Gradually the lockdown is thawing, churches are opening and organs being played. The jury is still out on the dangers of singing but outdoor performances by professionals are permitted in certain circumstances. Possibly similar criteria will be applied in due course to indoor performances. But who counts as professional? I see a spectrum rather than a sharp dividing line, but the following would all seem to qualify:
- salaried lay clerks in Cathedral choirs
- freelance deps paid by the service to sing Cathedral services
- freelance paid singers in churches such as those in London and some in Oxford
- parish church singers paid to sing at a wedding
The business model of amateur concert-giving choirs doesn’t allow for paying them. And the same parish church singers singing for nothing at a service in their church don’t qualify either. But what if the church pays them a nominal sum, say £1 per singer? As I wrote below, how does Covid-19 know when you are being paid to open your mouth, and how much?