Social and Wellbeing Activities

Details

Category: Social and Wellbeing Activities

Most Tuesdays from 17.30 - 18.30 GMT on Zoom (subject to change so please check Facebook page for details)

Come and join Judit's Opera Breathing sessions to ease symptoms of long Covid

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Details

Category: Social and Wellbeing Activities

Join us each Wednesday for weekly sessions of breathing exercises, singing (on mute!) and an optional chat. We welcome people with Long Covid or their direct care givers, wherever you are in the world.

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  Maddy Corper

  Our treasurer Maddy caught Covid in May 2020, probably through her work as a train driver. She developed Long Covid shortly after her initial infection and remains ill to this day. Thankfully she is still able to sing! She has regular singing lessons in opera techniques which are really good for her breathing and mental health! Music has been a huge part of her life since about the age of nine, playing in orchestras and bands as well as singing.  She loves the Long Covid Choir as it is perfect for people who are unwell as you can do as much or as little as you want. Plus she has met many lovely people in the same position. Maddy has sung in many different choirs. At the moment she is singing with London’s Transport Choir, whom she has been with for about 13 years. She has also sung with the Gamesmaker Choir (formed by the volunteers at the 2012 Olympics/Paralympics) and even had a spell in the Bart’s Choir! She has also sung in church choirs. She became involved in the Long Covid Choir when she discovered it in the Long Covid Support Group and is one of its earliest members. 

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  Claire Hastie

  Co-founder and Chair Claire fell ill with Covid in March 2020, and she and two of her three children continue to live with the effects of Long Covid. In May 2020 she set up the Long Covid Support Facebook group as a private place for people who were struggling to recover from Covid to share information and support. The group is a core part of Long Covid Support’s wider work in peer support, advocacy, and research involvement.  Having sung in the volunteer chorus of Birmingham Opera Company since 2001, Claire knows the power of singing together to bring joy and friendship. She was keen to set up a choir to help people with Long Covid, contacted Zoë, and the rest is history. What Claire lacks in singing ability she makes up for in enthusiasm!

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  Merel van der Knoop

  Music Director Merel gained a Bachelor's degree in solo piano from the Rotterdam Conservatoire in The Netherlands and went on to study Piano Accompaniment at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, from where she graduated with a Masters in Music and a Masters in Music Performance, Guildhall Artist degree.  Merel works as a freelance accompanist and vocal coach besides teaching singing and piano. She was Interim Head of Music at The Hall School Wimbledon from 2016-2017 and Interim Head of Junior Music at Wimbledon High School in Autumn 2021. Merel is also a classical artist on board P&O and Olsen cruises. Currently, she is musical director of the Long Covid Choir and the Long Covid Kids Choir. Besides being active as a freelance musician Merel also took acting classes at Morley College and City Lit. She was part of the City Lit Rep Company that took Hamlet to the RSC Open Air Festival in Stratford upon Avon. Merel also works as a Supporting Artist for feature films.

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  Rakhee Vasishta

  Our secretary Rakhee became unwell with Covid in May 2020 and had to adapt to an altered lifestyle very quickly. She continues to make gradual progress and remains on the road to recovery. A keen musician and dancer, Rakhee hoped that joining the Long Covid Choir would enable her to connect with other 'long haulers' through singing and find her musical sparkle again! She came across the choir through the Long Covid Support Facebook group in 2021 and has been a regular participant ever since. She enjoys learning new material each week as well as finding the lighter side of things by sharing brain fog stories at the end of the session!

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• FAQs

  Do I need to be a confident singer?

  There is no need to have sung before, there are no auditions, and there is no need to be able to read music.

  Because of internet latency issues we sing with our microphones muted, so there is no need to worry if you are new to singing or Long Covid has affected your voice.

  What do sessions involve?

  Sessions begin with gentle breathing, stretching and vocal warm-up exercises. 

  It is important that people only do what they feel able to do - we know all too well the difficulties Long Covid can bring. We aim to be as inclusive as possible, so please tell us if further adaptations would help you.

  We sing a variety of musical styles.

  Sessions last around 45 minutes, but anyone who wants to is welcome to stay longer for a chat.

  We are regularly joined by children, dogs and cats, who are also very welcome to join in!

  When are sessions held?

  We sing together on Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm UK time (8:00pm CET, 2:00pm EST, 11:00am Pacific time)

  Sessions are held over Zoom.

  How much do sessions cost?

  We offer new members a free taster session. Thereafter, if you are able, we ask for a contribution of £5 per session (or equivalent in your currency). We understand that many people with Long Covid may experience financial difficulties, and wouldn't want this to be a barrier to joining.

  Our Videos

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  Our Team

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