May Concerts
Congratulations to all members of our Orchestra Sections, their Musical Directors and Tutor Support Teams for a fantastic programme of music over the two nights of 17th & 18th May at Camberley Theatre. (Photos can be seen here.)
Many favourable comments were received as to the quality of performance by all three sections of our Orchestra, with the added bonus being that audience attendances over the two nights was one of the highest we have had. This, together with very successful raffles, has helped considerable with raising funds in support of the Orchestra and ensuring we can continue to provide a viable and soundly based structure in which to operate going forward.
Our thanks to all parents that attended the concerts and encouraged others to come along to enjoy an evening of musical entertainment.
Coffee Morning
As has been previously advised, we will be holding a 'Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning' event to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support on Saturday 22 June 2019 in memory of Sandra Kay, our Orchestra Secretary who sadly passed away earlier this year. We are inviting Orchestra members and parents to join us for tea and cakes at Cordwalles School at 12.00 noon on Saturday 22 June after the morning rehearsal, with all funds raised going to the cancer charity.
Cakes are being made/donated by the Musical Director Team, Music Tutor Team, Friends Committee Members, Logistics Team Members and the Saturday Rota Team. We are sure that they will all prove to be irresistible!!
To achieve a good financial outcome for the charity through the efforts of those that have have made and donated cakes, we will be asking those that attend the coffee morning to donate a minimum of 50p for the purchase of a small individual cake, or £1 for the purchase of a slice of cake. Tea and coffee will be served, which will be provided free of charge to help lubricate the consumption of cake on a grand scale!!
Please join us for this good cause and in memory of Sandra.
Open Morning
This summer term we will be holding an Open Morning to recruit new members to the Orchestra to start in September this year. The morning chosen to invite those interested in joining our Orchestra to come along and try out with one of our Orchestra Sections will be Saturday 6 July.
This coming Saturday (15 June) we will be handing out a letter to our membership promoting our Open Morning, together with an A5 flyer which we would ask that they pass on to someone they know who may be interested in joining. Alternatively, they could pass this to their instrument tutor so that they can inform their other students, or to their school for publication in the school newsletter.
It is very important that we maintain the momentum regarding recruitment, as we lose a number of Senior Section members each year when they move away from the area to further their education at university. With selected members then being promoted from our Junior and Intermediate Sections, recruitment of new members, particularly into our Junior Section, is an important part of maintaining Orchestra membership at levels that allow us to implement our policy of moving members through the sections of the Orchestra as they become ready for new music challenges.
Your support in this years summer recruitment efforts would be very much appreciated.
Absences
Can we please remind parents that any intended absences from Orchestra, either rehearsals or performances, must be pre-notified unless, due to ill health, it can only be notified on the day. Absence notifications should be made via the 'Absence Notification' tab in the 'Contact Us' section of the 'Home Page' of our web site www.cywo.org . Once submitted you will then get a confirmation on your screen that we have taken note - this is in place of the email confirmations that used to be sent.
Whilst this request has been included in a number of previous Newsletters, there are still too many occasions where Orchestra members are absent without any contact being made. This lack of absence notification is disappointing, particularly when it involves absence from a performance and, as a result, adjustments have to be made last minute in the music programmes by the Musical Directors because of the reduced representation of particular instruments. Your co-operation in this regard, particularly during the current summer performance programme, would be much appreciated.
Calendar
Rehearsal Dates for the Summer Term 2019
15th, 22nd & 29 June
6th, 13th & 20th July
(The rehearsals scheduled for the Summer term may be subject to change where performances are arranged for Orchestra sections. These will be notified when the final instruction letter for the performance is distributed. )
Performance Dates confirmed for 2019 (updated for this Newsletter)
Saturday 15 June 2019 – Early and late afternoon performances at Valley End School Fete – Junior and Intermediate Sections - Detailed instruction letter already issued .
Saturday 29 June 2019 – Lunchtime and early afternoon performances at Lakeside School Summer Fare – Junior and Intermediate Sections - Details to follow in due course.
Saturday 29 June 2019 – Afternoon performance at High Cross Church, Camberley to mark the official opening of the 2019 Camberley Arts & Crafts Festival (CAMFEST) by the Mayor of Surrey Heath– Senior Section – Details to follow in due course.
Saturday 20 July 2019 – Morning and afternoon performances in Park Street Camberley, in conjunction with the monthly Farmers Market – Senior, Intermediate & Junior Sections - Details to follow in due course.
Friday 13th December & Saturday 14th December 2019 - Late afternoon rehearsals and evening performances at High Cross Church Camberley – Details to follow in due course.
Brian Hopper
Chair