Minnesota Principal Douglas Wright is filmed on the Orchestra Hall stage as part of the orchestra’s aerosol-transmission research study in partnership with scientists at the University of Minnesota. Travis Anderson Travis Studying Safer Concerts and scientists are joining forces to study the spread of the coronavirus so they can bring back live music— safely. These collaborations are part of the innovative approaches orchestras are taking on multiple fronts during the pandemic. Results from the scientific studies suggest mitigation strategies, safety protocols, and even new ways to present concerts.

by Michele C. Hollow magine feeling safer performing on- Willich is also a conductor and founder stage than shopping at a local super- of the World Doctors Orchestra, based in Imarket or taking public transportation. Berlin. Willich is highly aware that CO- That’s a comparisonrecently made by Ste- VID-19 cases are on the rise in Germany, fan N. Willich, professor and director of the here in the United States, and around the Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiolo- world. Despite the widespread increase, gy, and Health Economics at Charité Uni- he remains optimistic and believes that versity Medical Center in Berlin, Germany. with proper measures in place, in-person

This article reports on several recent studies of how coronavirus aerosols are transmitted by orchestral musicians in concert halls and other spaces, as well as various interventions to prevent the spread of the virus. Some of the studies have been completed, while others are ongoing. Scientists are continuing to learn more about the coronavirus, and study findings noted in this article do not constitute safety recommendations from Symphony magazine or the League of American Orchestras.

30 symphony WINTER 2021 concerts can safely return. His confidence of Music partnered with Rice University have shown that the airflow of particles stems from a German study issued in May scientists to figure out how to resume their from these instruments don’t travel as far 2020 focusing on research between musi- events so everyone onstage, in the audi- as previously thought. “That was one of cians and scientists; the study noted that ence, and behind the scenes stays safe. The the things we looked at,” Mangum says. restrictions put in place in Germany since 2020-21 concert schedule at the Houston “Scientists at Rice University have been March 2020 had “achieved a sharp decline Symphony’s website comes with a caveat studying how air particles are spread dur- of infections.” These restrictions include that due to the pandemic, programs are ing a symphonic concert, thus giving or- mask wearing, following recommendations subject to change. It’s the kind of increas- chestras a road map to reopening safely.” for general safeguards, stage plans for vari- ingly familiar proviso that most orchestras Most of the Houston study concluded this ous instruments, cleaning, and ventilation. and concert halls are posting during the past summer. Researchers are still compil- In the United States, orchestras are tak- pandemic. Orchestras have to pivot quick- ing data and looking at HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems. The crux of the problem is that when aerosols are exhaled from a person infected with COVID-19, the virus rides on those aerosols and can land on nearby surfaces or be inhaled by another person. Aerosol research is essential in getting musicians back to rehearsing and performing safely. In addition to quantifying the aerosol risks, an important goal of the studies covered Orchestras are working with scientists to determine how to keep musicians, staff, and audiences safe.

in this article is to examine how to reduce transmission through a variety of miti- Brandon Martin/Rice University gation strategies—even as none of these Houston Symphony flutist Kathryn Ladner (left) plays her instrument as part of the orchestra’s recommendations can be considered de- aerosol-research study with Rice University researchers Vivek Boominathan, Ankit Raghuram, and finitive, given that knowledge continues to Sean Farrell. increase about how the coronavirus spreads.

