COVID-19 Policy

NE Voices is planning to proceed with an in-person event on February 4-5 2022. In order to ensure the safety of all of our participants, we are requiring all attendees to be vaccinated. In addition, the Town of Chelmsford, MA has mandated that everyone in schools K-12 be masked while indoors, including while singing or performing.

The following policies are subject to change. NE Voices reserves the right to pivot to a virtual festival format if needed. If there are any changes, we will notify you via email as soon as possible.

Student Participants
All student participants and any chaperones must be vaccinated in order to attend. Student participants, group directors, and other chaperones must be prepared to show proof of vaccination, which includes showing a vaccination card or a photo of the card, or a digital vaccine record.

If a student is legally exempt from receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, or cannot provide proof, they must submit (1) a PCR test taken within 72 hours of the festival date with a negative result or (2) an antigen test taken within 24 hours of the festival date with a negative result. Proof of a negative test can be in the form of a photo or email of negative test results from a clinic, testing center, medical professional or a time-stamped photo of an at home test.

All students will be required to wear masks during the festival, with the following exceptions:

Friday night dinner

• Students participating in the Friday night competition and eating dinner before their set will be allowed to take their masks off while eating in their respective green rooms, but must wear their masks if leaving the room.

Saturday lunch

• Students will be required to eat lunch in their respective green rooms.
• Students will be allowed to take their masks off while eating, but must wear their masks if leaving the room.

Saturday dinner

• Students will be required to eat lunch in their respective green rooms.
• Students will be allowed to take their masks off while eating, but must wear their masks if leaving the room.

Staff / Performers / Instructors
All NE Voices staff members, performers, instructors, and volunteers must be vaccinated. Please be prepared to show proof of vaccination, which includes showing a vaccination card or a photo of the card, or a digital vaccine record, upon arriving at the festival. 

If you are legally exempt from receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, or cannot provide proof, you must provide (1) a PCR test taken within 72 hours of the festival date with a negative result or (2) an antigen test taken within 24 hours of the festival date with a negative result. Proof of a negative test can be in the form of a photo or email of negative test results from a clinic, testing center, medical professional or a time-stamped photo of an at home test.

Audience Members
All audience members for both the Friday night competition and the Saturday night showcase must be vaccinated. Please be prepared to show proof of vaccination, which includes showing a vaccination card or a photo of the card, or a digital vaccine record, upon entering.

If you are legally exempt from receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, or cannot provide proof, you must provide (1) a PCR test taken within 72 hours of the festival date with a negative result or (2) an antigen test taken within 24 hours of the festival date with a negative result. Proof of a negative test can be in the form of a photo or email of negative test results from a clinic, testing center, medical professional or a time-stamped photo of an at home test.