Monday, May 17, 2021

New Haven Chorale's promising pivot continues

 

New Haven Chorale sings "Great Day" with soloist Jermaine Woodard, right, and ASL Interpreter Angel Rubinan.

By Joe Amarante

While most arts groups have been suffering for the past 15 months, the New Haven Chorale is claiming some steady victories of hope and distanced performance.

You can check out a recent performance online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ9ybJm02yw&ab_channel=NewHavenChorale.

Says Executive Director Alice Hummel, "During the pandemic we've produced a number of virtual performances under the leadership of our director Ed Bolkovac, all available on our YouTube channel, and have conducted weekly rehearsals and music classes on a variety of topics that have been attended by participants across the country and around the world."

In April, Hummel noted the New York Times article on a West Coast choir whose live practice became a notorious superspreader event during the pandemic. 

"From the beginning of the pandemic having excellent guidance from one of our members, Dr. Alan Kliger, the Chorale hunkered down," wrote Hummel in an email. "No in-person rehearsal, no live concerts and yet...after one year, our community is together, rehearsing online and recording individually. We have created some wonderful videos of choral music streaming on YouTube for the public to enjoy. Our music has been heard and seen by thousands of viewers increasing our outreach dramatically." 

Most Choirs have not been singing, ours hasn't stopped," she wrote.

Stay tuned for a return to live performances, as yet unannounced.

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