Dear All
There’s so much to share and celebrate… and a mystery to solve.
Thanks to all those who came along last week to our Summer Social! About 30 people popped in throughout the evening and we were lucky with the beautiful sunshine too. Such a lovely evening to just get together and chat! Thanks to Julia, Vicky and Sheila who made it possible!
Fabulous news!
Here's an overview of ticket sales in recent years:
2024-5: £18714
2023-4: £9115
2022-3: £13183
Firstly, a huge well done to BSO who had over £4000 of ticket sales in their final concert of this season. An absolutely fabulous result with a packed out Corn Exchange!
This season we have doubled our ticket sales compared with last year - thanks to all of your efforts to sell to family, friends, pupils, neighbours etc… A huge congratulations!
Well done everyone!
Furthermore, if we hadn’t done this, and continued on the same trajectory, we would’ve had to close the doors to both orchestras next week.
But we’re still here!
Stronger for the challenge and ready to launch a great season ahead!
And our target for next season is £20000+! It’s ambitious as we have smaller venues due to the Corn Exchange refurbishment, but I know we can do it!
We've recently had news that the Gale Family Trust are awarding us £2500, the Rotary Club of Bedford Castle have donated £250, we've had an individual donation of £100 and another member of the audience who is planning to leave a legacy to the charity in his will. We are so grateful for this support for our mission of providing excellent concerts, lifelong music education and a vibrant community of local musicians.
We also have a number of new players joining or returning in September including:
BSO: a regular timpanist, two violas, 2+ violins
And the brass section are going to with us as far as possible on a weekly basis. This will make each rehearsal so much more enjoyable with a full ensemble in place.
We still need lots more violins, both firsts and seconds, and double basses, so if you know people, please invite them to contact me and come to a trial rehearsal at the start of next term.
Sinfonia have been working really hard for their concert on Saturday. I visited the rehearsal on Thursday and was lucky enough to hear Nicola and Philippa doing an amazing job with their flute and alto flute solos!
I have been very encouraged by the positive and thoughtful response to our discussions around subscriptions and the future of Sinfonia within the BOS charity. We are moving forward with a shared belief that we can find a financially sustainable solution in which we can continue to provide high quality concerts.
We're very pleased to see some new and returning players in Sinfonia too!
What's ON in JULY:
The Young Composer's Competition is being launched at the end of June, with the winners having their pieces perfomed in the Sinfonia Concert on May 2nd 2026 where Carolyn Sampson will join us as our guest soloist. Mark Philipps is taking the lead on this and I'm so grateful to him. We have spent time this week working on the logistics, the terms and conditions and we have recruited a fabulous panel of judges: Ian Smith, Kate Knight, Debbie Saunders, Mark Phillips and Paul Whitmarsh (Composer and Professor of Composition at Guildhall).
If you are a teacher of GCSE or A Level Music students in Bedfordshire, your students will be eligible to apply! More details very soon...
A highlight is that Carolyn has agreed to sing, if needed, for a composition - "as long as it is singable"! What an amazing opportunity to write a song for her!
Rehearsals this week:
Sinfonia rehearsal: Monday 7.15pm Biddenham School
Sinfonia/BCS concert: Saturday 21st June
Email to get tickets:
Or order online:
https://wegottickets.com/BedfordChoralSociety
Rotary Club Concerto Masterclass: Sunday 22nd June at Bedford School Music School 2-4pm. You should have a message from Ben Phillips with all the details, if you are playing. If not, please email me!
And the mystery…
There is a BOS timpani on the loose and we’d really like to track him down! He’s a 30 inch diameter timp, last seen possibly getting into a man’s car at Goldington some years ago… If you have any relevant info, however small, let me know! He is maybe hiding in a garage or a school music storeroom… He needs to be brought home to be reunited with his 2 pals, and smartened up for our new regular BSO Wednesday timpanist, Leo!
With many thanks
Ann
Interim Chair on behalf of the Committee
PS to reply: hit reply
0 comments