Virtual Choir Lifts Spirits

Several Yorkshire choirs have launched virtually to keep people singing amidst government-imposed lockdown.

14:13 15 April 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many choral groups across the country to stay home and find ways to continue their weekly rehearsals without violating the social distancing protocols that are currently in place. 

 

The Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir (YPC) is among those that have gone virtual following the group's decision to take their presence online. 

 

Gail Bowen, one of the choir members, said: "First of all, it's to keep our voices fitted, to keep them in the best order they can be.

 

"If you don't exercise your voice and your body in order to sing well, then you won't sing well. 

 

"It's also to keep our repertoire up to scratch. You've got to keep singing pieces, familiarising yourself with pieces, in order to sing them well. The third reason is to prepare for future concerts. We need to familiarise ourselves with those works as well." 

 

She added that the virtual presence is also a way to keep the choir's togetherness. 

 

There's a dynamic there with a group of people singing together, there's a creativity and it was really about keeping that going somehow. We want to stay as one choice throughout this period so that when we come back again, we can pick it up running," she added.