaccination status and much more.

Yet, still the argument put forward by the DCMS to restrict indoor singing to 6 (amateurs only of course, because the virus can distinguish between amateur singers and professionals) came about as a recommendation from Public Health England. That still isn’t the point though is it! The amateurs are resilient and will abide by the guidelines because they want to keep everyone safe, and they refer again to the August 2020 research and its limitations.

But then of course we all become aware of the contradictions to all this – large groups of fans at sporting events! No, that’s ok because it is outdoors, and they have all been tested! Oh, but what about those travelling to the event, singing in a confined space and without wearing masks? Or those in the pub or bar cheering on their team – this is the very thing that Dr Tang is saying, it is the cumulative impact! Of course, it is! But again, the virus knows the difference between sports singing and choir singing!

I forgot to mention that Public Health England say they were “not involved in determining policy such as the ‘rule of six’ for people meeting indoors”.

Back to the tenor argument for a minute – most choirs would love to have an army of tenors to counter the row upon row of sopranos and altos, at least to match the volume of sound, never mind emitting the virus. But wait a minute, it seems the tenor argument was a joke all along and some unwitting writer of guidance picked it up and thought it would be good evidence to further restrict choirs. Only in Wales might I add! Wait, stop press – the guidance has been taken down!

But what about Scotland? 2400 fans sang from start to finish at the recent match at Wembley, but that was in England, where church congregations can’t sing. Wait, stop press again – congregations can now sing masked in Wales. But my group of 6 singers, who are sanitised, 2m apart, masked and singing sotto voce for a reduced period of time and doubly vaccinated, couldn’t wait to go to the pub after rehearsal to sit together, unmasked and join in the football celebrations. But there was a problem though, one of the two tenors in attendance out of the 6 was Welsh so he had to be placed on a table of his own! The landlord didn’t want to risk a fine.

At the start of all this I was a conductor of choirs, but I am so much more than that now and so are our choir committees, who have been resilient in finding a way through the fog!

But “Singing, shouting and physical activity increase the risk of transmission through small droplets and aerosols”.

So, why is anyone singing? Why is anyone shouting? Why is anyone undertaking physical activity?

Well, professionals can sing! 50% of a venues capacity is allowed and sports facilities are open!

Wembley was quite restrained, out of a 90,000 capacity they only allowed 25,000 so they were being careful! Meanwhile, I am still worried about the tenor situation – does that apply to lady tenors? Let alone the tenors in a ladies barbershop choir!

Enough of all of this, I think my point is that we have all become quite resilient, because we have needed to be and because we want to sing.

Anyway, I’m off to book my ticket for the 149th Open who will welcome 32,000 fans on each Championship day and if that was enough I am off to the theatre on 3rd July – I’m going to watch a musical – with singing! But I still don’t understand how this can happen – “The risk is amplified when a group of singers are singing together, e.g. singing to an audience”

Oh no, I’ve just realised I am also a tenor! Have a good week!

I have spent most of my day reading and it has proved to be a real tonic. Simply to escape to a different place and to immerse myself in the characters of my book has been so refreshing.

Likewise, the weather has lifted my mood and I am sure everyone else’s too. It has made me believe that soon everything will be right again.

I was also uplifted by watching Trooping the Colour, the annual celebration of The Queen’s official birthday. If ever there was a role model for all generations it is Her Majesty The Queen. Her sense of duty and responsibility shines through in her every action. Her qualities of leadership should be a lesson for us all!

Despite worries about the numbers of cases being reported, we must remain positive and look toward restrictions being lifted, even though they may now be later than we expected.

I have continued to comment on the unfair treatment of choirs and notice that there is disagreement between the DCMS and Public Health England on who actually made the recommendation to restrict numbers to 6. However, I shall be talking to all my choirs during the week to update them on a number of issues.

For now, though, let’s hope the sun keeps shining and have a good week!

It has been a week where I have reflected on a number of things. Life, my personal circumstances, our collective situation and the future. I have been quite vocal on social media and proactive in supporting the call for the Government and in particular the DCMS to publish the evidence which has prevented us from singing in numbers greater than 6 indoors. There have been more responses from MPs to letters written by choir members and answers to Parliamentary Questions, which most seem to miss the point. If the views of public health experts say that singing can increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission through the spread of aerosol droplets….why is anybody singing?

The suggested principles of safer singing don’t differentiate between amateurs, professionals or those singing at sports events. I could go on quoting guidance, which is not only confusing, but it is inequitable and prejudiced. What is important now is that we see parity for choirs in step 4 of the roadmap.

I often wonder whether I would change my approach if I were in a different role or position. But what is clear in my mind is that we should stand up for what we believe. Those who are in ‘privileged positions’ and have a ‘voice’ which can ‘shout’ louder than others should be doing so. Those who are ‘movers and shakers’, the ‘influencers’ should be standing up for us and not sitting silent. I have to ask myself why some people choose to be tacet in their opinion? Are they protecting themselves, their careers, their futures?

