MINUTES CUMS COMMITTEE MEETING - FRIDAY 7 MARCH
Lecture Room 1 Faculty of Music
Executive Officers: Rachel Croft (RC), Dan Hill (DH), Chris Ford (CF), Joseph Fort (JF), Brandon Green (BG), Theodore Hong (TH)
Co-opted members: Richard Andrewes (RA), John Barber (JB), Simon Fairclough (SF), Caroline Goulder (CG), Chris Lawrence (CL), Paul Nicholson (PN), Michael Sharp (MS), Jo Whitehead (JW)
CG took the minutes.
Apologies
Stephen Cleobury, Martin Ennis, Claire Pike, Rosica Bates, Emily Taylor, Christine Skeen, Maggie Heywood
Minutes of last meeting
The minutes were approved.
Matters arising
Paul Nicholson was welcomed on the committee.
Item 6 - conductors' agents had been approached and replies were awaited.
Item 8b - RC reported that two names for Zephyr would be considered: CUZE (Cambridge University Zephyr Ensemble) or CUWO (CU Wind Orchestra) and will make a decision by next meeting.
Action: SF would approach Tim Reynish, not CL or Tim Brown.
DH said he had received a few enquiries about the Orchestra Manager role following the advert he had placed.
Action: DH and SF planned to meet to discuss the future of CUMS 2.
Chorus update (JW)
The sub-committee had met twice since the last main committee meeting. A partly-confidential update on discussions was provided. In general, the goal is to raise the standard of the chorus (already underway) and continue to try and improve the number of students joining the chorus. For this it may be beneficial to involve different conductors rather than having only one conductor - although a principal conductor was needed. JF commented that different skills were required to sing unaccompanied and it would be good for the choir to do both orchestral and acapella concerts. JW emphasised the need for committee members to flag up any thoughts on this immediately as discussions were under way and a decision would have to be made shortly. SF commented that a 3-5 year period of appointment would offer a broader range of conductors. CL recommended a 3 year appointment. The Main Committee approved the direction that discussions were going and gave the chorus sub-committee the “green light” to proceed with further negotiations.
JW talked about the Festival Chorus - a choir made up of chapel choir members who would meet once a year for an intensive week of rehearsals leading to a concert with CUMS 1 (eg Verdi Requiem in Jan 08). CUMS chorus members would be invited to audition for this chorus thus providing an opportunity to sing alongside chapel choir members. It may also encourage singers to join CUMS chorus who don't want the full commitment of a chapel choir.
Action: Chorus sub-committee to proceed with discussions
08/09 Programme and budget
Budget
JW presented an update on the budget. Although next year's programme requires huge fundraising - due primarily to the costs of the new commission - much of this money had already been raised. More work has to be done but there are many potential sources of funds.
Comments from members:
CL questioned how the CUMS fund was managed and would be happy to offer advice.
MS talked of endowment funds - people could be invited to “endow” a certain event or project.
Programme 08/09
SF provided an update. There is a new idea of CUMS 1 engaging in an intensive week of rehearsals at the beginning of the Michaelmas term is being considered, perhaps combined with a launch party. The first rehearsal would immediately follow the auditions. MA expressed the need to get dates fixed urgently.
Some other dates are already fixed:
14 November CUMS chorus/King's Voices/Emmanuel choir + Philharmonia to sing Elgar's The Kingdom. CUMS will pay SC, King's pay Phil.
Prime Brass/chorus concert on 7 March, programme to be confirmed with SC.
13 June 09 - Chorus/CUMS 1 SC's last concert as Principal Conductor - Peter Maxwell Davies commission + Beethoven 9th.
SF also mentioned an informal Christmas concert in early December
Also the chorus may be invited to sing in the RAH with the Phil/King's College Choir - date tbc.
Early 2009 - a showcase concert with Festival Chorus (as Verdi Requiem Jan08) is being considered, possibly a Handel oratorio. Christopher Robinson may conduct.
The Zephyr will return to Oxford and Prime Brass will play with Zephyr free of charge sometime during 2009.
Some discussion followed on inviting a major London orchestra to develop a relationship with CUMS 1 and provide coaching. The Philharmonia, BBC Symphony Orchestra and RPO would be considered.
Action: SF will pursue.
Further discussion of last meeting's roundtable
As time was limited (5 minutes to end of meeting) only brief discussion on various points was possible. The following subjects were briefly discussed:
CUMS 1 - change of rehearsal pattern could be considered. Action: The group discussing CUMS I (SF, DH, etc.) will consider this and other issues (see below)
Organisation - JW stated that a lot of issues raised at the roundtable of the last meeting related to the organisation of the society. Do we carry on status quo or take time to discuss this further eg. role of organisers/senior members/how big should the main committee be/ Need for more student involvement. RC said it was preferable to establish ensemble committees then think about how to move forward. The general view was that it was worth trying to make the sub-committees work more effectively. A few points were raised
Running of ensembles There was some discussion about offering incentives for orchestra members eg. a place in the orchestra for a player who signed up to get involved in the running of the ensemble. JF commented this could not work because of the varying number of instruments in each ensemble and places should not be offered to wind and brass players on this basis. Others agreed with this view.
Committee change-over: PN suggested this might be done mid-year so new members could feel involved in programme choice for the forthcoming season.
Self-esteem - CL said it was vital for each section to have good discipline and feel proud of its contribution which would ultimately lead to better music making.
Action: These issues will be addressed by the CUMS I discussion group
Marketing/alumni - JW said that these were the other issues raised at the roundtable. They could be improved and more time is needed to develop this. CL suggested posters should be brought to committee meetings for people to take away and distribute Action: DH to follow through for relevant meetings.
The meeting closed at 2.10pm