American Choral Directors Association is joining forces with an unprecedented coalition of performing arts organizations to commission a study on the effects of COVID-19 on the return to the rehearsal hall.
The study will look at the effects of COVID-19 toward an understanding of what risks exist in performing arts classrooms and performance venues. Specifically, the study will examine aerosol rates produced by vocalists, wind instrumentalists, and actors, and how quickly those aerosol rates accumulate in a space. The only way to determine what risk level exists or to create best practices for reducing infection risk is to understand how aerosol disbursement works in a performing arts setting.
Once the aerosol rates are better understood, the study will focus on remediation of aerosols in confined spaces like rehearsal rooms (both educational and professional), classrooms, and performance settings in order to develop better understanding, policy, and practice for a safe returning to performance and education.
Dr. Shelly Miller at the University of Colorado will lead the scientific study and says, “Aerosol generating activities have the potential to transmit COVID as the research shows, but we have very little data on what kinds of generation happen when playing instruments. We will be studying this phenomenon in our aerosol laboratory at the University of Colorado Boulder and with this data, will be able to provide better evidence-based guidance.” (https://www.colorado.edu/even/people/shelly-miller)
Multiple national and international performing arts education organizations including ACDA, NATS, and many more are combining resources to study the effects of COVID-19 aerosol transmission in performing arts performance settings. The study is a massive undertaking that will require a focused effort from all of us. Learn more.
Tobin Sparfeld says
Really grateful ACDA is a part of this. It is on the minds of all members — what are the risks of coming back and what should we be doing to mitigate those risks? There is so much unknown, so I hope this study comes back with a better picture of what needs to be done.
I am not sure if this is something ACDA has delved into before, and it makes me wonder if ACDA should be doing more of it. What about research into the long-term health effects of conducting, or other studies related to the profession?