An organization that supports young adults in finding their own voice has been granted financial support to help it weather the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sing Your Joy Young Adult Chorus Society received a $16,000 grant from the Victoria Foundation to maintain the organization as it waits for rules and regulations to once again permit gatherings.
The group, made up of young adults between 16 and 29 years old, usually gets together to sing and get to know one another. They also perform two public concerts every year.
What sets it apart from other choir groups - apart from the age requirements - is that no experience is necessary and there are no fees.
“Everybody has a voice and we are here to help them find it,” said Christine Chepyha, co-director of the society. “We have people who have never sung before and others who have joined every choir in school. We welcome them all and are happy to provide them with vocal training, if necessary.”
The group is non-auditioned, which means that there is no examination board to determine the musical ability of a new member.
Chepyha says most of the members of the chorus are young adults seeking a safe place for creative expression or to learn how to sing. They come from all walks of life, some just leaving high school, others embarking on a new career and even some international students in a new city far from home and not knowing many people.
“Many join the group to make new friends,” she said. “They typically have little extra money, so making it free removes a barrier in joining.”
The chorus, which celebrates its 1oth anniversary this year, is made up of between 50 to 65 members at any given time.
COVID-19 has meant online rehearsals via Zoom, which is not ideal because the technology does not allow everybody to sing at the same time and is constantly plagued with audio that often lags behind the image on the screen.
What the technology is adequate for is for instructors teaching vocal techniques and conducting private coaching.
“Many of them are reaching Zoom burnout and looking forward to seeing each other.”
Some of the funds from the Victoria Foundation grant have gone towards covering some of the technology costs associated with transitioning to delivering services online.
With vaccinations now underway, the chorus is looking forward to once again singing together in unison.
The group is tentatively looking to restart in September with two rehearsal locations - Victoria at the Oak Bay United Church, 1355 Mitchell St. on Mondays and Westshore at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3024 Jacklin Rd. on Thursdays.
For more information, go to singyourjoy.ca.
parrais@timescolonist.com
