Disappointment on advice change for Amateur Choirs
The government have recently updated their advice for Amateur choirs. Choirs had understood that restrictions on rehearsals would be relaxed on 17 May, and they would be allowed to meet in groups larger than 6 people. However, the recently updated advice from the government in England, is that only groups of 6 can meet indoors to rehearse. This has disappointed a large number of choirs as they had been expecting to resume rehearsals for the first time since lockdown restrictions were introduced in March 2020.
The current guidelines for the UK are:
In England – 6 people indoors or 30 outdoors
In Northern Ireland – 15 indoors or 30 outdoors
In Wales – 30 indoors or 50 outdoors
In Scotland – Indoors at Level 1 only – no limit on outdoor rehearsals at Level 2
A number of organisations have written to the government expressing their disappointment with this latest change to the rules. The Incorporated Society of Musicians, Making Music, the Association of British Choral Directors, the Association of British Orchestras and the member organisations of Singing Network UK have all backed this campaign and urged choirs to write to their MP expressing their disappointment.
A petition has been set up on the official petitions website of the government which anyone can sign. If the signatures reach 100,000 there will have to be a Westminster Hall debate on this matter.
