I intend to
make this brief. Having previously discussed the format of the AGM with
fellow committee members, we decided to try to keep the business part of
this evening as concise as possible, hopefully within the hour. I have
also taken the liberty of inviting our Musical Director, Rupert Hanson,
to give a short report on the Orchestra's progress. However we wish to
invite you all afterwards to stay for light refreshments and to attend a
short rehearsal of the Orchestra. After all, this is what we do best -
the music that is, not the tea.
The story is
told that a famous Archbishop of Canterbury, William Temple, was once
introduced to the organist at a big rehearsal in St. Paul's Cathedral.
The Archbishop was notoriously non‑musical, and he said to him that he
was sorry but he'd never heard of him. The organist was no less a
musician than the great Ralph Vaughan Williams. Seven or eight years ago
nobody had heard of the Sunderland Symphony Orchestra. Even when we
played at various churches and halls around the city (and they were so
desperate for violinists I was in it even then), including performing on
summer afternoons in Mowbray Park bandstand. I would never have dreamt
that one day this very ensemble would be performing, albeit much
augmented, in the Sage Gateshead to warm revues, or being interviewed as
we were two weeks ago by local newspapers and BBC Look North at the
prestigious Stadium of Light with footballing hero Niall Quinn. I cannot
resist this one ‑ maybe it helps an organisation to have an Irish
chairman! Some of our string players that shall remain nameless were
quite the stars on television. Although their was a nice picture of the
top of David McCourt's violin, albeit no full image of our leader
himself.
Surely this is
massive progress in such a relatively short space of time? I will not
weary you with the detail of every concert we have played ‑ a huge
variety of music from the classical repertoire, opera, operetta, and
even "pops" including Abba has been performed in a number of different
venues. These include Holy Trinity Church in the East End, St. Mary
Magdalene Millfield, and Sunderland Minster, where the Christmas Concert
was a huge success, performing as we did with the Minster Choir, and
introducing a very glamorous and musically stunning saxophone trio.
Smaller quartets, and palm court ensemble, have played at business
functions and strawberry teas. Other venues have included the Crowtree
Leisure Centre and the riverside setting of the Sunderland Yacht Club:
Although the good people of that worthy organisation particularly
requested the great British national tunes such as Land of Hope and
Glory and Jerusalem, it also happened to be St. Patrick's Day and a
violinist that shall remain nameless suggested some flute, fiddle and
bodhran music that went down nicely with the Irish stew. We even played
at the Blue Bell Inn in Fulwell for a Christmas Victorian evening. This
sheer adaptability of the SSO these days speaks volumes of the committed
musicians of all ages who turn up every Wednesday to rehearse. This
augers well for the future.
This means we can now look forward to playing "light" music in smaller
ensembles at such prestigious venues being negotiated like Beamish
Museum, Gateshead Flower Festival, Sunderland Airshow, and various
National Trust/English Heritage properties in the region. AND still
tackling the larger symphonic works relating to the Concert Hall. In all
of this, opportunity is constantly being given to soloists within the
orchestra, and to the several very talented singers we have been
privileged to work with. On the subject of vocals, we have also enjoyed
performing with the East End Chorus, which is part of the Music for All
project. Indeed a number of them will be joining with us when we travel
northwards once again to partake in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in
August. We have also benefited from the musical direction of our Guest
Conductor Greg Pullen.
I do not want
to steal Rupert's thunder, so I quickly want to say a few profound
"thank‑yous". First to the players themselves - a reliable core turn up
every rehearsal come rain or shine. Even although at times we have to
say farewell to players when they move away. We still miss our
horn‑player and guest conductor, Gary Nichols who is now working in
Texas, and just a week ago one of our young first violins, Sarah Muir
returned to her native Ayrshire. We were really saddened to say a final
farewell to violinist Sid Ross when he passed away, and were honoured to
have performed his "Simonside" composition. On a happier note, two of
our young lady musicians are getting married ‑ clarinet player Donna
Watlen this week in London, and principal cello Jane Carpenter in
September; we are glad they are not leaving the orchestra.
At this
juncture I would like to thank the Minister and office‑bearers of West
Park Church for providing a rehearsal room and storage space, and to
Diana Hauber's dad for making the tea every Wednesday. A particular debt
of gratitude most go to a very hard‑working and dedicated committee who
nowadays share with the chairman a very collective style of leadership.
I am twice the age of most of them but I am delighted that they are most
vocal in making their views and abilities known! I cannot emphasize this
strongly enough ‑ when we sat down to our first committee together we
were determined that we should reflect most strongly the views of the
playing members of the Orchestra especially, and not just the Conductor
or the Chairman. However as good musicians we do listen to the Conductor
sometimes - and even occasionally give a glance in his direction! For
these reasons of a strong sense of collective responsibility and a
commitment to a collaborative style of working, we jointly offer our
services for another year. There is always a danger in naming
individuals, but as you will see in few minutes time, we are
particularly grateful to Heather Wear for the onerous task of keeping
the books and the membership details, as well as producing the
news‑sheet. As Hon. Secretary Diana Hauber has the unenviable task of
keeping committee minutes and de‑coding my notes from time to time.
Still - as a violinist - she can read ‑. I would also like to pay
tribute once again to my worthy predecessor David Mills as chairman, and
his wife Kathleen who was Hon. Treasurer.
For a society such as the City of
Sunderland Millennium Orchestral Society, and I do prefer it to CoSMOS,
which sounds unintentionally like a spaceship, partnerships and good
working relationships with others making music is vital. We enjoy a
particularly close relationship with Music for All, whose project leader
is Rupert Hanson and who is also our Musical Director. I was chairman of
both organisations, but have recently relinquished my chairmanship of
MforA. A lot of discussion was engendered around this at the last AGM,
and one of the tasks the new committee was charged with was to clarify
our relationship. Indeed at one stage we had correspondence from the
MforA fund‑raiser, Mr. David Britten, inviting CoSMOS to become part of
their organisation. After very serious consideration, the committee
decided unanimously NOT to proceed in this direction, but to maintain
our independence as a financially viable and vibrant organisation. There
is only one Sunderland Symphony Orchestra, and that is registered to,
and managed by, CoSMOS. This fact is recorded by the Charity
Commissioners. BUT, we thoroughly enjoy, promote, encourage, and our
grateful for, our close relationship with MforA. Through MforA and its
Youth Orchestra we have a steady stream of young people who enter the
SSO when ability and maturity afford this (the committee recently
decided to have a minimum age of sixteen for playing in the SSO). We are
also proud to be promoted by MforA, who have such contacts and
opportunities that we would be unable to fulfil alone. To this end, I
think we should all be thankful to the one person for whom I make no
apology for giving the lion's share of appreciation; our inspiration,
our enthusiasm, our Maestro, Rupert Hanson. Thank you for patiently
listening.
Stephen D. Hazlett.
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