Welcome to our November Newsletter
In this issue...
Christmas Concerts: 10/11 December - please note changes due to COVID
Christmas Coffee Morning: 11 December - see how they have progressed
Open Morning: 27 November - flyer available to download
Polo Shirts: loan returns needed please!
Logistics: vital support for the Orchestra - more parents needed - we need your help!
Junior Section Music Librarian Vacancy: no specialist skills required - suitable for parent with child in Juniors - start immediately
Drum Kit: available for free - contact if interested
Royal British Legion Concert: 12 November - see below for details
Christmas Concerts – Senior & Intermediate Sections
We are pleased to confirm that we will be going ahead with this year's planned Christmas Concerts at High Cross Church in Camberley in the evenings of Friday 10 December and Saturday 11 December.
Whilst it will be good that CYWO can resume public performances after a 2 year break, because of continuing concerns regarding the potential for the spread of the covid virus, our Christmas Concerts this year will be a little different to those that we have staged in previous years.
As the concerts will be just 2 weeks before Christmas, in our planning we have been mindful of the need to provide a concert experience that is as safe as is possible for those attending. For this reason, the concerts will run for just 90 minutes without a break, starting at 7.30pm and finishing at 9.00pm, with the Intermediate Section and Senior Section each performing a programme of music.
It would be appreciated if those attending the concert could wear a face mask, although it is accepted that the wearing of face masks is now a matter of personal choice and there are also times they cannot be worn for medical reasons. Those wearing a mask may wish to remove it when seated in the concert auditorium. Also, if anyone attending has recently been in contact with someone that has tested positive for the covid virus, they may wish to undertake a rapid lateral flow test before attending the concert.
Your understanding and support with regards to these arrangements, which we feel are in the best interests of all that attend, would be very much appreciated.
It is of course disappointing that it is felt necessary to introduce some limitations for this year's Christmas Concerts but, given the current circumstances, the fact that CYWO can once again stage a concert programme is a bonus in view of the many disappointments we have experienced since March 2020. These have included the cancellation of 2 years of May concerts at Camberley Theatre (2020 & 2021), Christmas Concerts at High Cross Church (2020), summer performances (2020 & 2021) and an overseas concert tour to Valencia (2020).
Hopefully, we can look forward to a more positive year for CYWO in 2022.
A separate letter will be sent out to our membership shortly detailing the procedure for ordering, paying for and collecting tickets. Please start to think about the number of tickets you will require, as we will be seating the audience in family groups with spacing between each group. Tickets will be priced at £6.00, to reflect the reduced time of the concerts and that there will be no refreshments this time. There will of course be the usual free ticket for any member of the Junior Section that attends the concert with a parent.
Christmas Coffee Morning – Junior Section
On the morning of Saturday 11 December we will be giving parents/grandparents the opportunity to come along to a rehearsal at Cordwalles School to see how our new Junior Section has progressed with their music since they came together at the beginning of this term. A further letter detailing the arrangements for the morning will be circulated shortly.
Open Morning – Saturday 27 November
We will be holding an 'Open Morning' between 9.15am and 10.00am on Saturday 27 November to give those that are interested in learning a woodwind or brass instrument the opportunity to see the instruments demonstrated by members of our Tutor Team, so that they can decide which instrument they would like to learn. Lessons will start in January 2022 and will be free of charge for the first full term of lessons (10 lessons), funded under the CYWO bursary scheme set up by the family of Sandra Kay, our former Orchestra Secretary, to help promote and support young people in their music.
A copy of the promotional flyer that is in the process of being circulated to schools in our area by Surrey Arts, can be downloaded from the link below:
If anyone knows of someone who would be interested in taking up this offer of free lessons, please get in touch using the link on the flyer, or by contacting brian.hopper@cywo.org.uk .
CYWO Polo Shirts
If anyone has a polo shirt on loan that they no longer need because they have moved orchestra section, it would be appreciated if they could return this to us so that it can be returned to our stock.
Also, if any current or former member of the Senior Section has a polo shirt(s) that they no longer need and would like to donate to CYWO, this would be very much appreciated. We know that our Senior Section members take good care of their polo shirts and to have some available to loan to new members of the Senior Section would be very helpful. Thank you.
Logistics
In our October Newsletter we asked for volunteers to join our Logistics Team, which is such an important support for our orchestra sections. Unfortunately, not one parent volunteered to offer to help, which is a bit of a disappointment, as we rely on recruiting new members to the team as existing members depart when their son/daughter leaves the orchestra. Without there being a good pool of parents available to help out with logistics, this will inevitably have an impact on our ability to support the orchestra in rehearsals and future performance activities as more restrictions are lifted. If you are interested in learning more about the logistics role, please contact our Logistics Team Lead, Tony Montgomery, via the 'contact us' form on our web site or directly ( 07722 919112 / dpo@cywo.org.uk ).
Junior Section Music Librarian
We are looking to recruit a new Music Librarian to support our Junior Section Musical Director and her Tutor Team in the management of the music library for our Junior Section. Whilst a basic knowledge of music would be of help, our system of organizing our music would enable anyone to quickly learn the process, with the support of our existing Senior and Intermediate Sections Music Librarians. We feel that the role would ideally suit a parent of a current Junior Section member as, ideally, we would like them to be available each Saturday morning the Junior Section rehearses, although we would of course be happy to hear from anyone who would be interested in the role. Please either contact us via the 'contact us' form on our web site or by emailing brian.hopper@cywo.org.uk .
Drum Kit
We have been contacted by a parent of a current member of our orchestra offering an unwanted drum kit to anyone who has a son/daughter currently playing drums, or intending to take up the drums. The parent is not wanting payment for the drum kit and can provide details of what the kit consists of for anyone interested. Please email brian.hopper@cywo.org.uk and we can then pass on your contact details to the parent offering the drum kit.
Royal British Legion Concert – Friday 12 November
The Yateley & Hawley branch of the Royal British Legion are hosting a concert by the Army Medical Services Band on Friday 12th November at Yateley Main school, with proceeds from the concert supporting the Royal British Legion 2011 Poppy Appeal.
REHEARSAL & PROVISIONAL PERFORMANCE DATES 2021/22
13th, 20th & 27th November 2021
4th December 2021
10th & 11th December 2021 – Christmas Concerts, High Cross Church. Camberley (Intermediates & Seniors)
11th December 2021 – Christmas Coffee Morning, Cordwalles School, Camberley (Juniors).
13th &14th May 2022 – Spring Concerts at Camberley Theatre (All 3 Sections)
Brian Hopper
Chair