Making Music have updated their Covid resources and supplied new templates for risk assessments of rehearsals and for performances.

The Committee agreed on Wednesday 6th April 2022 that these would form the basis of our risk assessments and would replace our previous version for rehearsals and be the new assessment for our next concert on Saturday June 18th 2022.

The new versions are viewable in Excel using the following links

Members should make themselves aware of the details of these and if they have any comments or suggestions then please bring these to the attention of your Section Reps.

We are taking a break for Easter so there will be no rehearsals on the 13th and 20th of April 2022.

Our first rehearsal back will be on Wednesday the 27th of April and we look forward to seeing you there.

Please note that there have been further changes to rehearsal arrangements:

Wednesday February 23rd – no rehearsal

Wednesday March 2nd (Ash Wednesday) – no rehearsal

Rehearsals resume on Wednesday March 9th – look forward to seeing you then.

There will be no rehearsal on Wednesday March 2nd as this is Ash Wednesday and the Minster will not be available.

In the past we have visited Ewesley Road Methodist Church as our alternative venue but this is no longer available due to closure.

We are delighted to confirm that our rehearsals will recommence at Sunderland Minster on Wednesday 2nd February 2022. Please come a little early so that the organisation of scores can take place and we can commence the rehearsal promptly.

All of our Covid precautions remain in place and we need everyone to be aware of the Guidance to Members and act accordingly.

We look forward to seeing everyone then.

Due to lack of access to Sunderland Minster, there will be no rehearsal on Wednesday 19th January 2022. As the duration of this lack of access is uncertain we are exploring alternatives for the choir to begin rehearsals.

Please do not attempt to attend any Wednesday rehearsals until alternative arrangements have been confirmed to you.

Due to the considerable spike in local cases of Covid-19 it has been decided that our first rehearsal back on the 12th January 2022 should be cancelled. At the moment it is impossible to predict when this spike might be over but everyone will be updated on future arrangements as soon as further decisions are made.

Our next rehearsal will be the first in 2022 on Wednesday 12th January at 7.30 p.m. in Sunderland Minster, when we will begin preparing for the Rossini – Messe Solennelle. If it is possible for you to come a little earlier that evening we can sort out scores and still make a prompt start. We look forward to seeing you then.

To mark all of the effort which has been put into rehearsing Handel’s ‘Messiah’ there will be a performance for choir members only on Saturday 4th December 2021. Unfortunately Covid precautions do not allow us to offer this as a public concert, but in all other respects we are treating as a performance with musicians, soloists and in full black concert dress.

There will be a rehearsal, as there would be for a concert, on Friday 3rd December.

The rehearsal schedule on the Saturday afternoon will be :-

2.00 to 2.30 p.m. Orchestra and soloist rehearsal.

2.30 p.m. Choir arrive and are seated. It is expected that the afternoon rehearsal will end at or before 4.30 p.m.

Evening Performance to start at 7.30 p.m.

A fully detailed schedule of times and chorus content will be provided to choir members.

Please be advised that there will not be a rehearsal on Wednesday October the 27th 2021.

This is not connected in any way with the ongoing Covid-19 situation and normal rehearsals will resume on Wednesday November the 3rd.