The orchestra in March chose to postpone its 2020 program because of the mounting restrictions around gatherings.

"At the moment, it's on hold while we work out what is possible and not possible in the COVID-19 era," the orchestra's president Beth Pennington said.

"Obviously a lot of our audience members are people who would be at risk. But also, a not insignificant number of our members are also at risk.

"Normally when you play, you share a music stand because you get a more cohesive sound. You can't share a stand and be 1.5 metres apart.

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"Also, the rehearsal space will have a restriction on the number of people. We practise in the community centre and the costs of using the centre are likely to rise because of the increased imposition on them around cleaning and other things.

"I think it will be a big change. We will have to be flexible."

While large-scale rehearsals and performances are off the table for the moment, Dr Pennington said the orchestra was looking at other alternatives.

"As restrictions ease, I think we will start doing chamber music more," she said. "We have a wind quartet starting to rehearse again.

"The committee will be getting together to brainstorm what we can do. I think there may be more chamber music and going out to the community to do performances in smaller groups."

But while large gatherings for rehearsals and performances haven't been possible, it hasn't stopped the orchestra's musicians from performing.

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Bendigo musician Cally Bartlett plays a range of instruments including the cello, violin, and clarinet. She is a member of the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra and conducts the Bendigo Brass Band.

Ms Bartlett said it had been hard to lose those connections during the pandemic.

"There was a real sense of loss at the beginning," she said. "As time wore on, it became the new normal. We have found different ways to connect."

Ms Bartlett has turned to virtual performances to keep up her musical skills.

"When the whole lockdown started and all of the arts shut down, I personally lost quite a few gigs, performance opportunities, and rehearsals," she said.

"I did end up with a lot of time on my hands and I felt like I had a lot of pent up musical energy to use.

"I started to create stuff at home. I set up a bit of recording equipment and recorded myself playing different instruments and edited it all together.

"Then it started evolving and I began to write my own music. It's been really good to use that musical energy."

Ms Bartlett is also an instrumental teacher at Girton Grammar School. She said virtual lessons have been interesting throughout the pandemic.

"We're only just getting back into one-on-one classes," she said. "In the first six weeks, we were teaching via Zoom.

"It was a whole learning curve. I've had to describe things in very different ways rather than just being able to fix the positioning of a finger or a wrist.

"But that has actually been really beneficial because the students seem to be remembering those changes more often. It is actually something I will take forward in my teaching."

Fellow Bendigo Symphony Orchestra member Marie Antoinette Hicks has also gone digital during the pandemic.

The violinist, who is also a trained singer, has been posting performance videos online throughout the lockdown period.

"I have to say, it's been a big change," Mrs Hicks said. "You have that routine of going to rehearsal every Tuesday night and then suddenly there's nothing.

"Technical-wise, I have to constantly remind myself to practise at home or read something. It has been a big change and it takes some discipline as well."

Mrs Hicks said she was keen to get back to the orchestra as soon as it was safe to do so.

"Being in the orchestra is more than just the music," she said. "It's about working together with these people. I definitely miss the teamwork and the friendship."

Dr Pennington said while the arts industry had taken a hit during this pandemic, she hoped people would appreciate it more when it returned.

"If you have some financial wriggle room, now is the time to start learning an instrument or commission a piece," she said.

"It's time to support the people who really did fall by the wayside in the government support."

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