DORSET GUILD OF SINGERS

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

HELD ON Wednesday, 8th October at 7.30

 at Wareham Middle School.

 

 

Welcome:

The Chair welcomed members to the Annual General Meeting.

Sarah said that we have tried a variety of ways of managing this meting and asked membership if this format is an effective one.  All agreed.

The meeting was quorate with the required minimum of an eighth of the membership present.

 

Apologies for absence were received from:      Richard Hall, Nigel and Kirsten Webb, David Hallatt, John Wright, John Astley, Ann Ridout, Beryl Goodridge, Mary Bruce???

 

The Minutes of the last AGM  have been available to all members and were approved as a true record of events.

 

 

Matters Arising:     

The Chair informed the meeting that the constitution has been amended in line with the decision at the last AGM. It now accommodates a more effective timing of the presentation of accounts.

 

 

Concert Managers Report:

“Reflecting on our concert at the Lighthouse this year, it seems hard to believe that it was only just over 5 months ago – it seems far more distant than that.

But, it was on 24th April (2008) that we performed Elgar’s ‘Music Makers’ and Karl Jenkins’ ‘Requiem’ at the Lighthouse in Poole.  It was probably one of the loveliest days of the year, beautifully sunny.

 

Chris Dowie made a wonderfully entertaining conductor.  Though he initially had a few reservations about the Jenkins, he did say after the concert that ‘there is something very appealing about the work as a whole and that it was a worthwhile exercise performing it’.  He asked that his ‘thanks and appreciation were conveyed to all the singers saying that they really gave of their best’.  And he was quite right.  We had come a long way from the early rehearsals and the result was really quite impressive.  One of our committee members overheard a member of the audience saying (and I quote) that it was ‘the most exciting concert he’d been to’.

 

Jeanette Ager and Jacqueline Foan gave excellent performances as did the treble, Jonathan Smith in the Pie Jesu. We had a good audience of about 600 and 8 notaries attended.

 

So thanks go to all the committee members for all their hard work.  Particular thanks should go to Ken Palmer of the Wimborne choir who was responsible for all the publicity.

 

Looking forward to 2009 we are lucky enough to have Nigel Perrin take a ‘singing day’ on Haydn’s ‘Nelson Mass’ with a performance at the end.   This will be held at the United Reform Church in Dorchester on February 28th between 10 – 5pm.  Some of you may know that Nigel was one of the King’s Singers for 11  years.  He now directs the City of Bath Bach Choir, the Wells Cathedral School Chamber Choir and the Exeter Festival Chorus. Hopefully he will be bringing some of his own students to sing the solo parts.

 

With regards to our 2010 concert, the Lighthouse has been reserved for 1st May 2010.  The committee realise that this is a bank holiday weekend but for a number of reasons this was the most suitable date available.

 

We shall be performing Bach’s ‘St John’s Passion’ which the Guild last performed in 1979.  Our conductor will be the celebrated organist, conductor and composer, Malcolm Archer.  Malcolm is renowned as one of the foremost church musicians of his generation.  In 2004 he became the Organist and Director of Music at St Paul’s Cathedral.  And since 2007 he has been the Director of Chapel Music at Winchester College.

 

You may also like to know that for the 2012 concert we shall be performing Puccini’s ‘Messa di Gloria’.

 

So thank you for all your hard work over the last year and we look forward to seeing a lot of you at the Nigel Perrin ‘singing day’ on 28th February.”

 

The chair gave a vote of thanks to Beth for all her hard work this year.

 

 

Treasurers Report:

The accounts were presented.  The Treasurer said that he hoped that the new procedures this year would make the accounts simpler and easier to follow. They cover the fifteen months period ending in July.

The concert gave an overall deficit of £1415, but this seems satisfactory and did not deplete the accounts.

There was a problem selling tickets which may be disappointing but perhaps not surprising given the programme.

