GUILDFORD PHILHARMONIC
CHOIR
—
President: Sir David Willcocks CBE, MC
From the Chairman
Joh 1 Trigg
13 Vicarage Gate
Onslow Village
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 7QJ
#8: 01483 566341
Dear All,
At the recent AGM | made reference to last season, which | think created a new record in
that for every concert we received a highly complimentary critique from the Surrey
Advertiser reporter. This now makes 5 in a row - an all time record! It does however give
us every reason to go forward with even greater confidence into our next season.
In last year's letter, which | fully expected to be my last as Chairman, | made a requi2st for
someone to come forward and take my place as Chairman, however this didn't hap)»en.
In the absence of any other nomination, | agreed to continue as your Chairman but would
again make a similar request that somebody comes forward to take over the reins fiom
me next year.
Although we eet on a season of very interesting
we received
concerts a sadness to us should be: that
£5000 less in ticket receipts than the previous year. Obviously we canr ot
keep going this and so we must all take on board the onerous task of making sure trat
we do not have a repetition next season. Our fundraising becomes all the more important
to help us reduce this deficit and to this end Jackie Alderton would like to form a small
orcup a poor to help her on a fundraising committee. Please contact her if you are
willing
to
help.
Under any other business at the AGM comments were made about the front of house
arrangements at Cathedral concerts. The committee would be very interested to have
members' feelings on this matter and | would therefore ask if you have any contribu'ion to
make please put it in writing to me so that it can be discussed and acted upon.
For a long time Jeremy and the committee have wanted to improve the image of the choir
with hanabills, posters, stationary etc. Some examples that are under consideration have
been put on
oy. Also to update and improve our corporate image we are consiclering
a change to the ladies dress code. This is, | knowa difficult and somewhat sensitive:
problem but | hope we shall be able to come up with something that will be accepta dle to
the vast majority of the Choir, at the same time gi V ing the Choir a far greater prominence.
Our target date is the April concert to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.
Once again we can look forward to a very interesting and exciting season in which | hope
ou will all give Jeremy the 100% commitment that he asks of us and deserves. We are
old that the Messiah is easy to sell, so please start doing your bit to fill the Cathedral.
Have a good summer and | look forward tg seeing
you at the first rehearsal, which s
Monday 10th September 2001, not the 3 September as previously announced.
With best wishes,
Two messages from Noreen
In connection with auditions and re-auditions from 17“ September 2001
Some people may not be aware that we now have to pay a weekly rental of £5.00 in advance for the
regular use of the Long Room between 18.50 and 19.20 on Monday evenings. The alternative - free use
of the unheated church- is not a realistic choice during the colder months when most of our auditions
fall due.
This season, between September and July, there are seventy-eight Anown re-auditions to be
timetabled, apart from any ten-minute slots needed for incoming new members requiring a full audition.
Because of this, it is now more important than ever that all members sign up promptty for their reaudition time without having to be reminded. Each one of us needs to make every effort to keep that
appointment to save the choir wasting money, as well as wasting Jeremy’s and Prue’s time. If you find
that you genuinely cannot keep the appointment, a phone call (01932 221918) to me at the earliest
opportunity may mean that we could fill the gap you have left. Volunteers ready to be ‘on standby’ will
be very welcome.
A list of those due to be heard will be put on the main notice board and on thestaircase wall; it will be
updated each month. Auditions begin again from 18.50 on 17 September.
Mary Ann Barber, Tessa Wilkinson, Maura Dearden, Joy Hunter, Tony Macklow-Smith, Judith Lewy,
Lesley Scordellis and Judy Smith should have been heard by the end of last season and Peter Herbert,
Jacqueline Norman and Vicki Steele are due in September. If any of these people would like to fix an
appointment during the holiday, please phone me.
Michael Golden, Mo Kfouri, Marion Adderley, Nora Kennea and Claire (Strudley) Goodall have already
signed up.
A separate request to anyone receiving this mailing who, for whatever reason,
does not intend returning to the choir
A lot of time is spent each season waiting for ‘wanderers’ to reappear. If you know that you are not able
to sing with us at the beginning of the 2001-02 season, please write or phone me sow, it will make
both Bob Cowell’s and my jobs easier. If the opportunity arises for you to return later, we shall be very
happy to welcome you back.
Thanks very much. Have a good holiday!