LEADING a group of some thirty young choristers is no easy task in lockdown, but founder and artistic director of the Bendigo Youth Choir, Valerie Broad, is determined to see her students succeed.<\/p>\n
Normally rehearsing each week on a Wednesday evening during the school term, Ms Broad said the choir were \u201con a roll\u201d before the five statewide lockdowns were announced.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2017, we sang in Carnegie Hall in New York, in 2018 we went to Amiens in France as part of the 100th commemoration of the end of World War I and we sang there and we visited the battlefields,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2019, it was our 35th anniversary and we had a huge reunion and concert in Bendigo. We were looking forward to 2020.\u201d<\/p>\n
A string of remote, online rehearsals ensued, including group Zoom calls and Facebook sessions organised by the choir\u2019s associate director Gail Godber, but now the choir are slowly returning to face-to-face rehearsals after the most recent restrictions were eased.<\/p>\n
Ms Broad said \u201call the possibilities are there\u201d for the choir continue its success, and its members are passionate to continue doing what they love.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would hope in the future that we\u2019d be able to give our youngsters the same opportunities that we\u2019ve given them in the years before,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve managed to keep the choir together because of the kids loving it so much and wanting to keep it together, and because of the fact that we don\u2019t give up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the going gets tough, the tough get going and we follow that principle.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hoping with all my heart that it won\u2019t be long before we can meet together as a choir without masks, teach the children, give them back their confidence and take them places so that they can grow and develop as choristers.\u201d<\/p>\n
New members are welcome to join the BYC, who meet for rehearsals from 6pm to 8pm at St. Andrews Church Hall on Myers Street.<\/p>\n