Dear All
Firstly a huge thank you to you, our regular players! In response to my message about our financial difficulties last week, I’ve received great messages of support, advice, offers of help, people paying subscriptions…
What is exciting is we have a real spirit of collaboration and a sense that we have something so special that we want to protect it and hand it on to the next generation of musicians in Bedford.
This week Jo, our Treasurer, is meeting with Tom Molloy, our horn player with Sinfonia and also the Treasurer of MK Sinfonia. MK Sinfonia have recently very successfully turned around their finances and now sell out their concerts - in advance!! (The dream!) We intend to learn from them and move quickly now to prepare for next season in the best possible way.
So, it’s all hands on deck!
Tickets to sell for May 24th:
So far we have sold 20 tickets via our webpage. There’s room for an explosion of sales
!
We have a very doable target of £4000 of ticket sales for the upcoming BSO concert at the Corn Exchange. Our previous BSO concert brought in just below that. This concert, including rehearsal costs is costing us about £6000. If everyone sold 10 tickets at £15, we would bring in £7200.
Many people in the orchestra are working really hard to bring in audience - and I see you! We need everyone to aim for 10 tickets please.
There will be Terry’s Chocolate Oranges for those who get to the 10 mark!
Please only use our online platform which is ticketsource now for selling tickets.
Why?
We need email addresses for our marketing email list (This is our golden asset for ticket sales, sponsorship opportunities and protects us against social media over reliance.)
We want all sales to be made in advance so we can manage our budget better.
We want to tighten up entry at the Front of House with a scanned ticket entry system using the ticketsource app.
The clincher for your customers: Ticketsource has a much lower admin fee than the Corn Exchange and we have an option for people to make a donation.
Let’s direct them there please!
Take a look yourself: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/bedford/bedford-corn-exchange/bantock-shostakovich-tchaikovsky/e-pqmkjz
Well done and thanks to Rupert for setting it up! Let us know what you think.
Social media: we have a strong core of FB and Instagram fans who like/love/comment or share. Thanks to you all! If I have about 8 shares, I reach about 3000 people. Imagine if I had 100 shares which is one for each of you!! Please take 5 seconds in your day to share one post on your feed or your story this week about our BSO 24th May concert. Thank you!
BSO Open Rehearsal reminder: Wednesday 14th May
Please leave the tiered seating area free of cases, bags, clothes, drinks… our guests will be seated there!
Section Leaders: please can you take the lead for setting out the chairs for your section and tidying away at the end. Committee members will be busy with guests!
During the break: all Section Leaders plus Vicky to assemble on the terrace on the RHS to answer any questions from our guests please.
This is what I posted on social media. Do share with anyone you know who might be interested:
Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EWEhM6vkW/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Other important dates:
Thursday 15th May: Reminder
6.30-7.30pm Thank you drinks/light nibbles for Leaders/Section Leaders/Committee Members/Volunteers at Ann’s house 47 The Grove, Bedford MK40 3JN
7.45-9.30pm Monthly Committee meeting
Learn more about where we are financially…
Finance presentation: Tuesday 20th May 7-8pm on Zoom
LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7044421352?omn=82468874156
Notes and a video recording will be sent out to all regular players after the meeting. I've just realised that this clashes with a Sinfonia rehearsal. You will have access to the meeting notes and recording and if there is enough demand, we can offer it again at a later date. We were keen for you to see this before half term. Please read last week’s newsletter to get the background to our financial situation, if you haven't seen it yet.
Friday 23rd May: BSO extra rehearsal
This is at the Castle Newnham SOUTH site (Goldington Road) Block 2 Hall
End of season social event for all regular BSO/Sinfonia players: June 11th
We’re looking forward to seeing you there! More details in last week’s newsletter. Let Julia know if you are interested! Looking forward to it!
BSO news:
BSO Conductor process: Reminder that after the May 24th concert, those who have played in the concert and attended BSO rehearsals will be asked to complete a feedback form. Players will be asked to express a preference of C/B/either/neither - this is not a vote. References will be taken up and discussions will be had with the two candidates. The Committee will make a decision on how to proceed on June 5th.
Sinfonia news:
Arnold Festival Concert Save the date! Sunday October 19th at Cripps Hall, Northampton School for Boys, 11am concert (Just strings)
Out and About Sinfonia Baroque Concerts: you should now have received an email from Jan about this if you are a regular Out and About player. If further spots are available in the ensemble, Jan will let us know.
Member news:
A message from Kate
On Tuesday the 18th of March my son Joseph was enjoying a cup of coffee in the spring sunshine between lectures at the King’s College Campus on the Strand.
Sitting next to him was his best friend, Aalia, who had missed the start of her lecture by 20 minutes and was too embarrassed to go in late.
What followed was the most horrific accident. Aalia was mown down by a van, out of control, and died soon after. Her family are shattered and my son in post traumatic stress.
I did not meet Aalia but knew that Joseph had a special friend in his life who was not only a great support to him but interested in him and his family. She had never come been to a concert and they were both planning to attend the one we are preparing for now.
The music of the Tchaikovsky symphony cannot fail to make the loss of this beautiful young girl more devastating but, like her mother, Joseph and I feel that something positive must come from Aalia's life.
Aalia was a great supporter of education for all children across the world, especially those who live in deprivation and of orphans and orphanages.
If you feel that you would like to give even a little to help raise money in Aalia’s name, please follow the link below.
Aalia was just about to begin her musical journey. I feel proud and privileged to be on mine with you all.
Thank you
Here’s the link to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/aalia-mahomed-legacy#sharePage
And finally, we have a wedding in the house…
Julia (BSO, violins) is getting married on Saturday to Richard, our Front of House Leader for BSO concerts! Congratulations to you both! By the way, they’re delaying their honeymoon so that they can do our concert! Thank you!!!! We wish you all the best and much happiness!
With best wishes to you all for a great week
Ann and all the Committee
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