The Treasurer sees no need to change the subscriptions from £15 per annum. He commented that this does not seem excessive for singers to have the opportunity of taking part in a large prestigious concert every two years.

Despite showing a deficit he feels that there was a rather satisfactory outcome to this year’s activities.

The items shown on the accounts may be broad and the Treasurer said he would answer any questions put forward

The Guild is well capable of holding its own from a financial point of view.

 

The Chair invited questions.

The Chair said that we have the scores for the Requiem for hire – none hired as yet.  The figures presented do not show any depreciation on their value at this time.

The balance shows the resilience to withstand the relative loss of the concert.

 The policy on the cost of the tickets was questioned. Comments had been made about the high price for tickets for an amateur concert.

The Treasurer answered that it did not seem unreasonable for the standard of venue, it is hard to say whether the price deterred any audience.

Alan Maitland referred to two other concerts in the South where prices were higher. 

A discussion followed over the relative standards and prices.

Jay Buckle acknowledged that this is a difficult issue.  We need to be able to advertise a concert at a specific standard and there is always a balance to be aimed for in the need to attract a public audience.

We might ask what the purpose of the concerts is – for the pleasure of choir members? To present a professional concert?

Some members commented that they had seen all or part of the concert and found the standard very high and the value of the ticket merited.

Liz Roberts proposed acceptance of the accounts.  Seconded by Marianne Gibbs.

 

 

Chairman’s Report:

“About 3 weeks ago I received a telephone call from a Mr Histed from Devon, requesting a letter of support from the Guild for his nomination of musician, John Railton for an MBE.  Some of you (or am I the only member old enough to remember!) will remember John, who conducted, with his one arm, the Guild on several occasions in its early days, with great inspiration.  John Railton is now approaching his 80th birthday and reading Mr Histed’s summary of his musical achievements and, more importantly his lifelong philosophy of enabling people of all ages, abilities and disabilities to perform and appreciate music – he touched and changed the musical lives of huge numbers of individuals, many groups and many communities – I realised that we could say exactly the same about the Guild. 

 

I know I listed the benefits the Guild offers its members last year, but I make no apology for reiterating them.  I know some members have questioned the obligatory annual Guild fee and your committee has seriously addressed the future of the Guild, after concerns were voiced after the last concert but I would like to remind us all that where else can an amateur singer joining a local choir in a rural area have the exhilarating experience of:

 

  • Singing most of the major choral works
  • Singing in a choir of over 200 voices
  • Performing in a concert hall no small choir could afford to a large audience
  • Being inspired and taught by many different guest conductors and workshop directors
  • Performing with professional orchestral players
  • Performing with young professional soloists, who have subsequently become household names
  • Sharing the joy of singing with members of school choirs
  • Performing new works commissioned for the Guild
  • Taking part in first performances

 

In our review of the future of the Guild, which is always a healthy thing to do, we revisited the questionnaire survey, we carried out about 3 years ago.  The results of the survey – what you told us you wanted – have influenced our choice of concerts, workshops and venues.  You felt biennial concerts were right, you wanted ‘off year’ workshops at various venues around the county.  However, the last concert and the previous year’s workshops were not well supported by Guild members.  We are sure that the choice of music is crucial and this leads me on to look back on the 2008 season, culminating in the concert at the Lighthouse on 24 April 2008.

 

I know many of us had reservations about the Jenkins’ Requiem and found it hard and unrewarding to rehearse.  Perhaps it was not the best choice.  However, when you look at our new website and see the breadth of repertoire, performed by the Guild over 60 years, you will see that we have never shied away from tackling something ‘different’! I don’t know about you, but, much against my expectations, I really enjoyed the performance.  To add to the audience comment, quoted by our Concert Manager, a ‘thank-you letter’ from an invited guest, was very enthusiastic about the variety of the programme.  I think we were all pleased to welcome Chris Dowie to conduct us again and of course the Wimborne Choral Society.  Our Concert Manager has filled you in on all the details, which I won’t repeat, however I must say some sincere ‘thank-yous’: to all who worked so hard to make the concert happen:

 

·        Beth White, our Concert Manager and Jay Buckle, our Assistant Concert Manager, who work so hard behind the scenes – concerts don’t organise themselves.  Just a few of the tasks: 

o       Negotiating and booking the venue

o       Booking conductor, soloists, orchestra

o       Arranging rehearsals and much, much more

And then there are all the last minute things – “Just find a harpist” and “we need and organist and an organ”!

