Dear All
Apologies for my lack of messages for the past few weeks. Life has been too hectic but I’m catching up now!
Huge congratulations to everyone who played in, helped with and came along to Saturday’s Bedford Sinfonia concert - it was a massive success from every perspective.
Ben has asked me to pass on his thanks to everyone who has returned music - all of which is back where it should be.
I’m sure Ian will say more about the concert in his section below so I won’t steal his thunder here!
Regular Bedford Sinfonia members should be receiving an email from me shortly, via Jane and their section leaders, giving a link to a questionnaire about the orchestra’s future. I am hoping for a massively positive response.
BSO players need to be aware of two changes to the season’s programme, both of which are good news:
- The concert on 28th February will be at The Great Hall at Bedford School, rather than at St Paul’s. This means we will have more space for the orchestra and the audience and will be warmer 🙂
- The pieces for the Summer programme have changed slightly as, due to the kindness of an anonymous donor and a new sponsor, we have been able to take a fabulous opportunity offered by three local soloists: Julian Metzger, Mike Gemmill and Stephen Meakins to play Beethoven’s Triple Concerto. We will balance this with Wagner’s Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 3. It should be a superb evening.
I have very much enjoyed the parts of the BSO rehearsals I have been able to get to and look forward to hearing you all again soon.
Karen x
To reply: [email protected]
From the Committee:
BSO Information:
Rehearsals: Wednesday 28th Jan, 7.30pm BGI
Message from Bjorn: The orchestra sounded really good this week, well done everyone! Woodwind were particularly focused and getting the soloistic sound we have been looking for! Next week we will focus on the Brahms Symphony 1st, 3rd then 2nd mvts.
Sinfonia Information:
Message from Ian:
Thank you all for your very hard work on this extremely demanding programme. I know that the May programme is far less demanding!
At time of writing I cannot comment on the quality or success of the concert on 24 January but I do hope we will all enjoy it!
Message from Ann for Publicity:
Thank you to all those who sold tickets for the Sinfonia concert. It was well attended and it really was a fabulous concert!
Our audience were thrilled and full of praise for you all as they left! It just shows that there is a real appetite for hearing music that is new and that we can sell tickets in January, to a new venue with new music!
A special thank you to Elias Demetrius-Louisy, who is one of our BOS Youth Ambassadors, and has written a super concert review which I hope will be published by Bedford Independent very soon. He is doing his Duke of Edinborough Award with us and reviewing all our concerts this season. I've also heard tha the is using this experience to deliever a speech at his school's Music Society on female composers. We're so proud of you, Elias!
A huge thanks to our other BOS Youth Ambassadors who came on Saturday and worked with the Front of House team giving out programmes, flyers, drinks and took donations on the SumUp machine.
Young Composers' Competition:
Please encourage your GCSE and A Level students to get their entry in soon!
All details: https://bedfordsymphony.com/
BSO: Saturday 28th Feb concert at Bedford School
The Terry's Chocolate Orange Challenge is on... one member of the violins has already texted me to tell me she has reached the 10 ticket threshold for her Chocolate Orange!
Will you be joining her?
You need to sell 10 (or more) tickets to get your prized orange. I'm happy to buy lots...
We have 400 tickets to sell for our Feb 28th concert! Let's go!
Best wishes
Ann
PS to reply to me: [email protected]
From our friends:
A number of you are playing and/or singing in this - please help to sell tickets! It's for a great cause and promises to be a fun concert!
Dear Friends,
We would be delighted if you would share the following invitation with the members of your choir or orchestra.
This summer, we warmly invite your singers and instrumentalists to join us at The Music Summer School and Festival (MSSF) — a friendly, inspiring residential music course where amateur musicians of all ages and stages come together to learn, rehearse and perform with outstanding professional tutors.
To say thank you for helping us reach new musicians, we are offering the following:
For every member of your choir or orchestra who books a place at MSSF and has not previously attended the Summer School, we will donate £100 to your choir or orchestra.
How the offer works:
- The person must be a first-time attendee at The Music Summer School and Festival.
- They must make and pay for their own booking in the usual way via our website: mssf.org.uk
- In the questions/comments section of the booking form, they must clearly name your choir or orchestra as the group they would like to benefit.
- The offer is valid for bookings made up to and including 28 February 2026.
We offer a wide range of courses for both singers and instrumentalists, including:
For singers
- Choir
- Chamber Choir
- Vocal Ensembles
- Individual Vocal Classes
For instrumentalists
- Chamber Music
- Wind Band
- Orchestral Workshop
- Classical Orchestra
- Big Band
- Jazz Ensemble
- Individual Instrumental Classes (across many instruments)
Participants can immerse themselves in their main course while also enjoying electives, concerts, and a vibrant social programme — all in a supportive, musically stimulating environment.
We would be hugely grateful if you felt able to circulate this opportunity to your members. Not only could they enjoy a wonderful musical summer experience, but your organisation could also benefit directly from the £100 donation for each new participant who attends.
If you would like any further information, posters, or short wording to include in newsletters or emails to members, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
With warmest thanks and best wishes,
Amy
Amy Ryan
Director of Operations
The Music Summer School and Festival
Tel: 01263 586 320
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.mssf.org.uk
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