CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY

A Committee Meeting was held on 15 January 2010 at 1 pm in Faculty Board Room in the Music School.

Present

Executive Officers: Richard Andrewes (RA), Mark Biggins (MB), Stephen Cleobury (SC), Rachel Croft (RC), Caroline Goulder (CG), Maggie Heywood (MH), Jennifer Howells (JH), ,Michael Sharp (MS), Nick Shaw (NS), Emma Smith (ES), Helen Taylor (HT), Angie White (AW),

Co-opted members:

John Barber (JB), Simon Fairclough (SF), Chris Lawrence (CL), Paul Nicholson (PN), John Willan (JAW), Jo Whitehead (JW), Martin Ennis (ME)

Simon Fairclough was in the Chair.

Jo Whitehead took the minutes.

1. Apologies were received from Chloe Davidson, Robert Culshaw, Claire Pike

2. Minutes of the last meeting were agreed after the correction of Point 4 to clarify that trustees’ liability would be limited to £1. In addition, the following sentence: “There were three venues suitable for chamber music; Kettle's Yard, the Fitzwilliam Museum and West Road Concert Hall” was edited to read “There were three venues where programmes of chamber music are currently in place; Kettle's Yard, the Fitzwilliam Museum and West Road Concert Hall”

3. Matters arising: At a faculty board meeting the issue discussed in 6B was raised. A sub-committee was set up and reached a compromise position that has been announced to those who signed the paper which SF tabled at the meeting. ME mentioned that it was the budget cuts that had forced the discussion. ME thanks SF for his help and SF offered his thanks to ME and the Faculty Board.

4. CUCO update and Proposed changes to the Constitution. JW reviewed the proposed timetable for updating the constitution. In the short term the existing constitution would be amended to accommodate the proposed merger with CUMC and CUCO, and in the medium term a new constitutional framework would be developed to allow CUMS to become a registered charity. SC noted that it would be worth investigating corporate membership of the ISM. ISM may be able to offer legal advice on the formation of the new charity. David Abrahams is the contact. The timetable was accepted by the committee (JW to contact ISM)

An initial draft of the required changes to the existing constitution was presented by JW. Numerous refinements were suggested. (JW to make edits, review with CUCO and email the revised version to the Committee. Members of the committee to contact JW prior to the next meeting with any further comments so that the redraft can be approved by the committee before the upcoming AGM. SF and CG to fix the time of the AGM)

5. Proposed appointment of Martin Yates as CUMS Orchestra Director. Based on some initial discussions, JAW described the type of role that Martin Yates might play were he to work with CUMS. He would conduct one or two concerts with CUMS I. He would be involved in auditioning, the conducting competition, coaching the conductors and, if CUMS had the resources, he would tour the orchestra. His objective would be to maintain and raise the quality of CUMS I to make it more attractive to students and guest performers. The first year would be a trial so the role could evolve. A student conductor would take most rehearsals and conduct a section of two of the concerts. MB stated that he thought it best if one concert at least was devoted to student conductors. SF commented that he did not think it necessarily in the best interest of the orchestra. NS asked about what the costs would be. A small honorarium and payment for specific concerts is being considered. AW had a positive view of Martin Yates having met him. (JAW to bring a formal proposal on Jan 29^th, having discussed finances with NS and JW and the student conductor’s role with MB and CC)

6. Programming, 2010–11 and beyond. SC suggested that there was an urgent need to discuss programming, and that we should have a standing committee for programming. After some discussion it was agreed that the following programming sub-committee would meet as soon as possible: JAW (Chair), JH, SC, CG, CD, CL and SF. Martin Yates would be involved by email. CUCO would need to be either on the committee or coordinated with by email – Andrew Browning would be the contact. Dates and rehearsal timings for all concerts should be put together, as well as more details where appropriate. However, the specific details of programming should be left to the individual ensemble where possible. (JAW to work with JH to arrange meeting)

7. AOB

The position of CUMS II was discussed. Concerns were raised about the quality of parts of the previous term’s concert and the poor attendance to date. ES described the steps she was taking to increase the number of players. Concerns were raised that even if other problems could be fixed, if there were not enough students willing regularly to fill the places in the orchestra then CUMS II would have to cancel at least this term’s performance. It was agreed that a decision should be made on CUMS II’s short and long term future at the meeting on February 19^th. (SF, ES, MH and the CUMS II conductors to meet as a group and with the orchestra to draft up a short and long term plan)

Members of the committee were asked to pass any changes to the role of the fund raising coordinator to JW by email (all members of the committee to review word document sent out earlier this week and send their comments as soon as possible.)