Choral singing is clearly a musical endeavour with some significant challenges in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing and wearing a face mask are nearly impossible to do during a choir practice, especially when the choir includes more than 100 singers.
To that end, the artistic directors of Atlantic Boychoir, Jakub Martinec and Jennifer Beynon-Martinec, have been working to find ways to meet the challenges of the public health emergency measures while still offering a meaningful musical experience for its young members. The choir will launch full online choral instruction in the fall, including individual private voice lessons, music theory sessions and guest lectures by national and international choral specialists.
To further support the singers — and other boys who might be interested in joining the choir during unprecedented and tumultuous times — the choir is offering free tuition until it can once again safely meet for regular face-to-face rehearsals.
Established in 2016, Atlantic Boychoir is the province’s first choir of boys and young men. Offering training to males from age four to 22, the choir includes singers from around the province, performing a range of music, from traditional Newfoundland folk songs to choral arrangements of pop tunes.
The choir has already toured Europe twice, performing concerts in major cities, and has released two albums: a Christmas CD in 2018 and “Tutto Mozart” earlier this year.
The boys were set to tour Australia this summer.
