My choral group just voted last night - we're vaxxed only now

[FakeNoose]

Last edited Thu Oct 7, 2021, 09:14 PM - Edit history (1)

I sing with the Teutonia Maennerchor in Pittsburgh, which is a very old chorus that performs traditional German folksongs - nothing political, just folksongs from the homeland. Most of my group of about 75 or 80 men and women are in their 60's, 70's and some are in their 80's. Because of our advanced age and health issues, we've been extremely cautious during Covid-times, as I'm sure all choruses have been.

We took 15 months off, and finally started back in June with rehearsals and one or two outdoor performances. Long story short, not everyone is ready to come back yet. At least one of the members refuses to be vaccinated, at least one other member says s/he will quit the chorus unless all of us are vaccinated. The original plan was that unvaccinated members must wear a mask at all times, but we've seen that it's not happening in the past 4 months.

It all came to a head last night. The chorus met and discussed the issue, and we voted unanimously - no unvaccinated singers allowed. Get the shots or you can't sing with us.

I imagine other groups are going through the same, either privately or publicly.



Edit to add: (update) Our chorus president reports that last night's vote was NOT unanimous, there was one "nay" vote. So my apologies, I guess I didn't hear the dissenting voter.

[Ocelot II]

1. I belong to two choral groups-

one fairly large (+/- 40), volunteers; the other is smaller (12), with paid singers. Both require vaccinations, no exceptions, and we will rehearse wearing singers’ masks. One person quit the small group because she refused to be vaccinated (super pro-life Catholic, maybe thinks vaccines are made of aborted babies, despite the Pope saying it’s OK), and the director and the board said no exceptions. One board member’s mother in law died of it and another’s father nearly died, so there wasn’t much sympathy.

[barbtries]

6. anti-abortion.

please don't concede the "pro-life" moniker to people who would deny women control of their own bodies.

[wnylib]

9. I read that the vaccines used fetal tissue

Last edited Thu Oct 7, 2021, 04:17 PM - Edit history (1)

during initial testing, before testing on people. That is apparently why anti choice people refuse the vaccines.

[maxsolomon]

16. Only J&J used a stem cell line, derived from 'bortions in the 60s, 70s, and 80s

So the fanatical anti-choice dipshits clinging to this myth can get Pfizer or Moderna.

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/coronavirus/docs/vaccine/VaccineDevelopment_FetalCellLines.pdf

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were found to be ethically uncontroversial by the pro-life policy
organization the Charlotte Lozier Institute. Further, the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, a committee
within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has stated: “neither Pfizer nor Moderna used an
abortion-derived cell line in the development or production of the vaccine. However, such a cell line was
used to test the efficacy of both vaccines. Thus, while neither vaccine is completely free from any use of
abortion-derived cell lines, in these two cases the use is very remote from the initial evil of the
abortion…one may receive any of the clinically recommended vaccines in good conscience with the
assurance that reception of such vaccines does not involve immoral cooperation in abortion.”

The objectionable testing protocol has been used for many medicines. it's why some hospital in AR is requiring religious-exemption applicants to foreswear use of Tums:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/09/hospital-staff-must-swear-off-tylenol-tums-to-get-religious-vaccine-exemption/

"Thus," Troup went on, "we provided a religious attestation form for those individuals requesting a religious exemption," he said. The form includes a list of 30 commonly used medicines that "fall into the same category as the COVID-19 vaccine in their use of fetal cell lines," Conway Regional said.

The list includes Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, aspirin, Tums, Lipitor, Senokot, Motrin, ibuprofen, Maalox, Ex-Lax, Benadryl, Sudafed, albuterol, Preparation H, MMR vaccine, Claritin, Zoloft, Prilosec OTC, and azithromycin.

[wnylib]

17. True that fetal cell lines are not used in the

production of mRNA vaccines. But according to the state health departments for North Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska, in their website debunkings of rumors about the mRNA vaccines, they state that fetal cell lines were used in the early research on mRNA vaccines to test and demonstrate that cells can take up the mRNA and learn to create the spike.

So, they were used in research to test the concept, but not in the actual vaccine production.

[maxsolomon]

19. Right, that's the 2nd part of my post.

These Anti-Choice Antivaxxers re more "moral" than the freaking Pope or the US Catholic Bishops.

[Freddie]

2. I play in a community band

Took a poll, only one of us is not vaccinated - an 82 year old cancer survivor (and Trumpie). When we returned from a 1+ year hiatus back in May we were using special “musicians masks” which were obviously made for brass players as it was almost impossible to play the sax with one on. I bought a mask with a Velcro “eating flap” which worked a lot better but was still a PITA. Recently we decided that with 99% vaccinated we’re ditching masks for now.
There’s a way more prestigious and nationally known concert band nearby with a waiting list of players that want to get in. They decided on mandatory vaccines. Two players quit rather than get vaccinated. Too bad, their loss.

[Scrivener7]

3. Wow. You have to! Remember, early on, that choral group where so many got it and

a number of them died? Because you guys really push the air around.

