CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
A Committee Meeting was held on 5 March 2010 at 1 pm in the Faculty Board Room,
Faculty of Music
Present
Executive Officers: Rachel Croft (RSC), Chloe Davidson (CD), Maggie Heywood (MH), Jennifer Howells (JH), Harry Ogg (HO), Nick Shaw (NS), Emma Smith (ES), Angie White (AW)
Co-opted members: John Barber (JB), Robert Culshaw (RC), Simon Fairclough (SF), Chris Lawrence (CL), Jo Whitehead (JWh), John Willan (JWi)
Andrew Browning (AB)
Simon Fairclough was in the Chair. Christine Skeen took the minutes.
1. Apologies were received from Stephen Cleobury, Martin Ennis, Caroline Goulder, Paul Nicholson, Helen Taylor
2. Minutes of the last meeting were agreed after the addition of Robert Culshaw under '1.Apologies'
3. Matters arising: '4. Artistic planning committee update': a meeting was to be held on the evening of 5 March.
4. Introducing CUCO and its plans for the future (AB): Following acceptance of the proposed CUCO/CUMS merger at CUMS' AGM, members at CUMC's EGM on 22 February also agreed unanimously that CUCO and the chamber music series should come under the CUMS umbrella, that the Club should be formally disbanded, and that its assets and liabilities should be transferred to CUMS. AB thanked all those who had made it possible.
He summarised CUCO's plans for the future: on 6 March the Nigel Brown prize concert at West Road; the following week King's Chapel Foundation Service; 1st May CUCO's final concert of the year which would be the launch concert of CUCO/CUMS; probably an engagement at St John's May Ball; 2010-11 events to be discussed at a meeting later on 5 March - in the pipeline being events involving Oxford, Camsight in November, a possible Stravinsky première.
Regarding organisation, AB wondered whether events should be fixed before budgeting or vice versa. He had many dates on hold for next year. JW said events should be fixed first. A new committee was being considered along with job descriptions and AB planned to draft these plus a budget over the Easter holiday. Should he present his findings to the CUMS committee? JW told him to state what he wanted and we would respond. Action: AB
AB would like to align the time for gaining access to set up rehearsals at West Road with CUMS, i.e. 19.00 rather than 19.30. Action: AB and CD
AB spoke of the desirability of a single adult mentor for CUCO, which role Stephen Cleobury had fulfilled in the form of senior treasurer for more than 25 years. He thought a gift for SC would be a fitting mark of CUCO's appreciation. Action: AB
Marketing was discussed. Arrangements for CUMS to help with this would be made after the general announcement about the merger had gone out following the Nigel Brown concert on 6 March. A decision would need to made as to the point at which the programme would be all-inclusive of both parties. Action: AB, CD, SF
JW wondered what help JH would be able to offer in booking artists. As an example AB said the agents for next year's November concert had agreed the booking and wanted to know the fee CUCO were prepared to pay but he did not know, in CUCO's new circumstances. SF said bookings needed to be resolved in the short term while good artists were available and JW suggested CUCO proceed independently, liaising with JH regarding contracts. JWi added that Martin Yates would probably play with CUCO if invited to do so, but he was not expecting to do so as a matter of course. Action: AB, JH
Once term had finished, next steps for booking next year's artists could be discussed.Action: SF,AB
NS said now that CUMS made a charge for programmes, costs had been more than covered, and AB said CUCO did the same. CL said that from 1st May all programmes should have a unified 'CUMS' look.
SF wished to have recorded CUMS' delight in welcoming CUCO and the chamber music series, and thanks to AB and his committee for their hard work and their vision in making the merger possible.
5. CUMS lunchtime recitals 2010-2011(CL):CL talked through the distributed paper (Appendix I). The Britten Sinfonia were very happy to collaborate on regular Tuesdays; it was noted that their concerts started at 1.00, CUMS at 1.05. 19 October was proposed for the CUMS launch.
(CD left the meeting)
The use of the Recital Room could be considered for 22 February 2011. CL liked the idea of not having a break for Easter; in the Easter term there was not much opportunity due to exams. CL urged that a ticketing system should be avoided in favour of selling programmes on the door and having a retiring collection. He said Martin Ennis was keen to tie in the series with the Instrumental Awards Scheme. CL was currently talking to Chris Lines of Radio 3 who broadcast all Britten Sinfonia concerts; they might be interested in CUMS too. CL proposed that a commitment should be made to his suggestions and invited comments.
