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Newsletter No. 7 (January, 2012)
Welcome back for 2012 and by
the looks of the diary dates we are going to be very busy. A special welcome to
our new members and to some former members who have returned to us. Please
remember if you have any queries or suggestions please approach your Section
Leader or any member of the Committee. The Programme looks very interesting for
the year with everything from spirituals to requiems. Our second concert
Love, Laughs and Chocolates will have many surprises. So good and joyful
singing.
In the MEETING held on 20th
January the following business was transacted:
• The scholarship holders of any scholarship/bursary given by the Choir to the
Conservatorium for vocal training will include a condition that the recipient
should have some involvement with the Choir by either attending a term or
performing at Concerts or Leisure Living. This has to be discussed with the
Conservatorium to see how this can best be arranged.
• Elizabeth Behan has resigned from the Choir as she feels that she is no longer
physically able to be involved on an ongoing basis. Liz is a Life Member and has
volunteered to assist in any way she can. She has been involved with the Choir
virtually from the beginning and actually conducted the Choir in 1976 in A
Musical Happening. As Phil said at rehearsal it will be hard to imagine the
Choir without Liz.
• Letters out were to Emily Arkell the 2011 scholarship recipient inviting her
to join the choir and to the Principal of Pacific Hills Christian School and
Chris Bearman thanking them for the involvement in the Armed Man concert.
• We got a lot of accolades after the Armed Man concert. This was for all
concerned, the orchestra, Michaela and of course, our performance. Many feel
that it will be a hard act to follow but as you can see by our future concerts
we will be trying. Phil keeps coming up with these great ideas. The finances
have not as yet been finalised but it is expected that there has been a loss as
it was an expensive work to put on.
• The Treasurer's did report however that we are still travelling well with a
Current Account of $12,315 and $15,845 in an Investment A/c. If anyone wishes to
audit these accounts before the AGM please let me know so that I can arrange it.
Otherwise members of the Committee may have to do it, but I would prefer a
non-committee member.
• Phil went on a conductor’s course in Melbourne (do they still have conductor’s
on trams in Melbourne?). Sorry…. it was a choral conductors summer school with
special guest Fred Sjoberg from Sweden. Phil was reinvigorated musically by the
course and considers it has increased his skills in his conducting. He invited
Kyle Williams to accompany him to the School as we hope that Kyle will be
playing a big part in our Choir, as well as looking at starting a youth choir.
The Committee agreed that we could subsidise their costs by giving $1,000 to
Phil towards Course fee, accommodation and transport etc and $300 to Kyle. Kyle
payment will be subject to discussions with Kyle on his role in the CCP. Further
discussions on setting up of a youth choir are to discussed with Kyle, his wife
Linda and members of the Committee. This is a really exciting initiative but it
will not be easy in a culture of “reality” popular television.
• We had a review of the Carols on Terrigal Beach and certain deficiencies on
the organisation by the Terrigal Chamber of Commerce were discussed. However it
was decided that whether we participate in future can be left until later in
year.
• As previously mentioned we now have a properly organised and indexed library
based in the new building rented by the Conservatorium. This involved an
enormous amount of work by Duncan, Monica and Beate with Sheila Noonan also
being involved. It was decided by the Committee that, as a token of gratitude,
we should offer them the opportunity to have a lunch as a celebration of its
completion, paid for out of choir funds. This setting up of the library solved a
big (and costly) problem which we were confronted with in 2011. Well done all.
• Mark Thomas, who is the Vice President of FOPAP (Friends of the Performing
Arts Precinct) gave an update on a Concert Hall as part of the “Gosford
Waterfront development". There now seems some appreciation of the acoustics
required for a dedicated concert hall and of concern of musicians as to their
requirements. If you are not a member of FOPAP see Mark as he can assist you and
answer any of your queries. FOPAP needs all the support they can get.
• The Committee voted for an increase in ticket prices for our future concerts
to $30 adult and $25 concession. This raised them back up to the price they
were, and is in line with the other musical organisations. It was considered
necessary as performance of modern pieces of music e.g. Armed Man, Zimbe,
Feel the Spirit, involved costs of performing rights, royalties, hire of
music etc. unlike our “dead white European masters”.
• ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING is to be held at 9pm (after rehearsal) on Monday the
27th of February. Anyone who wishes to nominate for the Committee please see
Beate and get a nomination form. We can always do with people who are
enthusiastic and have skills which they consider of use to ensure that the Choir
performs and organises itself to the best of its ability. We do have a need for
people who have some knowledge of promotion, public relations and communication,
as there is a lot more we could do in this respect.
DATES FOR 2012 CAN BE
FOUND ON THE ME<BERS PAGE. THESE OF COURSE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE SO KEEP
INFORMED BY REFERRING TO THAT PAGE AS YOU LEARN FROM THE MIDI FILES .
Good singing, Trevor. |
