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History 2020

2020

                                  2020  

Without doubt this has been the hardest report to write both in terms of content and emotionally, as I reflect on the terrible global impact of Covid-19; something I guess few if any of us would have conceived possible in our lifetime!

We have not sung together since March 9th! It’s surreal committing that to paper! It feels like this was the year that was but wasn’t; a year in which SO MUCH and yet so little has happened; that’s gone so fast but so slowly! However, I’m optimistically looking to brighter days ahead and with the launch of the vaccine programme we’re moving in the right direction!

2020 had started as an exciting year of  new beginnings, fresh horizons; the next era of music making with Helen at the helm. Our new MD had been looking forward to getting to know us musically, challenging and inspiring us. After all the disruption of 2019 when for the most part we’d been between Musical Directors, we had a full calendar of performances and activities in place including recording a Christmas CD / Workshops / socials and 4 concerts; all of which had heartbreakingly to be cancelled as the pandemic took hold!

Suddenly a substantial number of members found themselves advised to shield and the challenge of trying to keep our choral family connected and enable people to continue singing and learning became the focus. With not everyone able or wishing to access online resources for various reasons and mindful of our ethos of equity, we mixed it up with both on and off line activities including letters / cards / texts / phone calls / competitions – quizzes; a Bake Off ; design a Christmas card; sunflower growing: we asked for people’s lockdown snaps and rainbow photos / produced practice tools / had bursts on Zoom / held a virtual Pool Party to celebrate our 8th Birthday at which Catherine scooped the prize for the ‘Most Suitably Attired’ in her swimsuit and water-wings; had a Christmas in July Picnic and enjoyed an online Workshop with guest Workshop Leader Matthew Roughley.

As lockdown eased the first time we prepared for some outdoor rehearsals, as well as organizing a spacious temporary indoor venue to facilitate social distancing; only to find Bolton placed in one of the highest tiers on the Covid matrix due to infection rates, with subsequent ongoing restrictions!

 

Along with so many other organizations our ability to generate income during this time has been severely impacted but we did manage to sell some Christmas cards and thanks to the generosity of Craftprint, had a lovely Bolton Cancer Voices calendar to sell from which the Choir received every penny!

Like amateur choirs, orchestras, bands etc across the land we are constantly reviewing how we navigate the road ahead and can’t wait until we can safely return and start to rebuild. We have missed the camaraderie of making music together, the escapism and uplift rehearsals provide; together with the wonderful sense of support and understanding that permeate the Choir when it comes to life with or beyond cancer.

For now it’s a day at a time: as with all storms this too will pass and our rainbows symbolize that  hope for tomorrow.

                                                  Stay safe everyone

2020

                                  2020  

Without doubt this has been the hardest report to write both in terms of content and emotionally, as I reflect on the terrible global impact of Covid-19; something I guess few if any of us would have conceived possible in our lifetime!

We have not sung together since March 9th! It’s surreal committing that to paper! It feels like this was the year that was but wasn’t; a year in which SO MUCH and yet so little has happened; that’s gone so fast but so slowly! However, I’m optimistically looking to brighter days ahead and with the launch of the vaccine programme we’re moving in the right direction!

2020 had started as an exciting year of  new beginnings, fresh horizons; the next era of music making with Helen at the helm. Our new MD had been looking forward to getting to know us musically, challenging and inspiring us. After all the disruption of 2019 when for the most part we’d been between Musical Directors, we had a full calendar of performances and activities in place including recording a Christmas CD / Workshops / socials and 4 concerts; all of which had heartbreakingly to be cancelled as the pandemic took hold!

Suddenly a substantial number of members found themselves advised to shield and the challenge of trying to keep our choral family connected and enable people to continue singing and learning became the focus. With not everyone able or wishing to access online resources for various reasons and mindful of our ethos of equity, we mixed it up with both on and off line activities including letters / cards / texts / phone calls / competitions – quizzes; a Bake Off ; design a Christmas card; sunflower growing: we asked for people’s lockdown snaps and rainbow photos / produced practice tools / had bursts on Zoom / held a virtual Pool Party to celebrate our 8th Birthday at which Catherine scooped the prize for the ‘Most Suitably Attired’ in her swimsuit and water-wings; had a Christmas in July Picnic and enjoyed an online Workshop with guest Workshop Leader Matthew Roughley.

As lockdown eased the first time we prepared for some outdoor rehearsals, as well as organizing a spacious temporary indoor venue to facilitate social distancing; only to find Bolton placed in one of the highest tiers on the Covid matrix due to infection rates, with subsequent ongoing restrictions!

 

Along with so many other organizations our ability to generate income during this time has been severely impacted but we did manage to sell some Christmas cards and thanks to the generosity of Craftprint, had a lovely Bolton Cancer Voices calendar to sell from which the Choir received every penny!

Like amateur choirs, orchestras, bands etc across the land we are constantly reviewing how we navigate the road ahead and can’t wait until we can safely return and start to rebuild. We have missed the camaraderie of making music together, the escapism and uplift rehearsals provide; together with the wonderful sense of support and understanding that permeate the Choir when it comes to life with or beyond cancer.

For now it’s a day at a time: as with all storms this too will pass and our rainbows symbolize that  hope for tomorrow.

                                                  Stay safe everyone