 

·        Richard Marchant, who organised the seating at the Lighthouse – not a mean task.  I think Richard and his wife, Karen were also our record ticket-sellers!

 

·        Ken Palmer from Wimborne, who undertook our publicity.  He managed, I don’t know how, to persuade the Borough of Poole to let us hang a banner over Poole High Street – I am sure this made a lot of difference to the audience.  It was also he that discovered that the Lighthouse had ‘sold out’ of tickets, when this was not the case.  The allocation of tickets is being addressed before the next concert.

 

There are many more people, who helped make the concert a success – you know who you are!

 

Your Committee has met 4 times during the year at Beth’s and Jay’s houses.  Thank you Beth and Andrew and Jay and Charles for your hospitality.

 

As always a Committee is as good as the sum of its parts and that is certainly the case with the Guild.  I would like to thank everyone on the Committee for all their hard work throughout the year.  To:

  • Beth, our Concert Manager for her efficient organisation of the concert and workshops, so we can just enjoy singing!
  • Michael, our Treasurer, who keeps us on the straight and narrow financially.
  • Jill our Secretary, who minutes our ramblings, so efficiently.
  • Richard for everything, especially all the work he has done to get us ‘on-line’.
  • Our conductors, without whose musical expertise we would flounder.
  • Our choir representatives, who keep our all important membership abreast of what the Guild is doing.
  • The representatives of Wimborne Choral Society, who joined the Committee for last season.

 

 

So, looking forward – as Beth has told you we have a very exciting ‘Singing Day’ booked for February.  For anyone who hasn’t sung the Nelson Mass, it is wonderful, joyful music – Haydn at his best. It is not difficult and a really good sing.  OK, I know I am biased – it is my all-time favourite!   The day is free of charge for Guild members.  We hope non-Guild members will want to come too, so please tell all your singing friends and I look forward to seeing you in Dorchester in February.”

 

 

Election of officers:

All officers are prepared and able to stand again.

 

The chair invited nominations and there were none.

It was therefore proposed that the committee should be re-elected by Rosemary Moore and seconded by Chris Robson.

Members unanimously voted approval.

 

It is acknowledged that there is no Publicity Officer this year.  This is not as important this year, but will be for next year.  Members were asked to enquire for interest amongst the choirs for the concert year.

 

 

Website:

Richard Marchant has developed a site for Wareham and has extended to link information about the Guild.

At this point Richard is proposing the site should include pages for each constituent choir with links to other choirs including guest choirs, a history of the Guild and a list of all our works performed.

 

Richard welcomes any comments from members.

 

 

Any Other Business:

One member wished to endorse what the Chair said about what the Guild offers and said that  they had enjoyed the reintroduction to a singing opportunity through the Guild.

 

There has been an issue about the build up to the concert which was less enjoyable.  It seems there might have been a conflict of interest between the choirs.  Could the committee give consideration to visiting choirs to rehearse more regularly – shared rehearsals were particularly enjoyed towards the end of rehearsing.  Might choir members visit other choirs rehearsals throughout the concert year?

 

Jay Buckle, believing that she could speak for Richard Hall too, said that any Guild member is more than welcome to join them at any rehearsal.

The Chair needs to formalise this, perhaps.

 

There was no other business.

The Chair thanked members for coming, commenting that the Guild is going from strength to strength  and the committee will continue to endeavour to give  Guild members what they want from their membership.  She thanked members present for taking part.

 

The meeting closed at 8.25 pm.