THE IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN ON LYC

LYC is about so much more than learning to sing. We create community through choir, bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds and circumstances. While the current crisis has changed the way we carry out our regular activities, we believe that the act of singing together is more important now than ever, especially for children with changed routines who are missing both creative activities and social contact.

LYC LIVE

In March 2020, only two weeks after the initial lockdown was announced, we moved quickly to create an online resource so our members could still benefit from LYC activities and our choral community. LYC Live, an online platform open to all our members, initially featured pre-recorded weekly tuition from both regular conductors and guest choirs, along with classes in musicianship and repertoire, and socials.

After six weeks of delivering our online sessions we surveyed members of LYC and incorporated their suggestions into the running of our virtual rehearsals converting the majority of our sessions to live ones via Zoom. From the Autumn Term 2020, after months of delivering LYC activities online, we have perfected our programme and carry out all seven of our choirs with individual rehearsals online each week. These are led by our expert LYC conductors, along with guest visits which have included Nigel Short and the Tenebrae Associated Artists, Naveen Arles, and our Patron Gareth Malone.

WELLBEING

As part of our continued effort to provide wellbeing support for our members, we have also developed an online ‘Happiness Zone’, which includes a range of self-care activities and a ‘Safe Space’ contact service with our pastoral team. These services have been available to members throughout the pandemic period.

PERFORMANCES

Our members have taken part in numerous virtual choir projects and produced some spectacular work, despite not being able to meet in person. You can see these videos on our YouTube page here. We were pleased to work towards an exciting online festive concert, TOGETHER! in December 2020.

Thank you so much for managing to keep the children singing and not losing this sense of connection during this difficult time. We hope you and your families are well. Thank you.”

I crept into the session to see Rafi having great fun making up some harmony. He really enjoyed it- totally engaged for the whole time and it was so lovely to see a big smile on his face! Thank you LYC”

It was so lovely to hear him singing away, his little brother joined in a bit too! Thank you so much for doing this. It brightened up our Monday for all of us!”

UNLOCKING YOUNG PEOPLE’S POTENTIAL THROUGH THE POWER OF CHORAL SINGING

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+44 (0) 7388 623178