As the sun sets and the sky is tinged with an orange hue, which shimmers as it passes through the trees…(well that’s what I see when I look out of my window), I am thinking about this day in 1944. The largest seaborne invasion in history which began the liberation of France and ultimate victory for the allied forces. History judges our actions, and we will look back on 2020/2021 and wonder what could and should have been done differently. But for now, to allow me to have my voice today, thank you to those who lost theirs!

It is so important to get your priorities right and sometimes so easy to be thrown off course. This week I have not be thrown off course and I have focused on two things – my family and my choirs!

It has been a frustrating time for choirs having been prevented from rehearsing indoors in numbers of no more than 6 since May 18th! It is difficult to understand why since there has been no further evidence to support the notion that singing is higher risk. What I should point out is that it would appear that it is only higher risk if you sing in an amateur choir!

Professional singers, opera choruses, west end casts, fans at darts and football matches can and have sung recently.

The Royal Choral Society successfully performed Messiah at The Royal Albert Hall on 30th May, and they all behaved in a professional manner. If evidence were needed that singing, with appropriate mitigations and safeguards in place should be allowed, then there has been plenty of it over the past two weeks. But the Government will not change its mind on choirs just now and we must hope that on June 21st we shall be allowed to resume.

My singers will be following a rigorous risk assessment; will have read and understood our risk reduction strategy; will have completed a health declaration and upon arrival will avoid mingling, will sanitize, and will sit at a designated seat; will be distanced; will wear a mask as directed; will sing, paying attention to the dynamic level; will be in a significantly reduced duration of rehearsal, not share music and will not participate in a break to prevent close contact.

Oh, did I also mention that the majority of those wishing to return will have received both vaccinations and are prepared to undertake lateral flow tests prior to a rehearsal. I appreciate that caution must be the watch word, but there must be parity and decisions made should be understood.

I do not profess to know everything about this subject, but neither should some MPs who seem to have become specialists in aerosol and droplet transmission. Some have also been incredibly supportive and understand our frustration.

We must all challenge our energies into what is important to us and remain focused and positive. I say this knowing that sometimes I do allow myself to be thrown off course and upon reflection I know it serves only to distract me.

But for the moment I am focused and will continue with my priorities!

It’s Sunday evening and I am still at my desk after what seems like a very long week and weekend. I bought a newspaper today in the hope that I could sit and catch up on things. You will all have received or be receiving information from me about stepping up our lobbying to ensure that we can sing again and hopefully soon. If you can help, please do as it will make a big difference!

I am planning to zoom a rehearsal from our venues in the coming weeks to ensure that the technology works when we are allowed to return, and I will be doing this until we can all get back into meeting face to face. I will also keep writing my blog to ensure that those we do not connect with online remain up to date.

This week has been about appreciating the importance of family and friends and all the things we hold dear to us. We stopped singing in March 2020, but it lives on in our hearts and minds and even though our weekly connection is not the same, it will be soon.

Let’s remember the special moments until we can create some more.

There are so many stories that we could all tell and share in the hope that others can learn, will draw strength from, and will encourage confidence by them being told. But increasingly we see those with a platform and the privilege of being able to make their story public doing so with eagerness and without thought to those who have no such luxury. Usually, these celebrity fuelled stories have two goals – self-promotion and financial gain.

There have been struggles in life for many, but they are no less important or difficult. Being in the public eye brings with it a downside, but it also brings many benefits. Like many of you I have been humbled by the real stories of hardship and heroism that this last year has shown us. Perhaps it is time for everyone to be humble!

It was a magnificent weekend for Leicester City, but less so for choirs and amateur music making. Step 3 of the roadmap is confirmed, and we wait patiently for the relaxation of restrictions. We also wait, not so patiently, but anxiously for the updated guidance from the DCMS. Who would have thought that 18 months ago, the prospect of scouring the internet and relevant websites and chat groups to find out what the current guidance is, would have been so essential? But alas it is!

But why mention the football in the same breath as choirs! 21,000 fans assembled at Wembley and cheered their respective teams on, sang ‘Abide with Me’ at full voice and even forced the pundits to say that the crowd was so loud that they could not hear what was being said. It was by all accounts a joyous occasion to welcome back the supporters.

21,000 people, albeit with proof of a negative test and I am worried about 30 members (the venues restriction) of my choirs coming together! The majority having received both vaccinations – prepared to be socially distanced by 2m, to wear masks as directed and to reduce their time together to an hour and to sing with less volume. I appreciate that the match was a test event, and my choirs are ‘only’ amateur and of course there is a big difference between ‘professional’ and ‘amateur’ singers isn’t there!

But these displays of organised crowds coming together just make me frustrated. I have not conducted a choir for 14 months and I have waited patiently, like many others in the same situation. I have thought long and hard about the welfare and well-being of everyone, as have our committees, who have been exemplary in support of the members.

So, we wait for the glimmer of hope that will be the guidance to say we can sing again, but in the back of our minds the full lifting of restrictions on June 21st is in doubt now as we tackle a new variant.

I want us all to support each other in rehearsal this week, to be positive and encouraging and to know that soon it will be our turn!