ing action and reaching out to scientists at ly now, and so do audiences: rising infec- Making the Invisible Visible leading universities to determine how to tion rates and new restrictions on gather- Mangum co-wrote a proposal for the keep musicians, staff, and audiences safe ings in mid-November meant that many Houston Symphony/Rice University at performances, whether indoors or out. orchestras had to cancel or significantly study, which is entitled “TunesFlow: These collaborations between scientists rethink holiday concerts that were just a Studying Aerosol Flow Spread for Wind and orchestras are part of the new, highly few weeks away. It is likely that some ref- Instruments and Singing,” with Ashok proactive approaches orchestras are tak- erences to in-person future concerts in this Veeraraghavan and Ashutosh Sabhar- ing to keep the music going during the article will have changed since press time. wal, electrical and computer engineering pandemic. “We have to think in new ways “The more answers and the more stud- professors at Rice University, and Robert and on all fronts in fighting this disease,” ies we’re looking at that tell us the same Yekovich, dean of the Shepherd School of says John Mangum, executive director and information, the safer we feel,” Mangum Music at Rice University. With funding CEO of the Houston Symphony. “And says. “We’re building a body of evidence.” secured by Rice University’s COVID-19 you can find the answers in science. It’s a One of the biggest pieces of evidence re- Research Fund Oversight and Review great first step.” lates to how far a wind or brass player’s Committee, “we thought the results of The Houston Symphony and students breath travels when they perform. Several the study would help not just the Hous- from Rice University’s Shepherd School studies between orchestras and scientists ton Symphony, but orchestras around the country,” Mangum says. Visit the League of American Orchestras’ website for regularly updated information The researchers at Rice looked at the about the pandemic, including federal financial assistance; resources on direction and distance air particles travel communications, governance, and fundraising; and links to the Centers for Disease from instruments and singers. The scien- Control. https://bit.ly/leaguecovidresources tists also studied how long these particles remained in the air. They tracked these americanorchestras.org 31 University study, several safety measures were put in place in Jones Hall, where the Houston Symphony performs. At press time, in-person concerts were back, and the 2,900-seat concert hall was open for only 150 season subscribers to attend hour-long performances. In what has be- come standard operating procedure at orchestras open for in-person concerts, Houston concerts have no intermission, to minimize audience movement such as getting up to go to the restroom. No food, drinks, or printed programs or tickets are available. This way crowds won’t congre- gate in the lobby, and everything is touch- less. Patrons scan their tickets on their cell Brandon Martin/Rice Universit phones upon entry, programs are online, Houston Symphony Principal Jonathan Fischer plays his instrument as part of the and masks are mandatory. orchestra’s air-visualization research study conducted by Rice University researchers. Instruments In Houston, musicians are tested for in the experiments included flute, oboe, , , horn, trombone, , and . COVID-19 two days before the first re- hearsal and string and percussion players must wear masks on stage. Woodwind air particles using Schlieren photography, attention to other than just social distanc- and brass players also wear masks and an imaging system that monitors airflow ing,” especially ventilation. Nevertheless, take them off when they’re performing. that’s impossible to see with the naked eye. researchers were careful to note that the The study’s initial findings were released “It’s like looking at a fire and the images standard social distancing guidelines of in October. Based on those findings, mu- behind it,” Veeraraghavan explains. “Those 2 meters are “always important” and that sicians now sit at a minimum of six feet this distancing onstage can “reduce the apart from one another, and the number of “The more answers risk, especially from macro-droplets and musicians on stage has decreased to about and the more directly expelled spray.” 40 musicians. “We also have livestream- studies we’re “What we didn’t take into account,” Veer- looking at that araghavan says, “was tell us the same that air exhaled from information, the safer we humans is warmer than the air around us feel,” says John Mangum, in a concert hall. That the Houston Symphony’s warm air rises. Our in- executive director and CEO. tent is to remove those air particles with ven- tilation systems that images seem to shimmer and move. clean the air.” The study Schlieren photography makes the invis- noted, “It is clear from

ible visible.” They did this by photograph- our data that room air Fitlow/Rice University Jeff ing musicians playing their instruments. currents (driven by ven- The camera captures the airflow of the air tilation) have a major Houston Symphony Principal Tuba David Kirk participates in the orchestra’s Schlieren-imaging study with Rice University researchers. particles emitted from the holes on the in- effect on the flow of struments’ keys and from the bell when air this exudate air. In par- exits the instrument. ticular, the airflow direction in some cases ing of our concerts on 8 p.m. on Satur- The scientists found that airflow didn’t could be the opposite of the exudate direc- days,” Mangum says. “Some people prefer travel as far as they originally suspected. tion because of room air currents driven watching at home and others want to be Even the flute, one of the riskiest instru- primarily by ventilation…. It’s important here. All 150 seats sell out. They under- ments due to a larger amount of airflow to have good ventilation … to increase stand the precautions we’ve put in place.” than other instruments, had an airflow air circulation as much as possible and in- Going forward, Mangum, says, “We hope of under three feet. The study noted that crease the rate of air exchanges per hour to to be able to increase the size of our in- the outcomes were “quite surprising and as high a rate as possible.” person audiences. A lot depends on when point to other factors that we need to pay Based on the Houston Symphony/Rice a vaccine will be available.”

