CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
A Committee Meeting was held on 14 October 2009 at 1 pm in LR1 in the Music School.
Present
Executive Officers: Richard Andrewes (RA), Ben Atkinson (BA), Mark Biggins (MB), Stephen Cleobury (SC), Ben Cox (BC), Rachel Croft (RSC), Caroline Goulder (CG), James Henshaw (JH), Maggie Heywood (MH), Jennifer Howells (JH), Michael Sharp (MS), Nick Shaw (NS), Helen Taylor (HT), Angie White (AW)
Co-opted members: Robert Culshaw (RC), Simon Fairclough (SF), Chris Lawrence (CL), Paul Nicholson (PN), Jo Whitehead (JW), John Willan (JWi)
Simon Fairclough was in the Chair.
Christine Skeen took the minutes.
Apologies were received from John Barber, Carlos del Cueto, Chloe Davidson, Martin Ennis, Claire Pike, Emma Smith, Rachel Smith
1. Minutes of the last meeting were agreed and signed after the amendment made by MH to Item 4: delete Hearst; insert Hurst.
2. Matters arising:Item 5: free music was now being offered to student performers.
3. Appointment of co-opted members and
4. Appointment of chairman:
MH took the Chair while those concerned left the room. CL summed up the basis on which SF was willing to be re-elected. SF's role as chairman was to be one of governance, representing the society's charitable status, providing an artistic model, and fundraising. NS proposed this basis for re-election of SF: it was agreed unanimously. Those who had left the room returned all unanimously voted in.
5. Year end accounts for 2008-09: NS talked through the paper on (C)ambridge (M)usic (T)ours – Tuscany - accounts. Audit costs were yet to come. He suggested carrying the balance forward to any future tour. CG spoke briefly about the tour, was pleased that enough money had been raised to have a balance, thanked NS with a gift, and SC for conducting in a demanding climate. NS added that the revenue was sufficient to ensure that Mark Austin, Joe Fort and CG were not out of pocket for preliminary planning visits. CL wondered whether any lessons could be learnt from the tour; CG said it would have been useful to have a tour treasurer to handle cash there. NS said the only tricky part had been currency conversion. RC asked if the charitable status of CUMS/CMT would pose a problem with the Charity Commissioners. NS thought not, but if problems arose, CMT could be wound up and any profits transferred to CUMS.
6. Final budget for 2009-10: NS talked through the paper and said it was good to have a surplus. He pointed out that for the first time we had a spreadsheet showing individual concert costs. There were approx. £12k unrestricted funds to start the year. In future years any surplus could be transferred to the CUMS Fund. CL asked whether future bequests should be put straight into the Fund. Replying, SF said the Charity Commissioners rule otherwise, unless the earning of interest on the bequest was specified in the will.
RSC asked about the purchase of a second contra bassoon; it was in hand.
CL asked for a pounds and percentages variants column on the next concerts spreadsheet ActionNS.
7. Orchestra Directorship update: JH talked through the paper on Martin Yates, a composer and conductor of around 50 who might be a possible new conductor for CUMS I. He was willing to help with conducting lessons, taking a few rehearsals, judging and helping with CUMS II, for a modest fee. JH was due to meet with him on 20 October and subsequently would take him to a CUMS I rehearsal. The committee approved that SF should pursue this line with further talks.
8. Governance of the Society: JW stressed the importance of reading the papers before November's Away Day meeting, if not already done. Going through them he said the proposals would give ensembles greater autonomy. CL agreed there was a strong need for this, the present committee having become too large and generalised and with little time for in-depth discussion. Individuals from within each ensemble would actively run their ensemble, with a mentor. NS suggested having a standard structure of posts for every ensemble. AW asked whether independence would be extended to programme choice. JW replied that it would depend on the ensemble; RSC for CUWO was already very independent. However, CUMS I brought in outside conductors, and performed with other ensembles, which made it necessary to plan programmes a long way in advance. However, there is flexibility for some concerts. The aim of the proposals was to help ensembles help themselves, with regard to certain standards and circumstances. CG was in favour, but added that the present committee was the only chance for everyone to meet together, especially the student conductors. JW said everyone would still do this, but only once or twice a year.
MS asked how much financial autonomy ensembles would have. JW replied that they would present a budget and plan for approval; once approved, they could, for example, choose the music they wanted provided it fell within the budget. MB said students were keen to be involved but did want independence, especially with CUMS I. SF assured him that he, JH and the Trustees would help CUMS I. The pros were that good conductors could be sought, with the attendant lengthy notice, and cons that this took away a little independence. CUMS I needed more management than the other ensembles. AW hoped there would be the chance to organise some concerts 1-2 years ahead, given that some students would not still be here in 3 years' time.
JW asked for any comments to be emailed to him so that he could revise the paper for next time. SF said each convenor should email JW about what it meant for their own ensemble. Action: convenors
(BC left the meeting)
9. CUMC/CUCO and CUMS: SF went through a confidential briefing paper.
(JH left the meeting)
10. Report on the start of the year: MH spoke for CD in her absence. The committee thanked MH for taking over the auditions from her. She said there had been a few drop outs from the initial interest but the previous night's CUMS I rehearsal had been good; MB agreed. He said CUMS I would like to be involved in the audition process. MH added it was the first year the two CUMS I conductors were not at the auditions. Replying to SF, CG said the Chorus was unbalanced, and SC suggested holding a simpler first night for potential recruits – sight reading Mahler 8 plus a lack of chairs was not ideal. AW suggested orchestral auditions be run by professionals. MH pointed out that more people auditioning made for many differing standards. SF said there was a need to discuss how auditions should be run next year. Action: SC and CG; SF and AW
11. AOB: SF suggested NS send JH the concerts budget to forward to the committee. Action NS
NS made a request to be notified in advance of all expenditure .
CG hoped the 3 hour November Away Day meeting would be held in pleasant surroundings!
The meeting closed at 14.07