Ayr Choral Union Bags Creative Lives Prize

That the Parliament congratulates Ayr Choral Union on its nomination for a Creative Lives prize for showing resilience and creativity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; notes that regular virtual choirs, led by their Musical Director, Andrew McTaggart, took place on Zoom, which it understands maintained the important fellowship of the choir members, as well as opening up their sessions to guests whose own choirs were dormant; further notes that, as well as keeping the choir running, members of Ayr Choral Union used their voices as a force for good by hosting a major online performance for musicians across Scotland who had suffered during the COVID-19 restrictions, raising over £2,000 for Help Musicians Scotland; wishes the Ayr Choral Union good luck with its nomination; recognises the challenges posed by the pandemic to choirs, and calls on the Scottish Government to consider how restrictions around group singing could be eased to enable people to benefit from what it considers the many wellbeing and social benefits that singing brings.