Dear All
With sunny days and the promise of a few more on the horizon, it seems even the weather has our May 3rd concert in mind. When I chose the image for the flyer, I remember wondering if I was being too optimistic. So far, so good.
With preparations for our Sinfonia concert on 3rd May in full swing, we’re at the point where we can start to sell tickets!
Please remember that each Sinfonia player is asked to sell 10 tickets. Many of you were close to this target last time and a few surpassed it by miles!
Sinfonia! Did you know that you sold £3000 worth of tickets for your previous concert in January (Panufnik/Milhaid etc)? Please remember to go back to your sales' list and re-invite everyone who came and all the others! You really never know who is going to say yes. Research shows that if someone comes to a concert twice in 6 months, the odds of them becoming a 'regular' are excellent. So target those buyers from last time with texts, calls, flyers...
Book here or buy from Rupert at the Sinfonia rehearsals.
Committee news:
Sincere thanks to Clive Bachmanis who has been our Treasurer for many years and given so much to BOS. He is stepping down from this role. We hope very much to see him playing the violin again soon.
Thanks and welcome to Jo Ploszajski (BSO Cello) who has offered to extend her bookkeeping role and become Treasurer for BOS and join the Committee. She brings expertise in financial planning, bookkeeping and a clear vision of how we can attain a financially secure BOS with the capacity to do lots of exciting projects in the future. She’s already supporting us with initial budget forecasting for next season, developing our sponsorship strategy and preparing the Charity Commission documents with Julia Lence. It's great to have her onboard.
We're very grateful to also have Tony Ploszajski assisting us. He is supporting us with not only his experience and insight into grants, fundraising and sponsorship, but also, on a very practical level, starting to write and submit funding bids. Anyone who has done this kind of work will know that it is complex and timeconsuming, requiring resilience and patience. Huge thanks, Tony.
As a Committee, we’re working together with Tony and Jo and other external advisors on finances as a priority in April and May. We'll be feeding back to you in due course.
Remember, you can help us!
Please:
- Keep selling loads of tickets!!
- Get your subscription payments all paid up by the start of term please
- Let us know if you or your company would like to sponsor a concert next season: we're developing a very attractive offer with lots of advertising opportunities and benefits that we can custom design around your interests
Thanks to those who have paid their subscriptions this week. Every person makes a difference! If you need any further information about how to pay (and to check if you have paid), please contact me in the first instance.
Thank you!
Member News:
Our youngest members have been busy! Many play under the guidance of Jan Kaznowski performed a fabulous programme in the NBYCO concert at All Saint’s Church just before the end of term. With Beethoven Symphony no. 4; Mozart’s Magic Flute, Suk’s Serenade for Strings and a delightful piece by Chopin for the Wind, it was a beautiful concert. It also came at the end of their Schools' Tour, where they visited and performed for hundreds of primary school aged children during the day. I think they did 5 concerts in all! Congratulations to you all!
Many of our younger members are also doing important exams in the next few weeks: GCSEs, A levels, mocks, Master’s dissertations… We wish you all the best of luck! We’re rooting for you!
We’re recruiting!
Do you know a loyal BOS fan who would like to volunteer on our Box Office table and join the Front of House teams from 6.50-7.30pm on concert days?
We need a non-player to take responsibility for selling tickets on the door before concerts. There’s some work before/after to get set up, ensure there are tickets to sell, set up the card machine and submit cash/payments etc afterwards. It’s an extremely important role for us!
The benefits? They get a free ticket and join both of our wonderful Front of House teams led by Richard and Tony.
Full training is offered on May 3rd or May 24th by Louise Radok, who is stepping down from this role at the end of the season.
And a blast from the past:
Did you know that the very first BOS concert was in 1967?
In the archives, I recently discovered these handwritten notes… Take a look and notice the fabulous programme that was played in the very first concert!
More about that next Monday in the newsletter… Needless to say that 2027, our 60th birthday, is not far away!
Save the Date:
BOS Summer Social: You’re invited!
Wednesday 11th June 7.30pm
Something new! All BOS members and regular Sinfonia players are invited to join us for our Summer Social.
Julia Robinson is very kindly organising this and liaising with Vicky Owen, Committee Member, to create an end of season social occasion for us to get together, celebrate the year and our community. Thanks to both of them!
More details to follow.
Sinfonia Out and About Summer Concert Series
This is a little gem of a offering, perfect for a summery Sunday afternoon. Pop the dates in your diary and we look forward to seeing you there either in the audience or playing!
**Sinfonia members will receive an invitation to play shortly.**
Sunday 6th July
3pm
Northill Parish Church
This special concert is in memory of Richard Tyler. Richard was Principal Second Violin in BSO for many years and always played in the Out and About Concerts. He was an organist and loved Baroque music.
The concert will feature his son, Dominic, a bassoonist with the Philharmonia, playing Vivaldi's A minor bassoon concerto, together with Ben Phillips playing the Telemann viola concerto.
Pergolesi's cantata 'Orfeo' will be sung by Lottie Greenhow and the Purcell trumpet concerto will be played by Pete Halliday.
Sunday 13th July
3pm
Harrold United Reform Church
Programme: tbc
Tickets available on the door for both concerts.
Adults: £5
Children: £2
Social Media:
This weekend marks the beginning of our 3 week run-up to May 3rd and you will notice lots of posts on social media, especially once rehearsals start.
Please help me in 3 easy steps:
- "Love" - not just like!!
- Comment
- Share onto your "Story" (it will then disappear after 24 hours)
This tells Facebook and Instagram that I am very very interesing to local audiences (!!) and they share it further. When I have 6 or 7 shares on a post, it reaches nearly 3000 people! When nobody shares (except my Mum!!) it reaches about 400. Thank you!
Lots of people are enjoying this month's podcast episode...
Ian and Paul talk about the concert, music education and Malcolm Arnold.
To tune in:
Rehearsal Information:
No rehearsals this week! It’s holiday time!
We start again on Tuesday 22nd for Sinfonia and Wednesday 23rd April for BSO.
BSO Rehearsal Information:
Date: 23rd April
Time: 7.30-9.30pm (Bring your own cup for tea/coffee break)
Location: Bedford Greenacre School, Manton Lane (continue after Pure Gym, you'll find it on your left. Great parking!
Repetoire: tbc
Sinfonia Rehearsal Information for May 3rd Concert at St Paul's:
Dates: April 22/24/29
Time: 7.30pm
Location: Castle Newnham School North Site
Check out the Membership pages on our website for other useful info:
Password: bsomember
To book tickets for all of our concerts:
May 3rd: Sinfonia
May 24th: BSO
June 21nd: Sinfonia with Bedford Choral Society
We've made buying tickets easier than ever before with our ticketsource link. Try it out on our 24th May concert and let us know how you get on with it.
Looking for free Under 18s tickets to our upcoming concerts? Go to the event and you will find the link near the booking tickets link. Did you know that these tickets have "sold out" well in advance of recent concerts?
THat's it from me. I said to the Committee last week that I didn't think we needed a newsletter this week with it being the holidays!
Wishing you all a very happy week. Happy Easter to those who celebrate and I look forward to seeing many of you very soon.
With best wishes and many thanks
Ann
PS To reply to me, just hit reply!
Ann Collins, Interim Chair
On behalf of all the Committee
Bedfordshire Orchestral Society
Registered charity no. 262813
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
"A jewell in the crown of Bedford. We're so lucky to have such great musicians!"
0 comments