Glad the vote went the way it did.

[luvs2sing]

4. I sing in a 500-voice community choir..

in Columbus, Harmony Project. We had our first rehearsal in nineteen months on Monday.

My director called me in July, and we talked for two hours about all the research they had done and all the people they had sought advice from in order to start rehearsing again. I was honored when he said he called me to get my opinion on whether I would feel safe with what they were considering because I’m “sane”. I laughed. Sane is the last thing I’ve felt over the past nineteen months. But he was polling several members and wanted to start with me because he knew I could be objective.

Here is what we are doing:
1. Proof of vaccination is required.
2. Masks must be worn constantly. I had my doubts about being able to belt out a song wearing an N95, but it was surprisingly easy.
3. Separate entrances/exits for each vocal section.
4. Chairs are spaced six feet apart and staggered so no one is singing directly into the person in front of them.
5. Name tags and folders are sanitized after each use.
6. No hugging. This is the hardest part. We’re a close-knit, huggy group.
7. Rehearsals are limited to 150 members in a space designed to hold up to 700. We have tons of room. There are three rehearsals of 150 members each, held on separate days.
8. Seats are assigned in case the need for contact tracing arises. I will sit in seat T3 for the entire season.
9. Rehearsals are limited to no more than fifty minutes. That’s about half of a normal rehearsal, but we are well trained. We learned three new song and reviewed an oldie this week.
10. We will not have our big concert at Nationwide Arena but plan to hold a short outdoor concert at a park in early December.
11. We are recording our rehearsals for those who still do not feel safe or choose not or are unable to be vaccinated. There are less than fifty members in this category.

That is a lot, but the joy of being with beloved friends again and singing my heart out (and crying some, too) makes it well worth the extra measures.

[FakeNoose]

13. I appreciate your thoughtful response

Our group isn't as large as yours, but thankfully we have a spacious high-ceiling hall for rehearsals and performances. Large windows that we can open when weather permits. Our rehearsals run for one hour, tops.

We're planning a fall program that will be indoors in our Sangerhall, however the attendance is never what I would call "packed." We're lucky that our own families attend, with not many outsiders other than a few friends and club members.

Needless to say, nobody is kicking down our doors to attend our concerts. So right now that's a GOOD thing.

[dsc]

5. My chorus, Triangle Gay Men's was going to start up in October

but our director wound up relocating in what was supposed to be temporary but wound up permanent. We will be doing masks, requiring vaccines, and supply sanitizer upon reopening. I know of no unvaccinated members.

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. The choirs I'm involved with are all mandatory vaccines, and masked singing

when indoors. (one choir is small and we've been rehearsing outdoors and performing outdoors, so no masks needed in that one, but everyone needed to be vaccinated).

[appleannie1]

8. My S-I-L had just started singing with a choral group somewhere in the South Hills of PGH.

When COVID hit, they stopped meeting too. I don't know what the name is or if they are once again singing together. Will see her over Thanksgiving and so will have to call her to find out what she is taking so I know what to prepare. I will ask then. I know she is vaccinated, as is my brother. I just got my booster shot. It amazes me how cavalier and uncaring of other some people are. Post when you are having a concert. I am looking for safe places to start having a life again.

[FakeNoose]

14. We have a concert planned at Teutonia Maennerchor on the Northside

The date will be November 20th. It's open to Teutonia members and guests.

If you're interested I can PM more info and invite you as my guest. This is a private German club in the Deutschtown area, not far from the Penn Brewery. Don't worry if you're not German, all are welcome to attend. However our songs are German folksongs, because our goal is to keep the old traditions alive.

[appleannie1]

15. My dad was 100% German

I was raised in a house that always had crocks of sauerkraut and pickled herring in the basement. My dad played the accordion and harmonica. For me it would depend on the weather because I live near Grove City now. But if you ever have an open performance where anyone can purchase a ticket, it would probably work out better for me because I can't know in advance if it will be snowing or not. I love that kind of music and I am sure my brother and his wife would love to attend something like that too. They live in Baden so it would be close for them. Keep me in mind and thankyou.

[TomSlick]

10. My community band is vaxxed only.

We have a few members that won't vax and can't come. However, there would be more who wouldn't come if there were un-vaxxed people in the room. I made it very clear I would not participate if the an-vaxxed were allowed.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

11. When the pandemic began, some choruses found a virtual way of performing together.

You can't stop the music.

"You'll Never Walk Alone" Virtual Choir/Orchestra 15 Countries: 300 People

Face-to-face beats Zoom every time, though. Glad to hear your groups are getting back together in the flesh, and not just spiritually. I'm tone deaf, so, Bravo! Thank you for your willingness to put in the time and effort to perform for the rest of us.

[Hekate]

18. Good for you. Reading thru this thread, one thought sticks with me...

… and that is, how much I miss choral singing.

Carry on, all you DUers, feeling joy and bringing joy to others.