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These reports on the 2000/2001 season were delivered to members of the Society at the AGM on 15 October 2001.
When I was preparing this report and looking back to what I said last year, I commented then of the fact that the way in which we handled events demonstrated that we were truly a Society: a group of sociable people who have much in common - our love of music, our willingness to work for our goals and our friendship for one another.
I am pleased to report that I believe none of this has changed. Scott will comment on the musical activity in his end of year report soon, so I will mention our three concerts only to say how much we and our audiences enjoyed them. It became apparent early in the year that some changes to our organisation were both necessary and desirable. We launched 'Gift Aid' amongst our members last winter. When the money eventually comes through we should be £800 better off. Any new members who wish to take up Gift Aid should see Julie soon.
We were advised that our constitution needed updating to conform to the requirements of the Charity Commissioners and that was done at an Extraordinary Meeting in the spring. Constitutions usually languish at the back of dingy cupboards gathering dust, but it is important that they are looked at once in a while to ensure that they give the framework we are happy to work within.
Megan and I attended an interesting day course in February on funding and marketing. We learned a lot and shared experiences with a lot of interesting people. It was good to be able to say 'we do that already' to many of the suggestions made. However there is still much work to be done in this area.
We have been so fortunate this year that the people you elected to the committee have so many varied skills. There is no such thing as just 'being on the committee' - each of us has an area to cover and has had much to do. So that you know whom we are talking about, especially for our newer members, here they are: Steve is our vice chairman and membership secretary; Julie is our treasurer; Lesley our secretary; Gilian our librarian (I know how fraught that job can be!); David and Megan have set up Gift Aid and looked at marketing; Paul looks after our website; and Lis does a brilliant job with publicity. On your behalf as well as my own, a great vote of thanks to them should be recorded.
There are areas that we have highlighted as needing more help with, which is why I urge you to elect a larger committee for the coming year. Currently we have a committee of nine: another four would be great - even if Lesley might need to acquire some more chairs for her sitting room!
As for our Musical Director, well, what can I say? It is so good to get home on Monday evenings and know that life's tankard is half full, not half empty. Indeed, it's often overflowing! Your exuberance and passion for music is highly infectious. We know that the standard of our performance is greatly improved. I am told we no longer look like scared rabbits when we perform and that in the summer concert quite a lot of us were observed to be smiling! Wow! Scott, there is no doubt that you have given us so much musically and in many other ways; our hope is that you have enjoyed being with us. So, on behalf of all of us, a heartfelt thank you for all that you have done.
We have every reason to be optimistic about this, the 40th year of Ely Choral Society. We are ambitious and I, for one, am confidently looking forward to another wonderful year.
Molly Dyson
My own history with Ely Choral Society starts just over a year ago. I was alerted to the fact that Chris Dexter-Mills was leaving the choir and I expressed and interest in the position of Musical Director. A meeting was arranged between Frances Benstead and myself so that I might find out one or two things about the society and, no doubt, Frances about me! During the course of the summer I heard nothing, and then we all heard the very sad news that Frances had lost her fight.
Before long I was invited to take a rehearsal with the choir, by way of an audition, and thankfully I passed the test... and so did you! Immediately, we were straight into preparing for the annual Christmas concert, the programme for which I inherited. Christmas music from Messiah brought many technical difficulties, but not musical difficulties. This however was not the story with the rather challenging motets by Francis Poulenc. In the end, just two of these were performed, as I felt, with the agreement of our very splendid committee, that these were just a little beyond our current capability. Unfortunately, I was unable to conduct this concert, but I knew it was in safe hands under the capable baton of Daniel Spreadbury, ably accompanied by my predecessor.
The Lent term brought a massive challenge in the guise of The Dream of Gerontius. This was a project of gargantuan proportions and was, by turns, frustrating and exciting. Obviously exciting, as it is one of the great masterpieces of the early 20th Century and the choral repertoire, and frustrating because it stood in the way of making real progress in terms of 'our' sound. One of the highlights of this term for me was sitting in the tenors with Paul Trepte taking a masterly rehearsal from the piano and showing me how it should be done!
The Summer Concert was a new departure for the society and one which was a special thrill for me as it had Farrell stamped all over it! John Rutter's 'Reluctant Dragon' was the centrepiece of the concert, alongside which we sang such gems as 'I write the songs' and 'Plumber is icumen in'. In this new venture we were partnered by a super children's choir from Littleport Community Junior School, who performed both on their own and alongside us. Dr Wills said to me afterwards that the choir had been given the Farrell touch... I think that this was meant as a compliment!
Our immediate future is very much linked with Vaughan Williams and Christmas, and then we look forward to a major concert in St Edmundsbury Cathedral, where we will be performing Faure's Requiem and Rossini's Stabat Mater. For this we need to work hard, not purely from a musical point of view! We need to attract an audience and sponsorship, so if you have any ideas please talk to the committee.
Other plans include a summer Jubilee celebration, a Mozart Requiem and a concert in the Lady Chapel.
Our numbers are currently up - 73 singers on the books - this is wonderful, but I am still looking to beat the 80 mark and then who knows, maybe 100? Our musical success will help our recruitment and I beg you not to be idle on this. We all know that size isn't everything, but in a choir such as ours, it helps!
Before I close I would like to thank my two splendid accompanists: Jackie initially, and more recently David. I was very grateful to them both for their splendid support during my earlier days. I prefer, however, to work out front on my own most of the time, but the committee have agreed to me bringing in someone like Paul Trepte to play when I need a full orchestra on the piano and you need practice at watching!
Finally, I would like to thank our splendid committee under the splendid chairmanship of Molly for their tremendous support and friendship.
Scott Farrell
I would like to express thanks not only to Scott for an exciting and enthusiastic first year but also to Molly and all members of the Committee for all their hard work during the past year.
There are also people who are not on the committee who have undertaken tasks for the choir and we are also very grateful to them. If anyone feels able to help with fund-raising, or perhaps planning a social event, please let a member of the committee know. Obviously we understand that sometimes people do not feel able to offer the commitment of being on the committee but have gifts to offer and we should like to gratefully accept all these offers of help.
I would also like to thank the husbands, wives and partners of members who have supported us during the year, particularly for the Christmas car parking and for undertaking front of house and so on.
Scott wants 100 members in the choir, so if you know anyone else who would like to join us, on the basis (it appears) of three sopranos to one alto and four tenors to one bass, please do encourage them to attend!
Lesley Bishop