Despite the restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, young and musically-gifted members of the Bega Valley's artistic community have found a way to release a song together.
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Earlier this month, Bega Valley Youth Choir and Bega Valley Youth Orchestra uploaded a virtual performance of I Dreamed Of Rain on YouTube.
The composite video features the groups' 30 musicians filmed performing in different locations like their homes or outside, then combines each of these performances into a wonderful concerto.
"I had lots of emails last night from parents in tears; they loved it, they thought it was beautiful," the choir's conductor and one of the conductors for the orchestra Geoffrey Badger said on Monday.
"There's been lots of comments from the choral community around Australia, saying 'go Bega', which is really nice."
Mr Badger said the choir and orchestra planned to hold a concert this month that was to be a positive celebration after the disastrous bushfire season - in which some young performers suffered losses to their homes or properties - but it had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 emergency.
After that, they had the idea of a virtual choir. Challenges came from members recording using different devices - phones, computers - as well as in different styles, but Mr Badger said with the help of his "brilliant" sons Eli and Llew they managed to sort out the technical side of the production, like matching the sound with the video.
Mr Badger said the groups may release another video during this time of social isolation, and while this video was popular with 1300 views within 24 hours of being uploaded he preferred the human connection that came from performing with others in person.
"This is fun and keeps us together, but it's not the same," he said.
"It's not the same human energy as is present in a live performance."
To hear the song on YouTube click here.