Vox Musica preparing for unique 2020-21 season

By Woodard, Dale on September 12, 2020.

Dale Woodard

Lethbridge Herald

Like many choirs across the globe, the Vox Musica Choral Society is taking its talents online.

With the COVID-19 pandemic being a common – though unwanted – song sung since mid-March, the Lethbridge community choir which boasts 60 to 80 members each year is tuning up its vocal chords for cyberspace performances this fall.

On Tuesday at 7 p.m., Vox Musica will hold its first online rehearsal of the season and will be welcoming new members throughout September.

“We just wanted to get back together and since because it’s been six months, and that’s a long time for people to not be singing together,” said Joanne Collier, music director for Vox Musica, which regularly appears with the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra and collaborates often with other local musical ensembles.

The choir rehearses weekly and welcomes new singers every September and January. Their repertoire includes everything from folk and movie music to opera choruses and classic choral gems.

This fall it won’t be the same as singing together in the same room, but in keeping with the COVID-19 protocol of social distancing, members can still set up in front of their computer and belt out a few numbers.

“I think it’s going to be really good,” said Collier. “But one of the problems with rehearsing online is there is a lag. So we can’t really sing together and hear each other. So how we’ll be rehearsing is myself and (accompanist) Mary Lee Voort will be leading the rehearsal just as if we were live. People will be logged into the Zoom meeting, but they’ll have to have their microphones off. So they’ll be rehearsing with microphones off. They’ll hear the piano and me singing and they’ll be singing along from the privacy of their own homes and learning the music.”

As well, Collier said there will also be opportunities for chorus members to turn on their microphones and sing lead.

“That’s one aspect as far as how the rehearsals will be, but as much as possible we’ll try to format it like a regular rehearsal, going over parts.”

Collier said the hope is to have a live performance – protocols permitting – in the spring, or failing that, in the fall.

Those interested in joining can visit http://www.voxmusicalethbridge.org.

“We’re still charging a tuition this year because we do have expenses involved in doing this,” said Collier. “But this Tuesday and the following Tuesday people can try it out for free to see if it’s going to work for them and registration will also be continuing throughout September. We always welcome new members at any time of the year.”

Assistant director Karen Hudson will moderate Tuesday’s meeting with a chat going on during rehearsal so people can offer feedback.

The link for the Zoom meeting will be published at http://www.voxmusicalethbridge.org.

Members will be emailed the link for the meeting.

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