Singing is close to the top of the list of social activities lost through most of 2020, but after a year of Zoom meetings and solo practice Wagga's choirs are slowly re-forming.
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Today's easing of restrictions means up to 30 appropriately spaced choristers can sing together indoors, almost enough to bring together the entire 36-voice Murrumbidgee Magic Chorus.
Director Judith Ferguson, who also directs the 70-member Wagga City Male Rugby Choir, said the two ensembles had this year been able to sing in staggered, smaller groups because of the size of their rehearsal venues at the Conservatorium and South Wagga Public School.
"We're very blessed here in Wagga to be able to do what we can do with the facilities we have," Ms Ferguson said.
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It comes after a year of learning songs over Zoom, when Ms Ferguson would play and sing the parts as each chorister sang along by themselves at home.
She said it was a difficult way to learn, but it provided an opportunity for the choirs to maintain their social connection.
"It was challenging for all the choir members because they were literally in a room, all alone, at home ... it was up to them to sing themselves," she said.
"The reason you join a choir is because you like singing with people, you don't want be a soloist.
"In spite of all of that, they've hung in there and getting back together again has just been brilliant."
Ms Ferguson said being able to hear other singers around them again had been important for the choristers.
"You weren't alone anymore, physically, emotionally you were back together," she said.
"It's one of the reasons why I love doing the choirs so much, it's that platform for people to be together."
She said socially distanced singing also had its benefits with each singer encouraged to make themselves heard from a distance.
Performance is also a big priority for the choirs, and the opportunity to get back on stage could be just around the corner.
Murrumbidgee Magic is set to perform with a visiting Melbourne artist in early April, with tentative plans for a combined performance with both ensembles in May.
"We've got goals to work towards, singing for a performance is our reason for getting better each week," Ms Ferguson said.