Future Music Plan

Dear All

Please find attached an update Future Music Plan, taking us through to 2018.

Since circulating the last outline it has been possible to fill in some gaps:

The first thing to note is our next Concert on 4th July - Our American Celebration. I have listed the works. As you will see there are several differing styles highlighting the variety of American Music available. It should be really fun to learn and sing, but don't underestimate the challenge. The 4th July is traditionally the biggest night in the American Calendar, so lets enjoy it with them!

Moving onto next Season 2015/2016

First thing to note is an extra Concert has been added in July 2016. This means we will sing 6 concerts next season. The extra concert is to mark Karen Cousen's retirement from QEGS and leading the Boys choir. We have shared many concert platforms with them over the years and we, with them, wanted to mark the occasion on Karen's final concert with the boys choir, school and others. The concert will be in QEGS Hall and we will feature works from our popular classics repertoire amongst other things.

The first concert of the new season, on 24 October will feature John Rutter's beautiful 'Requiem' which we have not sung for 12 years. Bob Chilcott's masterful 'Little Jazz Mass' will also be on the programme with another work by a contemporary composer, yet to be determined. Although the Cathedral will be partially screened off, we believe the smaller ensemble accompaniment can be achieved.

The rest of the concerts are as previously announced, the only uncertainty is the exact date of the March 2016 concert.

June 2016 see us reuniting with Harrogate Choral Society to perform as 'Yorkshire Voices' in Leeds Town Hall. Our Orchestra will be Manchester Camarata plus top class soloists. I understand it is some 20 years since Beethoven's 'Missa Solemnis' was performed in Leeds Town Hall, so we hope for a big crowd and, as previously, a great event.

2016 should be a 'touring year' on our 3 year cycle. Committee are yet to consider this and there will be more information about this later. As previously, any tour would be at the end of July/early August 2016.

To Other matters:

Section Reps will be seeking your upto date contact information over the next few weeks, starting this Tuesday Evening, so we can ensure everyone's contact details are correct in choir records. Postal Address with contact phone details and especially your e-mail address is what is required. May I ask all members to be willing to co-operate with this to ensure we can maintain our communication lines.

Although it is still some time off this is a reminder that this year it is Tenors and Basses who will need to re-audition on the 3 yearly cycle. Friday Evening 10th July and Saturday 11th July have been set aside for re auditions although there will be opportunity for some variation for those who will find those date unsuitable. It is unlikely those tenors or basses who have joined the choir this season will be required to re-audition. More about this nearer the time.

I am delighted to tell you that Ruth Strydom has taken responsibility for ensuring the choir features on Social Media. If you use Facebook, Twitter and the like, please have a word with her so she can advise you on what we do and how you might help as a social media user. It is vital that we make 'smart' use of all modern communication methods and, in particular, on line sources, to promote our events and stimulate interest. Former types of advertising are no longer as useful as they once were and we must continue to be at the forefront of new ways.

Finally the usual reminder to please register and use 'Give as You Live' when shopping on line. Naming the choir as your charity to support. We then receive a small percentage from everything bought. You don't pay, the people you are buying from do (e.g. Amazon, John Lewis).

Derek