AGM and Social Evening

This year we were blessed with a beautifully warm evening, and some summer sun, for our Social Meeting and AGM in the Chairman’s garden. Food and drink were contributed by all the members, and we started with sparkling wine on the front lawn.

Our conductor made a late entry – ironic, really – and the AGM started before he arrived. Apologies were noted, atIMG_0010tendance listed, and then there was a resume of the year’s activities by the Chairman. Several issues needing decisions were outlined. Upon the arrival of Wes, we had a short resume of the concerts we had played, largely successful, though the bandstand performance was a sharp learning curve – strings disappear in the open air!

The business of the day was successfully concluded, with a volunteer for secretary, and a decision that we would rather pay a little more than reduce playing time. It was also agreed that we should actively seek to recruit new members – partly to help finances, but more importantly to ensure that we have players for all parts. Concert dates and term dates were set for next year, and are constantly updated elsewhere in this blog.

Finally we wished Helen and Dick a long and happy retirement as they move away, and wished Susan all the best for her move to a new home. Helen was presented with a memento of her time with us in thanks for the work she has done as secretary, and Aly, our hostess, was presented with a bunch of flowers. The evening then moved on to eating drinking and gossiping, and finished as darkness finally descended!

 

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Summer Concert

On a beautiful Summer’s afternoon Ashford Sinfonia gathered for the final concert of the academic year in the lovely Chuch of St Mary the Virgin, Willesborough. The concert started with the March and Waltz from Benjamin Britten’s Matinées Musicales, which were competently presented and without noticeable glitches!

Members of the Sinfonia then gave a series of solos, accompanied by Wes Carroll, and commencing with Helen Venn playing Robert Schumann’s Romance No. 1 for oboe. Technically quite demanding, Helen gave an excellent performance, her swan song before moving on with her husband into retirement in the West.

Helen was followed by Mike Potter, playing Mussorgsky’s Castle from Pictures from an Exhibition on his saxophone. This was a lovely soulful sound in the rather special acoustics of the church. Next up was Lesley Currah, demonstrating the lyrical and amusing qualities of the tuba in Mrs Parkhurst’s Variations on a Temperance Theme. There were many grins round both orchestra and audience during the performance especially when Monte’s Czardas appeared, rather slower than usual!

The last solo was performed by Steph Batchelor, singing “Che Faro Senza Euridice” – more commonly known as “What is life, life without you”. A highly polished performance, sung beautifully, and without recourse to the score.

The orchestra rounded of with four movements from Britten’s Soirées Musicales, again well presented.

Coffee and cake were available throughout the rehearsal and performance, thanks to the team at the church. All in all a successful concert which, if repeated, deserves rather more advertising to attract a bigger audience!

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Social and AGM

Monday 18th at 7.00 p.m. at Yew Tree House, Ashford Road, Charing TN27 0EE. Hopefully it will be a sunny evening, and we will meet in the garden for a leisurely evening and our Annual General Meeting.

We will need to be making decisions on dates and venues for concerts, recruitment, finances and finding a new Secretary.

This is an opportunity to socialise and enjoy a beautiful English summer’s evening!

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Return of Music

Please be sure to return all music at the Concert on Sunday, or at latest the meeting on Monday, as we only have a few days to return it to the Library.

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Summer Concert

Our Summer Concert will be at The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Willesborough on Sunday 17th July, meeting at 2.00 p.m. Several of the Sinfonia’s members will give performances, bracketed by a selection from Benjamin Britten’s settings of Rossini pieces – Matinées and Soirées Musicales.

Friends, families, guests and passers by all welcome! The café will be open.

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Return of music

Our esteemed librarian has negotiated one week’s grace on the return of “Soirées” and “Matinées” to the library, so that we are not charged for the loan. It is therefore really tight that we get the music in on the day of our concert, so if you will not be there please ensure that it is returned before the concert.

Likewise, all other music should be returned as soon as possible, and well before July 17th. Thanks everyone, in anticipation!

Roger

 

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July Concert

The Quartet I had in mind to play at our July concert date are having a break for the summer and will not be available. Plan B was to ask individuals or ensembles to perform on 17th July. So – please give it some thought, and expressions of interest when next we meet!

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Primavera Concerts

Penned at the tender age of 16, he’s already arrived at the top of his compositional achievement. The panache, freshness, creativity and sheer joy of this work put Mendelssohn on the level of Mozart and Beethoven at their best.

There are two opportunities to hear this masterpiece along with Mozart’s most celebrated viola quintet and an exhilarating Shostakovich ride, his early Prelude and Scherzo on June 19 & 26 at two very special venues.

Tickets can be booked online at www.primavera-ensemble.co.uk  (booking fees apply), or alternatively via a cheque/sae to Primavera Trust, Bumbles, The Lees, Boughton Aluph, Ashford TN25 4HX  01233 622971.

Poster details are also attached.

With best wishes and thanks to those who are already booked from

Paul Manley – Artistic Director Primavera

Herstmonceux Poster

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Folkestone Camerata Strings Workshop

Dear all,

Please find attached the letter regarding the forthcoming Strings only workshop on Sunday 12th June 2016. Folkestone Camerata

The programme will include:

  • William Boyce Symphony n.2. It is a delightful, short symphony (only about 6 mn long in total)
  • Vivaldi 4 violins concerto in B minor – A piece I adore and I can’t wait to hear you all perform.
  • Vivaldi 2 cellos concerto in G minor – thanks to Helen Ralph for this suggestion
  • Telemann Viola concerto in G Major – suggested by Wendy Smith and I thank her for it
  • Benjamin Britten’s Simple Symphony  – which we didn’t finish.
  • If we have time, we will play Puccini’s Crisantemi.

    For the Vivaldi 4 violins concerto, the solo parts will be played by all violinists present. But for the Vivaldi 2 cellos concerto and the Telemann Viola concerto, we will perform them with solo players. If anyone wants to have a go at playing the solo section in these two works, please let me know. If you want to have a look at the solo sections prior to the workshop day, you can download the music from the imslp website.

    I look forward to hearing back from you. Don’t forget to circulate this email to friends of yours who might be interested in this workshop.

    With warm wishes

    Flo Peycelon

    Workshop organiser

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A message from Maidstone Symphony Orchestra

Dear Season Ticket Holders,

As we approach our final concert, it is time to start thinking about renewing your season tickets! Along with holding our ticket prices for the 2016/17 season, you are able to save up to 20% on all 5 concerts by being a subscribing member. We have an exciting series of concerts, including Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique as part of Brian Wright’s 70th Birthday Concert, Sibelius’ 2nd Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s 6th Symphony and more. As ever, we welcome five top soloists, including our president, John Lill, who will be performing Beethoven’s dramatic 3rd Piano Concerto in our February concert. The dates for next season are:

Saturday 15th October 2016
Saturday 3rd December 2016
Saturday 4th February 2017
Saturday 25th March 2017
Saturday 20th May 2017

I have attached the brochure for next season as a PDF. To renew, you can either print out the booking form and bring it along (with a cheque made payable to Maidstone Orchestral Society) to our next concert on Saturday 21st May 2016. Alternatively, you can fill it out and return it with the cheque and a stamped addressed envelope to:

MOS Membership Secretary
Nicci Whitaker
Sunbeams
Bayview Road
Whitstable
Kent
CT5 4NP

Should you wish to pay online by BACS , please email tickets@mso.org.uk for the necessary details.

We look forward to welcoming you to our final concert on 21st May for an exciting programme of Russian music!

Warmest Wishes

MSO

MSO2016-17brochure

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