There’s an argument to be made for preemptively canceling a rehearsal if you know it’s going to be less than ideal. Singers missing for other activities, illness (singers’ or conductor’s), general exhaustion from other commitments.
The better argument is about defining who we are as an ensemble.
We are the sum of our rehearsals.
We are a group who sings together, even when the circumstances aren’t perfect.
We are music-makers.
We sing to connect, and we rehearse so we can connect. Even when it’s hard.
Especially when it’s hard.