Singing, friendship and camaraderie have always been some of the reasons why people are drawn to join choirs and members of the Moy Singers are no different.
Singing in a group is a wonderful way to stimulate the brain, elevate stress and make new friends. For people working or rearing a family it’s time out, for those who are retired it’s an outlet to socialise and keep busy.
For all members it’s a weekly practice of two hours in preparation for two annual concerts. There are notes to be perfected, words to be learned and tea to be drank.
The choir had been working extremely hard this year preparing for their Spring Concert which was due to take place on Saturday, April 4. But then all that changed with the arrival of the Covid19.
The concert has been postponed and for the first time in 34 years the choir are not meeting weekly to practice. But nothing, not even a global pandemic has dampened the spirits of this group. On Wednesday evenings the group has started to meet virtually using video conferencing software to catch up with each other.
Chairperson of the Moy Singers, Louise McDonnell said: "It is heart-warming to still be able to come together as a group. We see and hear each other and everyone has the opportunity to share what’s going on in their lives. It’s important during these times when we must remain apart to still connect in any way we can”.
The choir was due to travel in Croatia in June, but now that is in question. McDonnell commented: "It’s unlikely at this stage that the trip will go ahead. But, at the end of the day as long as everyone is healthy, that’s all that really matters. There will be other trips. For now the group will meet every Wednesday night at 8pm online to support each other through these unprecedented times."
