The Musicians’ Union (MU) conveyed the anger felt by many of its members to the Dept for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) at the limitations placed on amateur choirs under the newly published Performing Arts Guidance for England.
Many MU members lead, teach and motivate amateur choirs throughout England, and have been left unable to work, following the discovery that just one single group of six singers are permitted indoors under the current ‘Step 3.’
Phil Kear, MU Assistant General Secretary, said:
"We have registered with the DCMS our dissatisfaction with this particular restriction on indoor singing, plus underlined its potential effect on many of our members. We will continue to press ministers for a relaxation as soon as possible. Organised amateur sport can go ahead with unlimited numbers indoors, subject to building capacity, and we are at a loss to understand why choirs have been singled out under the guidance at this time.”
Andi Hopgood, MU member and choir leader said:
“This outcome is particularly galling as amateur choirs and their leaders were led to believe that we would be permitted to rehearse and perform indoors in groups of up to thirty, with distancing and risk assessments in place. So many have spent time and money on preparations and invested in equipment, so it seems very unfair for the choral community to be penalised in this way. It feels like we are the only musicians that still cannot return to work. So many participants rely on group sessions for friendships and wellbeing, it is literally a lifeline for them.”
The main points brought to the Union’s attention by members include:
Wellbeing: the government states its concern about health and wellbeing issues caused by COVID and the resulting lockdown - and are even prescribing singing as a way of helping - yet they are preventing choirs of a suitable size from meeting to achieve just that.
Income: whilst it is an amateur activity, the choir leader is charging the members, and this can be a considerable proportion of their income. The Union has received reports from members who have had to cancel rehearsals for the various choirs they administer, with significant financial consequences.
Rehearsal spaces: numerous choir leaders have already paid to book spaces, fully expecting to be able to use them in May. With the late publishing of this unexpected restriction, this has caused significant cost to our members, in addition to the loss of working income.
Community impact: It should also be noted that over time this situation will also cause a loss of income for the managers of community halls and other rehearsal venues.
Health risk: The main concern from government appears to be a supposed increased risk of COVID-19 infection through droplets released by singers. However, research carried out last year indicated that the increased risk from singing, as opposed to simply talking, was minimal and could be managed via social distancing and other mitigations. Certainly singing would not present any greater risk than many indoor sporting activities which are now permitted with no such restriction on numbers.
