2021-10-02 FRCA
9:30-11:30am
First Presbyterian Church, Fort Collins, CO
Topics
- In what unique ways did you keep your choir going during the worst of the pandemic?
- How are you adapting to the pandemic in your 2021-2022 season?
- Are rehearsals different?
- Are concerts different?
- Do you have new audience protocols in place?
Bonus topic: How have you managed to survive financially?
In attendance were
- Coordinator – Wendy White
- Cheyenne Capital Chorale – Linda Pechulis
- Greeley Chorale – Kari Munson
- Laudamus – Steve Lundeen
- Larimer Chorale – Larry Fenske, Paddy Shannon, Chet Moore
- Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers – Amy Ressequie
- Loveland Choral Society – Kathy Illick
- Windsor Chamber Chorale – Lainie Peltz
- Cheyenne Chamber Singers – Sean Ambrose
The room was free today because another group was also at the church. Since the room was free, a donation was collected for the church’s music program. $60 was given.
All of our choirs are solvent.
We will continue to meet at First Presbyterian Church and continue to donate to the church music fund.
Our next meeting is January 22, 2022: How are we doing during the pandemic; how did Christmas go?
Answers to primary questions
Loveland Choral Society
- cancelled April 2020 concert
- thought about online – not enough resources
- weekly e-mail for members
- summer 2020 informal gatherings by member – small turnout
- tried three times to create a Christmas concert – cancelled
- fall 2021 at Rialto with masks, distancing, not vaccine-required – successful: 400-500 attendees
- next concert will require singers to be vaccinated
Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers
- had a concert at the Basilica in Denver on March 6 or 7, 2020
- cancelled spring 2020 concert
- digital performances with individual recordings
- in rehearsal now
- a small group of 17 and can’t afford to lose more than a few
- require vaccination for members (lost 2 because of it), not masked, distanced, any illness at all –> stay home
- rehearsals are recorded
- will require testing before each dress rehearsal and concert
Windsor Chamber Chorale
- shut down
- Lainie and Elise made decisions
- asked the choir members about willingness to rehearse unmasked and unvaccinated, but distanced: 13-yes, 6-no
- the community is very opposed to masking and vaccinating
Cheyenne Capital Chorale
- met through Zoom – mostly social
- lost their director, the director moved
- created a virtual concert
- made individual recordings in a common location
- involved lots of editing by paid staff
- released on their Facebook page
- worth watching, fun
- no Christmas concert – venue closed
- spring end of season gathering, presenting the premiere showing of the concert with about 80 attendees
- a piece was commissioned for the October 24, 2021 concert
- non-masked, vaccination not required, spread out
- participating in the Wyoming Cares fundraiser
Greeley Chorale
- some social Zooms – not very successful
- weekly sing-at-home for a while
- monthly newsletter to keep the chorale in the minds of the members
- did not do virtual concerts as no editor was available
- conducted a poll: what are you comfortable with
- rehearses at UNC requiring masks and vaccinations (kind of) but not for groups
- board decided not to require vaccinations but to require masks
- concert October 15 with masked choir and audience and removing two rows of seating
- venue (church) doesn’t require masks, but choir does
- had a Facebook Live holiday sing-a-long
- performed the national anthem at Greeley Stampede in the summer
- singers decreased from 90 to 60
- vaccination not required, masks are required, be respectful, absolutely no illness allowed at rehearsal
- accompanist created rehearsal tracks
Laudamus
- the director had pancreatic cancer and died a couple of months ago
- new director hired
- Spring – virtual concert with only about half the singers
- paid for tech work for a nice virtual performance for Fall and Christmas
- by Spring, singers had lost enthusiasm
- no vaccinations or tests; masking and distancing now
- for November 19 concert vaccination or negative test and masks required for all members and audience
Larimer Chorale
- virtual rehearsals on Facebook Live
- three virtual concerts on Youtube: two paid, and one free
- audience members from far away really enjoyed being able to attend
- they had their best Colorado Gives Day response ever
- received two grants for staff salaries
- were able to keep all staff at full pay
- SilverTones had rehearsals over Zoom and onto a private Facebook page
- SilverTones University was a big success (director held a bi-weekly 1-1/2 hour class over Zoom about music history and musical styles), and kept up interest in SilverTones
- last concert of season, 4-6 singer groups rehearsed in person, masked, and recorded their set; recordings were combined into a virtual concert
- various of the same small groups performed once each in June, July, August at the Gardens at Spring Creek
- fall of 45th season (2021-2022) all singers were vaccinated, rehearsed and performed outside, no masks required
- first performance was at Hammond Amphitheater in Loveland, well attended by about 75 in audience, $10 admission
- this Sunday performance will be outside at Preston Middle School
- Mike (AD), Jean (assistant AD), and Heather (ED) attended Chorus America
- How can we sing safely?
- for Christmas concert rehearsals – indoor, everyone masked and vaccinated and distanced, rehearsal space has enhanced airflow, all social time is outside
- all rehearsals are recorded and available to members – no excuse for coming to rehearsal with any kind of illness
- for Christmas concert, audience will be masked, first four rows blocked off
Cheyenne Chamber Singers
- shut down rest of 2019-2020 season
- fall 2020, outdoor rehearsals were attempted but cancelled for smoke, then tried again unsuccessfully, so shut down completely
- started planning Christmas 2020, then stopped
- staff was not paid – returned money to the Arts Council
- Sean took over as ED, too
- now the feeling is “if we don’t start, we’re done”
- vaccinations required; lost one singer but they’re still supportive, one additional singer not returning
- lost three of the best tenors through life issues, not Covid
- will have a concert December 11
- tentative concert in mid-November
- masked, spread out
- first concert this season had audience masked, no vaccinations required
- thinking about tests before concert so no masks
- will probably continue pay-what-you-can
Larimer Chorale SilverTones
- the leadership committee decided that everyone must be vaccinated, masked, and distanced
- rehearsal space has a new enhanced filtration and airflow system, and windows will be open
- rehearsal seating is assigned (to aid in contact tracing), traffic through the building is one-way (separate entry and exit doors), no visiting allowed indoors
Finances
Greeley Chorale
- used reserves
- cut salary to 75%
- Colorado Cares grant
Cheyenne Chamber Singers
- made more money not performing
- grant from Wyoming Arts Council
- grant from Wyoming Workforce Council
- no staff pay – no music
Cheyenne Capital Chorale
- Wyoming Gives
- grants
- shows faith in choirs rehearsing
Laudamus
- income breakdown: 25% tickets, 25% dues, 50% donations
- paid director in full
- accompanist is not paid
- donations came in
Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers
- regular donations
- no one asked for a refund
Loveland Choral Society
- offered to refund dues; only two accepted
Larimer Chorale
- Colorado Gives Day
- Fort Fund
- small business loans that were forgiven
- donations
- paid for office but not rehearsal space