RSC pointed out that the Recital Room held an audience of maximum 60.
RC proposed that student admission should be free. JW suggested, and CL agreed, that the series be launched as free with a retiring collection in the first year thus allowing for any subsequent adjustment. Once up and shown to be running successfully it should not be difficult to get a sponsor. The series would also need a very good marketing plan since it was separate from our usual programme. SF suggested advertising on the Sidgwick site, having plenty of students nearby. JW added that charities and groups for retired people could be a fruitful source, whereby CUMS sold them discounted tickets which they sold on full price to their members, especially if they were told they could hold a collection for themselves at the end. This scheme had worked well with the Alzheimers Society, and U3A and MacMillan were potential future partners. Such groups would need ample notice.
JW wondered whether all the recitals would be chamber music - or maybe some jazz? CL said perhaps the CU jazz group could play in the summer.
Replying to SF's idea of a May Week launch for the series, AW and CL said it tended to be too busy
a time; October would be better and AW suggested delaying the launch till after 19 October to allow more rehearsal time but CL said the first recital could be given by alumni and friends back from the RAM, RCM, Guildhall or similar.
(RC left the meeting)
After some discussion the title of the series was agreed as CUMS Lunchtime Concerts.
6. CUMS II update (ES): it was reported that issues with the trumpet and double basses had been resolved.
CL wondered how comparable the CUMS I and II programmes were (the former glossy, latter A4 fold); he stressed the importance of uniformity and brand image. RSC said CUWO also used A4 fold and pointed out that CUMS I provided much more information. JW suggested a glossy A5 cover with consistent material and information for use by all ensembles, the inserts being produced by each as appropriate. It could change every season. The discussion would be continued outside the meeting Action:CD, AW, ES, RSC and Peter Ducker (typesetting)
(MH left the meeting)
7. Update from Development Committee: JW spoke for RC who had left the meeting. A supporter was to be hired for CD; Jennifer Goodyer's (fundraising assistant) role was to be developed. SF said £25k needed to be raised to support next year's plans. NS said more should be forthcoming from colleges; CL was speaking with them the following week. It was not unreasonable to expect funds from them since CUMS hired instruments to students at a favourable rate. Some bursars had already asked for names of students from their colleges who were with CUMS.
8. Update on Martin Yates (JWi):discussion was to be ongoing at that evening's programming meeting, covering retainer fees and a possible one year contract. It was encouraging that Yates was willing to come to Cambridge frequently despite CUMS' modest means. RSC wondered if he would work with all student conductors; JWi said this would need to be defined in the first year as it was a new venture for both parties. RSC said there should be collaboration so that all ensembles/student conductors had access to Martin. It would depend on the size of the retainer. JWi pointed out that Yates would be giving added value; feedback would be needed from the ensembles.
Information on the meeting later that day would be circulated to the committee. Action: JWi
(JWi left the meeting)
9. Update on proposed new hire: information on this would be circulated to the committee Action: CD
10. AGM guidelines (JWh): the committee agreed these were robust. Details would need to be arranged well before the next AGM Action: SF
11. AOB: a) SF spoke of brand image. The opportunity now presented itself to speak to Peter Ducker about a change. Thoughts about the image and making its impact at the 1st May concert could be exchanged by email the week after next. Action: SF, AB,CD
b) The Garden Party would be held on 13 June in the President's Garden at Queens' College. SF suggested re-establishing the tradition of inviting non-members for a small sum; it would help to raise CUMS' profile.
c) CUMS II/CUWO concert 2011: 26 May to replace 19 May which should be deleted. Each student conductor would have half the concert. Action: JH
d) 'Musical entrepreneurs': JWh could probably find backers from the Judge Institute to judge a contest of young musicians' ideas requiring funding (eg an ensemble trip abroad). Such exposure would give CUMS a broader image across the university. SF said the current group of students from there working with us might be able to talk to groups and find out what they wanted. Action: JWh
The meeting closed at 14.12