CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
A Committee Meeting was held on 23 November 2009 at 1 pm in LR1 in the Music School.
Present
Executive Officers: Richard Andrewes (RA), Mark Biggins (MB), Rachel Croft (RC), Chloe Davidson (CD), Caroline Goulder (CG), Maggie Heywood (MH), Jennifer Howells (JH), Michael Sharp (MS), Nick Shaw (NS), Emma Smith (ES), Helen Taylor (HT)
Co-opted members:
John Barber (JB), Simon Fairclough (SF), Paul Nicholson (PN), John Willan (JW)
Simon Fairclough was in the Chair.
Christine Skeen took the minutes.
1. Apologies were received from Stephen Cleobury, Robert Culshaw, Martin Ennis, Angie White, Jo Whitehead
2. Minutes of the last meeting were agreed after the correction of John Willan's name and of Item 10 second sentence; delete Societies Fair; insert auditions.
3. Matters arising: none.
4. Governance/organisational structure – review of second draft paper: SF talked through the paper. He thought it desirable that CUMS should become a charity – the Charity Commissioners would give guidelines. NS pointed out the necessity of becoming a company limited by guarantee in the first instance. Despite more onerous accounting, a set of accounts having to be provided to the Charity Commissioners and to Companies House, it would be worthwhile because the members would not bear any liability – liability would be held by the trustees but limited to a maximum of £1 - whereas at present all members were personally liable. PN said a new charitable organisation was due to be introduced in the new year which would solve the liability issue for small charities without their becoming companies. MS added there were limits to the size of charities' funds. Action: SF and JW to investigate
With reference to the ensemble committees, NS suggested changing the title of senior treasurer to senior adviser to avoid confusion with Chris Ford. It was considered generally undesirable for each ensemble to have its own bank account, although RC pointed out CUWO's successful independence. SF said charity accounting must be robust to avoid trustees' liability. NS asked for copies of CUWO's transactions. Action: NS and JW to discuss
MH highlighted the difficulty of fostering enthusiasm and responsibility among members for running their ensembles, especially CUMS I. The idea of termly rotas was raised. RC had found that a more positive response was gained when students were asked personally by someone around their own age, for a specific task and shortly before required, since they tended to plan very little ahead.
On the timescale for proposals, SF said the merger with CUCO should occur before the AGM in mid-February 2010, allowing their wishes to be incorporated into the re-written constitution for presentation at the AGM. NS said this could not be re-written for CUMS as a charity without the Charity Commissioners' approval. Replying to JB, SF said he had unsuccessfully sought help from The Old Schools, but had guidance from a friend with a similar case. He asked whether all were happy with the paper's basic principles. Big issues had been raised; others could be dealt with by email up to the end of term before JW and volunteers MS and NS wrote the draft constitution.
MH said the ensemble committees were rather large; there were many positions to be refilled each year. In CUMS II and CUWO, MB and RC could be flexible with repeated roles and people. Enthusiasm was key.
JB thought the university as a whole, not only colleges, should be represented in the CUMS Trustees.
(HT left)
5. Update on Cambridge University Music Club merger: RA and MH had met with Andrew Browning, CUMC President, to discuss the essence of CUMC and its long-term direction. There were three venues where programmes of chamber music are currently in place; Kettle's Yard, the Fitzwilliam Museum and West Road Concert Hall. They had already spoken to Kettle's Yard and were due to meet a representative of the Fitzwilliam and Martin Ennis to see how chamber music could be fitted into the programme. Replying to SF, RA suggested continuing use of West Road as an evening venue and introducing a lunchtime series of concerts. One advantage would be a ready audience nearby, leaving morning lectures. Kettles Yard held 100 people, too small for large ensembles, the Fitzwilliam 80 plus 30-40 standing, and West Road many more.
Discussion as to CUCO's direction was ongoing in the Club.
6. AOB: (a)The new contra bassoon had arrived, funded by a legacy from Dorothy Hurst. It was first to be played in the Mahler, but as the programmes were already printed and CUP named as a sponsor, it was proposed by MH and agreed by all that a dedication to Dottie should be made at the Britten War Requiem in January.
(b) There was discussion following an application to the Faculty of Music, which was short of money, by an evangelical church willing to pay £35k a year in a 5 year contract for the use of West Road Concert Hall on Saturdays and Sundays. The meeting felt strongly that it should be retained for its original purpose of music-making. Ideas were needed on how to help the faculty, perhaps by raising ticket prices. SF was to meet Martin Ennis to seek to delay a decision on the application until the first Faculty Board meeting next term.
(ES left)
(c) RC raised the question of student conductors' appointments.
(MB and CG left)
She said there was concern over the musicality tests. When should an orchestra's wishes be overruled?
(JB left)
MH suggested the orchestra could be told to judge on what they experienced at the time, but to bear in mind there were other tests to be made. SF suggested strengthening the panel of judges, with perhaps the addition of the leader of an orchestra, including a London one.
The meeting closed at 14.27