Gscene Magazine - May 2020 | CHOIRS IN LOCKDOWN

One of the most productive and rewarding social activities on the Brighton scene must be the weekly gatherings of our choirs so it must be hard going in this time of lockdown. Brian Butler talked to the four leading music directors of the five big chorus groups and asked how they were filling their time.

SAM COUSINS

Sam Cousins, leader of Actually Gay Men’s Chorus

Sam Cousins, leader of Actually Gay Men’s Chorus, is focusing with his members on mental health and keeping in touch. The choir is meeting virtually at its usual rehearsal time via Zoom and he’s teaching some of the music for future post-lockdown concerts, as well as teaching singing technique and basic music theory. And to keep it light, each rehearsal ends with the wearing of silly hats and crazy costumes. “We’re hosting watch parties and looking at old recordings of our shows from the past 15 years,” he told me. He also plans to make opportunities for members to sing from their front rooms with a lockdown virtual audience to support them.

Actually Gay Men’s Chorus

Their eagerly awaited 15th anniversary show has now been postponed till 2021, but in the meantime in their spare time they are reaching out to help their designated charities – Sussex Beacon and Lunch Positive. For more info: www.actuallygmc.org

JOE PAXTON

Joe Paxton

Joe Paxton of the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus filled me in on its activities. “We’re using Zoom for rehearsals, including the non Christmas elements of our December show. I’m offering choir skills programmes as well as basic and advanced music theory.”

Basic Bitches Learn Their Pitches shows how to read music, pitch, rhythms and intervals. Kate Bush Advanced Music Theory looks at roles, time signatures and keys. And Vocal Technique for Divas teaches what every little Madonna needs to know, including the Italian Bel Canto technique. Joe’s also helping budding composers and soloists and finally his Abandoned Gay Cabaret has members performing from isolation. For more info: www.brightongmc.org

STEFAN HOLMSTROM

Stefan Holmstrom

Stefan Holmstrom, who leads both Resound and Rebelles choirs, told me: “We were gutted to have to postpone our Fringe show, Baring it All, but we encourage all who bought tickets to donate the £14 to Fairshare Sussex, a charity that redistributes surplus food and is working hard to get meals to vulnerable people during the pandemic.

“We will start doing regular Zoom sessions soon for choir members.” Stefan is keeping busy coaching and teaching singers online and is soon doing Estill Voice Training workshops, which will be open to all. Estill is a scientific way of learning how the voice works. “We can train individual parts of the voice, like the tongue, vocal folds, jaw and lips . It works on all forms from opera to pop and for those recovering after vocal damage,” he told me. For more info: www.stefanholmstrom.co.uk

Resound

ANEESA CHAUDHRY

Aneesa Chaudhry

Aneesa Chaudhry, who leads the Rainbow Chorus, is also using Zoom for virtual rehearsals and thank you videos to the LGBTQ+ community. She’s also connected to a group making hospital scrubs as part of the Singing For Scrubs campaign.

She’s leading masterclasses in singing techniques, choral theory and songwriting, plus choir karaoke sessions and quizzes. Aneesa gives one-to-one singing lessons, vocal confidence and public speaking sessions. On May 27, she will run a Lockdown Karaoke. She’s also offering to sing a song on her doorstep for bereaved families who have lost loved ones in the pandemic. For more info: www.aneesachaudhry.com

So all in all our choirs are busy – frustrated but busy – and maybe here’s an idea: when all this is over there could be a mass gathering of the singers at a large venue to give thanks and raise money – just a thought.