1. A recent concert given by the European Doctor’s Orchestra in Gateshead.

2. A last minute skiing trip to France.

3. An e-mail from Sheffield Councillor Julie Dore.

Well, the EDO concert took place in the fabulous Sage concert hall in Newcastle/Gateshead, home of the much loved and patronised Northern Sinfonia. Doctors from all over Europe participated. Some flew in directly to Newcastle airport. The hall is wonderful. The whole complex is now self funding; a focus for performance and musical education in the North.

Our last minute skiing trip was only possible thanks to an excellent cheap flight from the efficient and friendly Liverpool airport to Geneva. ‘Well done” Liverpool, home of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

The catch all e-mail from Julie Dore (addressed impersonally to sir/madam in response to my carefully worded query) explained that the South Yorkshire Music Lending library is being reprieved for a further 6 months while alternative funding is being sought. Failure to succeed means the service will have to go. She points out that the draconian government cuts are to blame. I would have more sympathy with this view if the savings from cutting the SY music library would make any difference, but the budget for this service is small (and certainly trivial compared to the costs of Sheffield’s failed bid to become UK City of Culture!)

So the common feature is ‘missed opportunity’ and meager civic vision. With all the rebuilding in the City centre we could have a modern concert hall and, who knows, a professional orchestra. We could have an international airport (Docaster Robin Hood airport simply does not count as anyone who has tried to get there by public transport will testify). What we do have is a remarkably vibrant amateur music scene one of whose major supporting services is about to be withdrawn. As someone who has tried to balance the books of an amateur orchestra for 10 years, I can reassure everyone that this will be a major blow.

These issues are, of course, full of complexities which I am unlikely to understand. There are, no doubt, very good reasons why Sheffield should not emulate the substantial achievements of smaller cities such as Liverpool and Newcastle. But, as anyone who has actually done anything important, who has made a significant impact, will tell you, “Where there is a will, there is a way”. The question now becomes, “is there a will”?

David.

D

Kay Stephen is our soloist for the Brahms. Don’t worry that she is playing the viola in the pic. She plays both!

Kay Stephen (violin and viola) was born in Aberdeen and completed her undergraduate studies at the RSAMD with Katie Hull and Andrew Berridge (viola), graduating with a 1st class honours and top of her year in 2009. During her time there she was awarded many prizes including the Mabel Glover string quartet Prize, as 1st violinist in the Nova quartet, and the Bessie Spence prize for her performance of the Walton violin concerto (1st movement) with the RSAMD symphony orchestra. She was privileged to perform chamber music alongside musicians such as the Brodsky and Maggini quartets and Ilya Gringolts; under the baton of Vladimir Ashkenazy, Martyn Brabbins, Ilan Volkov and Gary Walker, and participated in apprenticeship schemes with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra with whom she is now on trial.

As the inaugural recipient of the Riga Heesom Award and the 2009 winner of the Ruth Waddell Memorial Prize, Kay was able to enter first year of the Masters Programme at the RNCM, where she studies with Pavel Fischer and viola with Michael Gurevich. Since arriving in October she has gained the highest violin mark in her orchestral audition, resulting in numerous leading opportunities and won a place on the BBC Philharmonic’s professional experience scheme.

Kay is grateful to the Robert Nicol Trust who also support her studies.

We have also been invited to play in the Botanic Gardens again.

It should be an amazing ride.

D.

PS. The following dates and venues have now been booked, so players should put them in their diaries.

10th November 2012. Ecclesall Church

15th December 2012. Christmas Concert. Victoria Hall

16th March 2013. Ecclesall Church

8th June 2013. Victoria Hall

July ‘In the Gardens’ Concert. Date to be confirmed.

PPS. The rehearsal schedule is now online. Click the appropriate line in the top left corner of the blog.

SPO playing in Sheffield Botanic Gardens, July 2011 in front of an audience of 2,500. Soloists are Sardinian tenor/baritone Antonello Arca and vet student Charly Oakley.

Elgar’s ‘cello concerto provides the core of the program and we are very happy to welcome our soloist, Anna Menzies.

Anna Menzies comes from Newcastle and studied at Chetham’s School of Music and the Guildhall School.  She has appeared across the UK and Europe as soloist and chamber musician, in performances ranging from concerto appearances to playing with The Who at the Royal Albert Hall. Also a composer, Anna was recently selected to have her chamber piece performed by the London Chamber Orchestra at St John’s Smith Square. She is currently finishing her Masters degree at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she is grateful for the support of the Arts and Humanities Research Council and a Richard Newitt Award. She teaches at the Yehudi Menuhin school in London. 

Following the AGM we now have a new committee and a new constitution. Chairman: Frank Edenborough, Secretary: Bev Paul, Treasurer/Blog: David Oakley, String rep: Tania Whitfield/Debbie Bettles (jobshare),  Woodwind rep: Kathryn Hathaway, Brass/percussion rep: Pete Hulley, Concert Manager: Geoff Olner, Publicity: Wendy Maas. Rita Everatt continues as librarian and Helen Gibson takes on the role of membership secretary.

Good luck everyone!

D

The orchestra reconvenes on September 6th to start rehearsing our autumn programme which includes Elgar ‘cello concerto, Arnold Scottish dances and Grieg symphonic dances. Please excuse the uppercase but THERE IS A CHANGE OF VENUE for this rehearsal only. We will meet in Endcliffe Methodist Church (S11 8PR), conveniently located close to The Porterbrook pub on Ecclesall road at the usual time of 7.30. This is a ‘one off’. Future rehearsals will be at our usual venue, The Victoria Hall, opposite the stage door of the Crucible theatre.

I hope everyone agrees that we had a great season last year and are looking forward to another exciting year of music making. Feedback from the Botanic Gardens concert was fantastic.

If you are new to Sheffield and fancy playing with us, please read on. The wind and horn sections are complete, though there are often opportunities for bumps and deps. String players are welcome to come along to a rehearsal or two to see if we are the right orchestra for you; just turn up and make yourself known to the section leader. We are a friendly bunch! Please note that we keep the doors of the Vic hall shut during rehearsals to discourage vagrants so come a bit early when someone is available to open the doors. Also note the change of venue for our first rehearsal.

Watch out for future posts here.

D

D