32 symphony WINTER 2021 “With all these The Importance of Air Flow protocols in place, Air filtration systems are essential in Many orchestras continue to stream con- everyone’s on making sure the air is clean, says a growing certs online or through their local public body of research. The St. Louis Symphony television and radio stations. The St. Louis board because it’s Orchestra’s website states, “There will be Symphony Orchestra does both. However, the future of our time reserved between each event to allow nothing compares to in-person concerts. business,” says Marie-Hélène for six complete fresh air purges and com- “Despite social distancing and masks, mu- plete sanitation of that hall. HVAC air fil- sic is still the shortest way from one heart Bernard, president and CEO ters have been upgraded to maximum ef- to another,” says Music Director Stéphane of the St. Louis Symphony ficiency rated MERV-13.” MERV stands Denève. Orchestra. “We’re still learning for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. Like many other orchestras, the St. Lou- The rating means the filters can catch a is Symphony Orchestra canceled in-person how the virus behaves, and high percent of air particles. performances due to the pandemic begin- this study allows us to bring “With all these protocols in place,” says ning last March. The orchestra returned to back live music.” SLSO President and CEO Marie-Hélène Powell Hall in October and has concerts Bernard, “everyone’s on board because planned through May 2021 with a maxi- it’s the future of our business. We’re still dous lengths to understand and operation- learning how the virus behaves, and this alize public health strategies to prevent the study allows us to bring back live music. transmission of COVID-19,” Liang says We found good news about Powell Hall. in an email. “I’m inspired by the passion It was built in 1925 as a movie theater. The with which the orchestra has labored to airflow in the building is good because of bring music back into all of our lives after how the building was constructed.” all these months.” The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra says Results from the study changed the way concertgoers are returning—but with a St. Louis Symphony Orchestra concerts substantial adaptation due to the pandemic: are performed. Just like other concert halls the 2,600-seat hall is open to 150 concert- presenting live music, now-familiar safety goers. “Our audiences want to be here,” protocols will be in place at Powell Hall, Bernard says. “We conducted a survey with

An usher greets two audience members arriving at one of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s first concerts after returning to Powell Hall this In photo: St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Music fall. The orchestra Director Stéphane Denève with a nurse at partnered with Mercy Hospital, October 2020. After partnering doctors at Washington with doctors at Washington University to University to study how study ways to return safely to Powell Hall, the it could return safely to orchestra invited healthcare workers to its first the concert hall. socially distanced concerts at the hall this fall. mum audience of 150 people. In order to make this season and the next possible, the orchestra teamed up with a group of infec- tious-disease specialists led by two medical researchers—Stephen Liang and Abigail Carlson of Washington University School among them: no food or drinks, every- Slover Linett, an outside consulting firm, of Medicine—to develop concert protocols. one wears masks, concert times average and the results were great. Of the 1,300 The St. Louis study, which is ongoing between 60 and 75 minutes without an people who responded to the survey, we while scientists continue to learn more intermission, and halls are sanitized prior found 32 percent were ready to return. One about the virus, looks at many possible to each performance. On stage, plexiglass third were on the fence, and the last one scenarios, from airflow from instruments barriers separate rows of woodwind and third were in a high-risk group for getting to social distancing to mask wearing and brass players to ensure the airflow from the virus. Of the people who wanted to at- HVAC systems in the building. Theor - those musicians is directed upward to the tend live concerts, the mix included young chestra’s leadership “has gone to tremen- return filtration system. and old from a variety of backgrounds.” americanorchestras.org 33 The next step is to bring audiences back. Safety measures are in place, air purifi- ers are on stage, and the filtration system cleans the air about eight times an hour. Researchers in Minnesota used a com- puter simulation to study how air moves in the orchestra hall and how it’s pulled out and filtered back.“Our approach all along has been to take it gradually,” Willis says. “Coronavirus numbers are rising. We want to keep everyone safe. When live concerts return, audience size will be smaller than usual. We’re being cautious.” Once every-

Dilip Vishwanat thing is in place, the musicians hope to return to performing before live audiences. St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Music Director Stéphane Denève greets the audience at a chamber concert at Powell Symphony Hall on October 16, 2020. Bell Covers, Masks with Slits According to the World Health Organiza- Filtration, Aerosol Concentration, rection and length of that concentration. tion (WHO), data suggests that children and More None of the air particles went farther than ages 18 and younger represent about 8.5 The Minnesota Orchestra teamed up for 30 centimeters, which is under one foot.” percent of reported COVID-19 cases and a study with scientists at the University of The Minnesota Orchestra’s website states children with pre-existing conditions are at Minnesota and with Stay Safe Minnesota that the University of Minnesota aerosol risk. The WHO states that further studies (a government resource site), Minnesota research study indicates that “aerosols from are underway to understand transmission Department of Health, Minnesota De- all wind and brass instruments are not di- in this age group. Gaining more knowl- partment of Labor and Industry, Centers rectional and do not flow further than 30 edge about this younger population is im- for Disease Control and Prevention, and centimeters from the instrument before portant for orchestras—especially youth federal Occupational Safety and Health decreasing to the level of ambient air.” orchestras—and audiences of all ages. Administration. “We were trying to un- "Our approach all along has been to take it gradually," says Mele Willis, artistic operations manager at the Minnesota Orchestra. "We want to keep everyone safe." Journal Science of Aerosol

