NCB COVID Chronicles, Part 2: The Search for a Venue
This week in NCB COVID Chronicles we discuss how the band researched and selected venues suitable for resuming operations. We weighed the operational, practical, and logistical needs of the band with evolving scientific findings on the safety of playing wind instruments during the pandemic.
NCB rehearses under the lights at the Ed Rudolph Velodrome on August 26, 2020.
With the goal of maintaining our musical community, the band considered many options to resume activities. A number of non-musical activities were discussed, including a social distanced picnic in a park and weekly section social gatherings on Zoom. Mallory Thompson, NCB’s Artistic Director, had another plan in mind. How could we safely resume operations, allowing our members to make music together without causing unnecessary risk to one another?
With a goal of rehearsing in-person, our first challenge was deciding where we would rehearse. Typically, the band rehearses at Northbrook Junior High School - an ideal location for many of our members who live in the northern suburbs of Chicago. “Venues used for educational purposes were likely to be off-limits,” said NCB Board Chair Peter Gotsch, “the risks were too high given the unknowns.”
Based on the preliminary scientific findings regarding the safety of playing wind instruments during the pandemic, we estimated we would need approximately 9 feet between musicians to reduce the risk of infection. Assuming a “stacked circle” layout, that translates to roughly 60 square feet per musician. We would need 7,500 square feet of space minimum to accommodate the full band.
The space requirement forced the planning committee to be creative. Where might we find 7,500 square feet of open, well-ventilated space to hold rehearsals? “We researched over 50 possible retail, commercial, and industrial locations,” Peter Gotsch again, “but landlords were not receptive to our limited budget.” That aside, restrooms, it turns out, are not a priority in these commercial locations, and area priority for the band.
As more research, information, and regulations surfaced about COVID-19 in the early summer months, two things became clear. First, a formal gathering of 100 people was neither advisable nor likely to be permissible for some time. Second, it would be safest for the band to meet outdoors to provide optimal ventilation and protection for everyone participating in our rehearsals.
In the end, we chose two rehearsal venues for our first nine weeks of rehearsal:
Ed Rudolph Velodrome, Northbrook
Located on the same property as our typical rehearsal site, Northbrook Junior High School, the Ed Rudolph Velodrome housed our first socially distant rehearsal. The velodrome had many benefits: a wide open field for the band members to maintain distance from each other, bleachers to serve as a podium for Dr. Thompson, and bright lights sufficient for everyone to see their music. Even with the large, open space, the band met in 2 groups of fewer than fifty members to abide by state and local regulations.
The Grove National Historic Landmark, Glenview
After our initial rehearsal at the Ed Rudolph Velodrome, the band moved to its new temporary home at The Grove National Historic Landmark - a 145 acre property of ecologically diverse prairie grove land, preserved and maintained by the Glenview Park District. A staple of The Grove is Redfield Estate, a nearly-century-old country house situated near the main entrance. A large, outdoor pavilion emerged as the ideal location for rehearsals, with plenty of overhead lighting, enough space for a considerable number of socially distanced musicians inside, and ample room for musicians on the perimeter with sightlines to the conductor.
From November to April, the band will transition to indoor rehearsals with much smaller groupings of musicians at Park Center, operated by our longtime friends at the Glenview Park District. Stay tuned for updates from Park Center on Northshore Concert Band’s social media channels in early November.
NCB trombones during a recent rehearsal at The Grove National Historic Landmark.
Next Week: Part 3, Member Reflections with Joe Schorer
Our next installment of NCB COVID Chronicles features an interview with NCB trombone Joe Schorer reflecting on our rehearsal at the Ed Rudolph Velodrome. Stop by next Wednesday to learn more about Joe’s experience making music with the band again!