CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
A Committee Meeting was held on 18 June 2007 at 1.30 pm in Lecture Room 1, in the Music School, West Road
Present:
Executive Officers: John Barber (JB), Stephen Cleobury (SC), George Corbett (GC), Martin Ennis (ME), Chris Ford (CF), Joseph Fort (JF), Mark Galtrey (MG), Brandon Green (BG), Lottie Greenhow (LG), Jacob Head (JH), Maggie Heywood (MH), Dan Hill (DH), Emily Taylor (ET)
Co-opted members: Richard Andrewes (RA), Simon Fairclough (SF), Caroline Goulder (CG), Claire Pike (CP), Michael Sharp (MS)
Christine Skeen took the minutes.
1. Apologies: Charlotte Barker (CB), Rosica Bates (RB), Julian Black (JuB), Ben Chewter (BC), Rachel Croft (RC), Jennifer Howells, Robert Nimmo (RN), Alex Selby (AS), Jo Whitehead (JW)
2. Minutes: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed and signed.
3. Matters arising: There were no matters arising.
SF and MH thanked all concerned for their efforts, acknowledging Jacob Head who was leaving Cambridge at the end of the term.
4. Introducing Jennifer/Dan: SF welcomed DH in his appointment as orchestra manager. Jennifer Howells, the new administrator, was not present.
5. CUMS Development Committee: The committee had copies of a paper by Andy Swarbrick. A development sub-committee had been set up, currently comprising Andy Swarbrick, Nigel Brown, Sarah Chambre, SF, and Robert Sansom (provisional), to co-ordinate efforts in generating additional income and to maximise the opportunities for sponsorship and other forms of related revenue..
SF hoped that contacts could be made through patrons from the worlds of business, music and Cambridge University. He said it was most important to encourage CEOs from major companies. Corporate sponsors might provide project funding, and an effective approach to alumni might be used for building capital.
Cambridge Water had already been approached and had agreed to donate maybe £5-10,000 to sponsor a concert in March 2009 for the charity Water Aid.
One more meeting of the sub-committee was to be held before the summer break to take these projects to the next phase.
CP asked whether sponsorship companies would actively recruit at rehearsals. SF said they would not, but it might be done by leaflets.
6. Publicity development: The committee had copies of a paper by SF, naming those responsible for specific actions. SF described proposals for publicity and distribution with costings falling within the current budget of £5,000 pa.
There was some discussion about printed programmes. JH suggested that CUMS instrument hire should be advertised in concert programmes, and that maybe a charge should be made for them. If a charge were made, it would cover funding to enable a more professional appearance for CUMS II and Zephyr programmes.
SF said that Peter Ducker would in future do all the programme design, given information by each ensemble.
SC said Sarah Chambre should be asked about publicity costs. Consideration should be given to discreet advertising in programmes by companies we might be in touch with - it would be expected.
It was agreed to return to this subject at October's meeting.
7. Instrumental manager update: JH had assembled a team including Sam Kemp and Belinda Sherlock to help maintain the instrument collection. DH would take over the computing side Action: DH. Jennifer Howells would be responsible for invoicing. Action: Jennifer Howells. SF said the cupboard must be kept tidy. Action: MH to arrange this week.
8. Co-opted members: SF had produced a brief proposal paper about co-opting to the Committee individuals with specialist skills and experience. Action: SF & JW to pursue, ready for October meeting.
9. Cambridge Music Syndicate: Discussions were ongoing with the University Development Office as the umbrella organisation. ME asked whether they had been in touch. Action: SF to pursue.
SC left the meeting.
10. Stephen's tenure and retirement: The committee had copies of a paper prepared by SF, naming those responsible for specific actions. DH asked if SF would summarise the points in his paper. SC had made it known that he did not wish to put himself forward for re-election after the 2009 season. It was widely acknowledged that his contribution to CUMS and Cambridge music was immense. SF had drafted an email, in agreement with SC, ready to send out after this meeting to inform members of CUMS. JB and MG were assured that the wording was such that members would not feel that we had been taken unawares or that a void would be left.
SF asked whether we should consider a different approach in seeking a successor/s rather than follow the model of the last 50 years. Members would be asked for their views. An 'idea generating' process would be co-ordinated over the summer. Action: RA, JB, ME, SF, MH, JW: DH to survey the three orchestras.
In answer to MS, SF replied that SC was retiring only from CUMS, and JB replied that he saw no reason why CUMS should not continue to use KCC. Replying to CP, JB said the cost of its hire should not change.
After some discussion, it was agreed that questions asked of members as to how they envisaged the future for CUMS should be framed in such a way as to elicit the precise information needed. JB said we must ensure that constitutional procedures were adhered to. SF replied that all plans would be ready for review at the AGM in February 2008.
A vote was taken and agreed unanimously that SC's tenure should be extended by 7 months from November 2008 to June 2009, to enable him to oversee the 800th anniversary season with his commission of a new piece by Peter Maxwell-Davis.
The meeting agreed that SF should send the email informing members of SC's retirement, that members should be asked their opinions, and that the 'ideas generating' team should co-ordinate some thoughts over the summer and report back at the October committee meeting. During the Michaelmas Term SF would develop these ideas with further consultation and report to the committee at the end of it. Action: SF. The outcome would be refined and presented to the committee at the beginning of the Lent Term when a formal Appointments Sub-Committee would be set up to take the appointment process forward.
11. AOB:a) SF asked that it be recorded that to have Aga Mikolaj as the soloist at the concert in honour of MH was a great experience.
b)CP said she would be in touch with the convenors about recruitment and asked to be kept informed of anything she may need to pass on.
c)MG asked if interest in an audition could be registered without attending the Societies' Fair. MH replied that it could be done via the website.
d)MG asked if the result of an audition was always made known whether positive or negative. MH said it was.
Dates of next two meetings:
Friday 12 October at 1 pm in the Music School, West Road
regular business and presentation of 'ideas generating' team paper
Saturday 20 October 9.30 - 11.30 am in the Music School, West Road
discussion meeting on above paper.
The meeting closed at 2.35 pm.