CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY

A Committee Meeting was held on 26 January 2007 at 1pm. in Lecture Room 4, in the Music School, West Road.

Executive Officers: Stephen Cleobury (SC), George Corbett (GC) Chris Ford (CF) Joseph Fort (JF) Mark Galtrey (MG) Lottie Greenhow (LG), Jacob Head (JH) Maggie Heywood (MH) Dan Hill (DH) Fiona Jacques (FJ) Robert Nimmo (RN), Giles Reid (GR) Michael Sharp (MS) Emily Taylor (ET) Katy Wyatt (KW)

Co-opted members: Richard Andrewes (RA) Simon Fairclough (SF) Claire Pike (CP), Jo Whitehead (JW)

John Barber (JB) Charlotte Barker (CB) Martin Ennis (ME) Brandon Green (BG) Alex Selby (AS) James Sherlock (JS)

2. Minutes: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed and signed.

3. Matters arising:

The newly acquired baroque instruments are available for hire from the Faculty of Music.

Proposed constitutional amendment - create an appendix for executive members so that an EGM is not required every time we need to create a new post. Agreed

Joint Chapel Choirs concert: five Chapel choirs have indicated a desire to participate in a performance of Verdi's Requiem in King's College Chapel with CUMS I on Sat 19 January 08, after a short period of intensive rehearsal the weekend before term begins. A budget was requested. It was agreed that next year was probably not a good time to consider putting on a charity event as well as this new venture.

4. Proposed link to other University Societies. The chairman(SF) spoke: There would be considerable benefits to us if we worked more closely with other groups. SF has spoken to Dan Hill (CUCO) Dan Hyde (Chamber Choir) Martin Ennis (New Baroque Orchestra) and CUOS. They discussed launching a shared fund-raising campaign, and funding a central administrative structure to support all of these groups. CUDO may support us but they won't raise the money. It may be necessary to establish an umbrella musical syndicate covering the five groups. The ensuing discussion included questions on the nature of the administrative support, co-operation on programming and dates, and whether or not other groups should be included.

5. Secretary: There was a discussion on the nature of the two posts: Orchestra Manager and Secretary of CUMS. JW feels we shall need the flexibility to offer more money. MG said that from the job specs, as a potential applicant, he would find it hard to know which post he might prefer over the other. The list of skills needed seems to be the same for both. There was considerable discussion about CUMS I and whether or not the orchestra would be willing/able to take on more responsibility for the week-to-week running. It was agreed that Orchestra Manager would be an attractive job for a graduating student who wanted to go into arts management. SC pointed out that the more money we spend on admin the less we have for artistic endeavour. After further discussion it was agreed that CUMS I should be encouraged to form an administrative committee as soon as possible to take over the running of the orchestra as CUMS II and the Zephyrs already do. (Action MH) A number of regular jobs which could be shared out were raised, such as sending apologies for absence to section leaders instead of to MH. (GC pointed out that the members would have few qualms about telling a peer of their absence whereas they might think twice before telling MH). SC said that the new appointee needs to be long-stop for CUMS I, even when/if they have a good committee in control. CP asked whether the two jobs were considered to be of equal value, and if we spent £12,000 in the year would it be split half an half? JW proposed that the posts be advertised after the job specs have been amended to take account of suggestions; a small group challenges CUMS I to form a committee; we bolster our financial position. We don't need to appoint both posts in March. SC asked if anyone had spoken to Gillian Perkins. It might be a good idea to appoint one person and buy in extra help when needed at the very busy times. Perhaps we could appoint a secretary for £6,000 and buy in help at £10 per hour. Action JW/SF

6. Programme : SC reported that one way of celebrating a major event, such as the University's 800^th anniversary is to commission a new work. He has approached Peter Maxwell-Davis who will write a 10-12 minute piece for £15,000. It will be performed in May Week 2009 and SC is hopeful that we could persuade the University to confer and Hon. Doc that year. We are not committed to this project yet. MG approved and suggested that we might be able to find the funds through the University Appeal. After further discussion on fund-raising it was agreed that we should proceed with the commission.

7. Donations: MS raised the question of the £1000 donation which has been offered by one of our new members. The donor would like a range of options to choose from. Suggestions to MS as soon as possible please, preferably something which we should otherwise be unable to do.

8. Charity concerts: It was agreed that it is sensible to support a charity by selling a block of seats at half-price provided that the concert would not otherwise have sold out.

9. Complimentary tickets to attract interest and possible funding: It was agreed that we should use the next CUMS I concert to invite some high-profile people, not only from Cambridge, to attract sponsorship or financial support in the future. MG - the Careers service holds a grad-link e-mail list of people who want to be contacted in this way! JW also has a contact who may have a route to companies. (Sec: Remember that we shall lose 66 seats at this concert because we have to extend the stage to fit everyone onto it)

10. Publicity: We're trying to centralise it. Rosica Bates has agreed to co-ordinate the effort to aim at 100% coverage in the city. Each ensemble needs three people to drive it.

11. AOB: A) Use of e-mails: a plea from the chairman to cut down on e-mails which just go round and round without coming to any conclusions or decisions. B) The date of the AGM was fixed for Thursday 15 February at 9.45pm in St Andrew's Street Baptist Church Upper Hall, following the chorus rehearsal. C) CUMS Annual Dinner is on Friday 23^rd February in King's Hall. Do come.

The next committee meeting is on Friday 23 February at 1pm in the Music School, West Road. Apologies to mjh64 by Friday 9am please (sandwiches will be bought at 9.30!)