CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY

A Committee Meeting was held on 20 February 2008 at 1 pm in Lecture Room 1 in the Music School West Road

Present:

Executive Officers: John Barber (JB), Stephen Cleobury (SC), Rachel Croft (RC), Dan Hill (DH), Martin Ennis (ME), Chris Ford (CF), Joseph Fort (JF), Brandon Green (BG)

Co-opted members: Richard Andrewes (RA), Simon Fairclough (SF), Caroline Goulder (CG), Chris Lawrence (CL), Claire Pike (CP), Michael Sharp (MS), Jo Whitehead (JW)

Christine Skeen took the minutes.

1. Apologies were received from Mark Austin, Rosica Bates, Theodore Hong, Jennifer Howells

2. Minutes: A correction having been made to Item 4 of the minutes of the meeting of 16 January 2008 to replace the words 'La Mer' with 'Handel's Water Music', they were agreed and signed.

3. Matters arising: there was none.

4. Fundraising update (Appendix 1): There was a brief discussion about recent successes in raising funds. In the last month, about £16,000 has been raised. Nevertheless, on the basis of a rough budget for next year, CUMS still needed a significant amount of extra funding. Actions were in place to pursue a number of different opportunities.

5. Co-option proposal (Appendix 2): SF had invited Paul Nicholson, currently manager of Trinity College Choir and former General Manager of Southbank Sinfonia, to put forward his name for co-option to the Committee. It was proposed by JW, seconded by RA and agreed unanimously.

6. Programming update/conductors for 2008/09 (Appendix 3): Jennifer Howells had assembled this paper. There followed some discussion about the names put forward. Replying to CP, SF said all were willing and available. He asked that SC should make the final decision. £3,000 had been budgeted for this (plus £1.5k for potential soloists) Action SC

The next two items were brought forward on the agenda

8. Update on ensemble initiatives

a. Chorus: There was to be a meeting about this on Friday 22 February.

b. Zephyr: RC said the ensemble had discussed changing its name to imply connection to the University e.g CUWO. SF said suggestions for this would be welcomed and they should be brought to the next meeting on 7 March, with the change of name being introduced next season.

Action RC

Zephyr's conductors would welcome more help and wondered whether Tim Reynish might be a patron. CL would pursue his contact for this. Action CL

RC said Zephyr would like the conductors to be selected, and repertoire chosen, in consultation with the orchestra (already actioned by DH), and for this year's competitions to have a soloist assigned to them. Action DH

Zephyr also needed to raise funds to match a pound-for-pound offer by a donor. Action RC

c. CUMS I: Players from Zephyr could be shared with both CUMS I and II. DH also reported that the previous evening's coaching by the Philharmonia went very well.

Library

RA proposed that that the small number of music sets currently kept in the University Library and reserved for CUMS use should be stored by Brian Jordan, having already secured his agreement. Replying to DH, he said they were not for general hire being marked-up copies of mainly large-scale orchestral works which CUMS repeated from time to time and could use again. It was unanimously agreed that Brian Jordan should keep them for future use.

9. Open discussion of the status of the Society: SF opened by saying that much more money was being raised than in previous years, which opened more opportunities. We went round the table for opinions:

CG: it was important to keep moving with new exciting opportunities.

DH: repeat invaluable coaching like the previous evening's. Plan the year ahead in detail around expectations and keep stringent commitment policy whilst addressing problems such as attending Matriculation dinners.

CP: would prefer an intensively-rehearsed concert at the beginning of the Lent rather than the Michaelmas term. Two criticisms - the Committee did not represent instrumentalists and undergraduates, and the administration process was cumbersome. It took too long to get things done compared with smaller groups - perhaps it could be streamlined.

MS: there was pressing need to have committed volunteers to run things.

JB: the role of Alumni should not be underestimated. Half the money colleges receive comes from their bequests. We had produced a couple of newsletters for them and invited them back. We should keep that initiative going. YAC were a good example of what could be achieved.

CS: consider employing a professional general manager to help ensure that the impact of securing professional conductors, instrumentalists, generous donors, influential contacts etc. is not lost through poor administration.

RA: lack of undergraduate involvement was a problem. Perhaps DH could suggest how they might be included.

JF: many students wish to be involved but do not volunteer, feeling it a chore.

RC: Zephyrs are cohesive, knowing if they do not do something themselves it will not get done. They have continuity, and joining at the end of the term provides experience for the future.

BG: what we lacked in youthful exuberance was its longevity. The Verdi concert was great.

CL: PR, marketing and recruitment were all crucial. CUMS' stall at Freshers' Fair should be the most attractive. The year brochure would show potential recruits what they could be involved in. Mentions at each rehearsal and in CAM magazine were also valuable. It was important to have University colleagues take us seriously. Obtaining finalists' details for formal contact in the future could be started from today.

SC: underlined the importance of the senior members of the Society; BG's points needed to be communicated to the rest of the students. Easter term was a difficult time in which to secure orchestras - perhaps a different approach was needed, such as holding one concert combining members from all CUMS orchestras who were prepared definitely to commit to it.

CF: suggested aiming for more tours and concerts in venues outside Cambridge. RC said students would not commit their time in the summer.

ME: described two very different experiences - the extraordinarily successful Verdi concert and the conducting auditions. There was very poor attendance in the orchestra for the latter, a major issue, and the conductors showed lack of experience. Maybe they should be given some mentoring. SC said these issues required some thought.

General discussion followed. SF said a way was needed to involve undergraduates so they felt that they contributed towards something important and long term, even if their stay was only for a year.

Action: SF, JW & undergraduates on Committee to list their thoughts

CP thought that all types of tasks should be shared between senior and junior members, rather than having 'cerebral' and 'footsoldier' divisions. DH said it was hard getting people to do things. JW asked how Zephyr worked successfully. RC replied that there was a tradition that nothing would happen if they did not do it. It was suggested that for some Zephyr members, CUMS was the only music they played in a week, whereas CUMS I members were often involved in other activities. CL suggested trying a principals' committee; being a principal would mean being part of a committee.

(JB, ME, JF left the meeting)

JW put forward the idea of changing the Committee by having a senior one for long-term and ongoing issues, and a junior one for annual issues.

7. Administration for 2008/09:

The committee noted that DH would be leaving at the end of the year and a replacement was needed

CP asked whether the division of Maggie Heywood's job into three paid posts (orchestral manager, chorus manager, secretary) was working. DH and RC both agreed that students should be made responsible. BG wondered whether it had not been a temporary solution before CUMS I became independent. SF said each ensemble was different. RA pointed out that CUMS II was not represented on this Committee; DH said he had been managing them. It was agreed that Dan Hill would issue an advert inviting initial expressions of interest in opportunities for 2008-09.

RA said CUMS II should be like Zephyr, with a sense of continuity. He suggested that leaders for next year's orchestras could be appointed now and be in place ready for next year.

Any other business

CP told the Committee the Annual Dinner had had to be postponed, probably until early in the Easter Term, as Baldur Bronniman had arranged an extra rehearsal for CUMS I on the evening of 29 February.

The very disappointing quality of the CUMS II rehearsal on the evening of the conducting auditions was returned to and discussed at some length. It was agreed that DH would arrange a time when he and SF could meet with key people from CUMS II to discuss the Committee's serious concerns and to frame the possible options. Action DH

The meeting ended at 2.15 pm