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Apologies to visitors to our blog for using it as an information service for our members. It’s just so convenient to do it this way. If you are not an orchestral member, this post is of little interest!

Newsletter September 2009

Welcome back to the new year for our orchestra; We hope you had an excellent Summer and are looking forward to some wonderful music making in the coming months.

Program. Much of this year’s program has now been decided, but some items need confirmation. We do not have a program or conductor, at this stage, for the Christmas Concert, but the committee is working on it! Likewise, we have been asked to repeat the Music in the Gardens concert in July 2010, but the choice of music will be made later after discussion with the Rotary Club. With these provisos, this is what the year ahead looks like:-

14^th Nov 2009   Victoria Hall

Dvorak: Cello Concerto – soloist Ben Gregor-Smith

Lutoslawski: Little Suite (Mala Suite)

Schumann: Symphony 4

Christmas Concert: December 12^th. St Andrew’s, Psalter Lane

Program to be announced.

20^th March 2010   Victoria Hall

with Escafeld Choral Society

Tchaikovsky: Tempest Fantasy Overture

Vaughan Williams: In Windsor Forest

Vaughan Williams: Cantata ‘100^th Psalm’

Beethoven: Symphony 6 ‘Pastoral’

12^th June 2010   St Mark’s

Elgar: In the South

Khachaturian: Violin Concerto – soloist Keith Ramsall

Respighi: Pines of Rome 

AGM. Notice is given that the AGM will take place on Tuesday, October 27^th.

New Musical Director. Sadly, Ewa Strusinska will be leaving us at the end of the season nor will she be able to conduct the Christmas Concert. I think we all consider ourselves enormously privileged to have worked under her baton. She has stayed with us a year longer than her contract and it is time for her to move on to other things. The Committee is now starting the process of appointing her successor and we will be contacting a number of individuals to see if they are interested. We will also be asking contacts at the RNCM and elsewhere for recommendations.

The choice of a new musical director is crucial, and is a matter for the whole orchestra, not just the committee. We are actively seeking comments and suggestions from everyone; for instance, have you been particularly impressed by anyone who has taken sectional rehearsals or rehearsed us when Ewa was unavailable? Members of the Orchestra will be kept informed at all stages of this process.

“Opt-in” form for Concerts.

Some people come to rehearsals but, for perfectly valid reasons, may not be able to play in the actual concert. This is fine, but it would be very helpful if we knew the forces who are definitely committed to playing so that any ‘holes’ can be plugged. To this end, a form will be circulated during rehearsals on which players will sign up for the concert. It will be the responsibility of section heads to see that their players sign up. We hope this is not viewed as a bureaucratic waste of time. Knowing who is going to play, in advance, will be very useful.

Orchestra finances and AGM. The orchestras accounts will be circulated at the AGM (set for October 27^th). At this stage We can report that we remain financially sound and there will be no increase in subs this year (per term £25, concession £15, Student £5). Please ask Kath for a Gift Aid form if you are a UK tax payer and have not yet filled one in. It makes a tremendous difference. It is likely that there will be a modest increase in subs for the year 2010/2011.

October 20^th rehearsal. The Victoria Hall is not available on this day. This rehearsal will now take place in the Wesletan Reform Church, Sharrow Vale Rd S11 8ZB. Click on the link below for a map. then click ‘larger map’ to highlight the venue. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/empw?url=http:%2F%2Fmaps.google.co.uk%2Fmaps%3Ff%3Dq%26source%3Ds_q%26hl%3Den%26geocode%3D%26q%3DS11%2B8ZB%26sll%3D53.800651,-4.064941%26sspn%3D17.18313,55.854492%26ie%3DUTF8%26hq%3D%26hnear%3DSheffield%2BS11%2B8ZB,%2BUnited%2BKingdom%26z%3D16%26ll%3D53.367447,-1.494482%26output%3Dembed&hl=en&gl=uk

 Blog. We try to keep the blog up to date. Please feel free to comment using the ‘comments’ button at the end of each post. If you want to post something yourself, e-mail (davidoakley@btopenworld.com) who will tell you how to do it, or post it for you. D.O  will be adding to the photostream of pictures from the highly enjoyable Sardinia trip over the next couple of weeks. The blog can be accessed on www.sheffieldphilharmonic.wordpress.com (add it to your favourites!)