Dear All
I hope you are enjoying this fabulous weather!
We're wrapping up here at the Bedfordshire Orchestral Society for this season and next season is almost ready to go. Please read through the info below carefully as it will make September easier for you!
Before that though, we still have some lovely concerts to come.
Our Out and About Concerts are coming up!
Please do go along and enjoy and support these concerts in July. We’re keen to promote our own orchestral musicians and in these concerts you have the chance to hear some of them playing concertos… I heard that this week’s rehearsal went very well and that you’re in for a treat! You'll also see from the posters that these are very special concerts in memory of former players and have been planned in conjunction with their families. Many thanks to Jan and all the musicians.
Next Season Updates:
Recruitment for BSO for September is ongoing and we're looking forward to welcoming a number of new people: we still need more first violins and double basses! If you know someone who would enjoy it and be a good fit, please talk to them about the orchestra and put them in touch with Vicky Owen, Membership Secretary: [email protected]
Rehearsals, events and Committee Meetings: the BOS calendar 2025-26 is now out. You can see all concerts, rehearsal dates, Committee meetings and Open Rehearsals. Please download it using the link below and keep it for reference. It may be updated from time to time, but we’re fairly sure it’s correct today. You will see it also has the provisional dates for 2026-27 on the final page.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/151UUkPNX3P6NCMo6IRjDcN5yoPTGikHE/view?usp=sharing
Sinfonia concerts, Choral Society programmes and instrumentation: Section Fixers will have received information from Ben Phillips. Please check your spam/junk if you haven't seen it yet…
The AGM will be run differently this year to widen its access: it will be online, not during BSO rehearsal time so that it’s easier for ALL BOS members to attend. Questions that you’d like the Committee to be answer can be submitted in advance and there will be opportunities to participate and give your views.
Save the date: Thursday 2nd October 6.30-7.30pm on Zoom.
We’re making it easier for you to complete and pay your subscription going into next season. There will be a digital payment link for you to use so you should be able to pay in 3 clicks. You will also be able to pay by BACS transfer or cheque. You can get in touch with Jo, our Treasurer, [email protected] if you have any further questions.
We will be sending out the membership and payment forms in early September and would like those to be completed by the end of September, before the AGM. Your assistance and support in getting this completed, without a lot of chasing up, is much appreciated!
Reminder: our new 2025-26 Season tickets with 20% off for adult tickets are now on sale.
Could you sell just two Season tickets?
Your Orchestra, Your Role?
I haven’t received any interest yet from people willing to take on the Orchestra Manager roles (or parts of those roles) for either orchestra!
Still hoping….
Recruiting 2 volunteers: BSO Orchestra Manager, Sinfonia Orchestra Manager
Would you like to get involved in the running of the BOS at an exciting time when we are planning for our 60th birthday?
Can you think ahead and be calm, adaptable and good-humoured when things change unexpectedly?!
We would like to invite you to join us to help organise the practical side of concerts and rehearsals: who’s playing, liaising with the venue, collating concert info, sorting out lighting, heating, seating, refreshments, dressing rooms etc. Most of the job is overseeing the fixing of players and collating the list of players for each concert and is an admin role done on email/WhatsApp.
There is a checklist which is in progress and breaks down all the little jobs. The role for each orchestra could easily be shared between 2 or more people, so if you’d like to do it with someone else, that could work very well. But we need someone to step up to coordinate the team. For Sinfonia, it would be a good idea as there are 8+ events/concerts to organise with quite different requirements.
You need to be able to devote about 1-2 hours per week initially, but with better systems in place to plan the whole season, rather than concert by concert, that could reduce considerably.
Most of all, we are looking for people who enjoy organising, are very organised themselves, are good team players and are passionate about supporting the BOS charity.
If that’s you, please speak to me!
We will support you all the way.
Contact me for more details.
N.B. the last Monday newsletter for this season is planned for Monday 14th July - and then the Committee are taking a well-earned break until early September! Please note that all social media will also be on pause during this time. We need time to reboot!
With many thanks
Ann
0 comments