We hope all of our Orchestra members are enjoying their summer break following the disappointment of having to cancel the final performances of the summer term on 20 July in Park Street Camberley due to the adverse weather that had been forecast for that Saturday morning.
Cancelling performances is something that we do not do lightly, with the performances on 20 July fortunately being the only ones that could not be completed this year, despite a lot of uncertainty regarding the weather on some of the other days.
Music
As a result of the Orchestra not being able perform on the last day of our summer term, there have been a number of enquiries regarding the arrangements for the return of music, which is usually collected in on the last day.
To clarify the position for everyone, the music folders are to be retained until the first rehearsal back after the summer break and then handed in to your section Music Librarian.
If you are changing sections this September, please hand your music to your new section librarian. For the Junior Section this is Lisa Montgomery, for the Intermediate Section Kathy Pearson and for the Senior Section Linda McNaughton. New music for the Autumn Term will then be given out.
Senior Section Leavers
The cancellation of the performance on 20 July was particularly disappointing for those Orchestra members for whom this would have been their final opportunity to perform with our Senior Section, most having been with the Orchestra for many years.
With no overseas concert tour this summer, for those leavers for whom 20 July would have been their final play with the Senior Section, we would like to invite them to join with the Senior Section for the first rehearsal of the Autumn Term on 14 September,which we hope will be before they leave to pursue further education opportunities at colleges and universities away from the area.
For the last hour of the rehearsal we would also like to invite parents, grandparents and friends of our leavers to join us for coffee and biscuits, so that they can hear the Seniors in rehearsal one last time and thus, in a small way, make up for the 'lost' performance on 20 July.
If you are a 'leaver' and would like to attend the rehearsal on 14 September, could you please confirm your attendance by emailing brian.hopper@cywo.org.uk and also confirm if you expect parents, grandparents and friends to come along for the final hour of the rehearsal. We do not need exact numbers.
Musical Directors
As was reported in our July Newsletter, there will be a major restructure of the Orchestra for the Autumn Term, with a significant number of Intermediate Section members moving to the Senior Section and an even greater number of Junior Section members moving to the Intermediate Section, There will not be a change to the Senior Section Musical Director, but the new Intermediate Section Musical Director will be Jane Hopper, following the departure of Andrew Thomas, and taking over the Junior Section Musical Director role will be Gill Underwood-Hayes.
Polo Shirts
When we return on 14 September, we would ask that those moving section return their polo shirt for their previous section, duly washed and ironed, with a name attached so we can register the return. Polo shirts for your new section will be handed out later in the Autumn Term.
Calendar
Rehearsal Dates for the Autumn Term 2019
14th, 21st & 28th September
12th & 19th October
9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th November
7th December
Advanced Notice of Performance dated for the Autumn Term of 2019 and the Spring / Summer Term of 2020
Saturday 16th November 2019 - Children in Need play-out at The Meadows Shopping Centre in Camberley - Senior Section.
Friday 13th December & Saturday 14th December 2019 - CYWO Christmas Concerts at High Cross Church, Camberley - Intermediate Section & Senior Section.
Saturday 14th December 2019 - CYWO Christmas Coffee Morning at Cordwalles School - Junior Section.
Friday 15th May & Saturday 16th May 2020 - CYWO Spring Concerts at Camberley Theatre - All Sections.
Brian Hopper
Chair
brian.hopper@cywo.org.uk