Sure, we are now “socially distancing” by using ZOOM Meeting for meetings, but how about using ZOOM for a distributed virtual chorus performing a piece of music… together!?
The International Fellowship of Rotarian Musicians (IFRM) has been meeting regularly on line to prepare and present choral performances that are both virtual and distributed. Members receive rehearsal material (musical score and recording of accompaniment and vocal parts) in advance, and then they converge from their respective homes via ZOOM meeting to listen to the accompaniment (on headphones) and sing their parts (into cell phones) while appearing on screen together. The recordings are sent to IFRM member John Ackenhusen (RC of Poulsbo, WA) who combines the individual products into a choral video performance. John is also the Virtual Choir’s Director.
So far, the group has recorded “How Can I Keep from Singing” and “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” It is continuing by selecting songs that were originally presented by the IFRM World Choir at the RI Convention’s Interfaith Service in Atlanta in 2017.
The International Fellowship of Rotarian Musicians, IFRM, consists of over 700 members from 44 countries around the Rotary world. Their keynote event is performing at the Rotary International (RI) Convention, the annual meeting that brings together over 30,000 Rotarians.
For our most recent presentation of the IFRM Virtual Rotary World Choir, we had IFRM members who were from Australia, Canada, England, France, India, Italy, and the United States, all using ZOOM Meeting to sing together into our respective cell phone voice recorders to an accompaniment track. Here is a link to the recorded presentation.
