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GUILDFORD PHILHARMONIC
WY”
President: Sir David Willcocks CBE, MC
Yeo’o’e”
CHOIR
From the Chairman
John Trigg
13 Vicarage Gate
Onslow Village
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 7Q)
Telephone: 01483 566341
4 August 2004
Dear All,
I hope you are all having a good summer and enjoying the good weather. On a personal
front, our youngest daughter was married on Saturday (31° July); we had a fantastic day,
with wonderful weather. However I am afraid with all the preparation for the wedding and a
hectic end of term, GPC has had to take a bit of a back seat.
At the AGM, I was able to report, yet again on a very successful season as far as the concerts
were concerned; however the size of our audiences is still a problem. Jeremy and I have
been analysing this in our planning discussions, and it seems that over the years our largest
audiences are produced when we put on programmes that are more adventurous, like the
two Mahler concerts, the Vaughan Williams etc. Jeremy has proposed that we try to capitalize
on this by re-branding the choir, giving ourselves a new name, creating a recognisable
identity, better marketing etc. Your committee have, after much discussion agreed with the
whole principle and I therefore put it to the AGM, who agreed virtually to a member. Those of
you who were not present can present any views you have on the subject to me either by
phone or at the first rehearsal. There is much work to be done, but we hope to have the relaunch ready for the first concert in our new annual ‘Contempory Choral Classics Cycle’, which
will be in May 2005. If you have a suggestion for the new name, please let Noreen Ayton
have it as soon as possible. We wish the new name to be more in keeping with a modern 21*
century choir.
We hope that our new image will give us a wider appeal and attract more people of all ages
to come to our concerts and fill the Cathedral. The quality of our product is first class, and
really appreciated by those who are unconnected with the Choir (as well as our friends and
regular supporters) who come to the concerts having been attracted by our programme and
publicity.
Our Christmas concert is going to be different this year in that it will be in Holy Trinity and
without the Guildford Symphony Orchestra although it will still be in conjunction with the
Rotary Club. However we shall be putting on a different style of programme. The change in
venue has been forced on us because of the demise of the Civic.
The season starting off with Gerontius promises to be an exciting one, and hopefully will lead
us to greater heights.
I look forward to seeing you all on September 6"
With best wishes
Sole