derstand what the situation was and how it was going to affect us,” says Mele Wil- lis, the orchestra’s artistic operations man- As part of the University of Minnesota’s aerosol study with Minnesota Orchestra musicians, researchers measured aerosol generation when musicians breathed, spoke, and played their ager. “At the time we had little knowledge instruments. about aerosol emissions.” The study, which concluded November 20, 2020, looked at air particles that came Currently, the orchestra is performing— An aerosol study commissioned by the out of brass and woodwind instruments. in ensembles of up to 25 musicians, with National Federation of State High School “When we exhale, air particles come out health and safety measures in place for the Associations (NFHS), the College Band of our mouths and out of the instruments musicians, in programs created for at-home Directors National Association, and a co- we play,” Willis explains. “We wanted to viewing—but not in front of an in-person alition of more than 125 performing arts understand what happens to those air audience. Minnesota Public Radio broad- organizations including the League of particles when we’re performing together. casts the orchestra’s concerts on Friday American Orchestras, has generated re- Scientists at the University of Minnesota nights, while the orchestra’s other concerts sults that indicate mitigation strategies looked at the aerosol concentration com- are streamed on its own website, and some for reducing the impact of COVID-19 on ing from the instruments and at the di- have aired on Minnesota Public TV. performing arts activities. These organiza-

34 symphony WINTER 2021 A safety poster designed for music educators and students in conjunction with the International Coalition of Performing Arts’ aerosol study. The study was commissioned by the National Federation of State High School Associations, the College Band Directors National Association, and a coalition of more than 125 performing arts organizations, including the League of American Orchestras.

ing. Putting bell covers on the end of the instrument reduces aerosol emissions be- tween 60 and 90 percent. And improving classroom ventilation and limiting the size and duration of rehearsals makes perform- ing safe.” The studyrecommends against using plexiglass partitions or barriers between musicians, due to HVAC system design limitations in many schools. “Dead zones,” or areas where aerosols can build up, are a concern when these partitions are used. Wearing masks at all times is highly rec- ommended. Some of these findings may seem surprising and counter-intuitive, giv-

The International Coalition of Performing Arts Aerosol Study Report was conducted by researchers en, for instance, that we have seen plexi- at the University of Maryland and the University of Colorado Boulder. This graphic shows various glass partitions frequently used on concert models of airflow in a rehearsal room with seven clarinetists, including differences between the stages during the pandemic. It illustrates use of bell covers vs. no bell covers as well as relative risks of infection. that best practices are still emerging as sci- entific knowledge increases. The multi-part NFHS aerosol study was tions collaborated with scientists from the says. “The studywas designed to identify still underway at press time, with final re- University of Colorado Boulder and the performing arts activities that generate re- sults expected to be published in January University of Maryland. spiratory aerosol including volume, direc- 2021, and individual orchestras continue “We are providing these results to as- tion, density, and mitigation strategies.” to work closely with scientists and health sist in the safer return to performing arts What surprised Weaver about the study officials in their communities to keep mu- activities,” James Weaver, Ed.D., director was that the flute didn’t produceas many sicians, staff, and audiences safe. In the of Performing Arts and Sports for NFHS, aerosols as he expected it would, and that meantime, though nothing is certain, re- where he oversees student participation, double-reed instruments break up large cent news about several new vaccines has professional development, and awareness droplets into smaller droplets because of made many in the arts community cau- of performing arts activities at the nation’s the vibration from the reed on these in- tiously hopeful about where we might be by more than 19,500 high schools. He is co- struments. Smaller droplets can remain the middle of 2021. chair of the study, which “focuses strictly suspended longer than larger ones. “These on the distribution of respiratory aerosol can be dealt with by having the musician MICHELE C. HOLLOW writes about autism, that is generated while playing wind in- wear a surgical mask with a slit in it,” he Alzheimer’s, health, and animals. Her byline struments, singing, acting, speaking, danc- explains. “Everyone should wear a mask has appeared in The New York Times, AARP, The ing, and in a simulated aerobic activity,” he whether they’re in rehearsal or perform- Guardian, Parents, and other publications. americanorchestras.org 35