Choral Performances face long-term uncertainty

The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus has been practicing remotely for months.

They could be doing so for years.

WHILE MUCH OFWESTERN NEW YORKLOOKS FORWARD TOTHE ONGOINGPROCESS OF RE-OPENING... SOME MAYNOT GET BACK TOWORK FOR A LONGTIME.SEVEN EYEWITNESSNEWS REPORTERADAM UNGER HASMORE ON THEDIFFICUTIES FACING ALOCAL GROUP OFPRESTIGEOUSSINGERS.AS THEENTERTAINMENTWORLD SHUT DOWNOVER TWO MONTHSAGO, DR. ADAM LUEBKEKNEW THAT THEBUFFALOPHILHARMONICCHORUS WAS IN FOR ASHORTENED SEASON."WE DECIDED TOPOSTPONEREHEARSALS AT THATPOINT.

AS THE DAYSAND WEEKS UNFOLDEDWE HAD LEARNED THATWE HAD TO CANCELTWO CONCERTS THATWE HAD PLANNED."THOSE CONCERTS ARENOW POSTPONEDINSTEAD OFCANCELLED.

BUTACCORDING TO THE B-P-C'S WEBSITE, THEREARE 131 SINGERS.COMPLICATING VIRTUALREHEARSALS."BECAUSE OF WIFI ANDSINGAL STRENGTH ANDALL OF THAT, IT'SNEVER GOING TO BESYNCHRONOUS.

SOYOU CAN'T HAVEPEOPLE SINGING ATTHE SAME TIME WHILETHEIR MICROPHONESARE UNMUTED.EVERYBODY'S GOT TOBE MUTED."BUT THAT MIGHT BETHE NEW NORM FORCHORUSESEVERYWHERE.

APANEL PUT TOGETHERBY THE NATIONALASSOCIATION OFTEACHERS OF SINGINGPRESENTED SEVERALROADBLOCKS.

MASKSAND P-P-E AREN'T SAFEFOR SINGING.

ANDNEITHER IS SIX FEETOF SOCIAL DISTANCEBETWEENPERFORMERS."SINGING DOES INCREASE THEAEROSOLS FOR SURETHAT COULD CARRYTHE VIRUS.

IT;'S A REALDANGER.

NOW THEREARE SOME SOLUTIONSBEING COME UP WITH.WE COULD REHEARSEIN A VERY LARGESPACE."JUST HOW MUCH AREWE TALKING?

WELLFOR SIX FEET OFSOCIAL DISTANCE FOR131 SINGERS, YOU'DNEED A BASKETBALLCOURT.

FOR THE 15 TO20 FEETRECOMMENDED BY THEPERFORMING ARTSMEDICAL ASSOCIATION,YOU'D NEED AFOOTBALL FIELD."CAN WE CREATE ASPACE THAT IS SAFEFOR SINGERS?

AND IFWE CAN'T THEN WEWON'T GATHER.

OURPRIORITY IS THEHEALTH OF OURSINGERS AND OURAUDIENCE."SO CHORALPERFORMANCES AS WEKNEW THEM COULD BEON HOLD FOR OVER AYEAR.

UNTIL MEDICALPROFESSIONALS FIND AVACCINE.

IN BUFFALO,ADAM UNGER, 7EWN.