Oxford and Cambridge Musical Club

2008 New Year Letter from the Chairman

To all club members

Once more we have had a wonderful year of concerts which were inventive, interesting, inspiring, and deserving of many more complimentary adjectives. Unfortunately they were not always well-attended. I know I say this every year but you really are missing one of life’s real pleasures if you don’t go, quite apart from value for money for your subscriptions! The standard of performance and the choice of music seems to improve all the time. I always come away from the concerts feeling quite uplifted, not only by the music, but by the opportunity to see and talk to people with similar interests. It would make a good New Year resolution – go to more OCMC concerts!

Having said that, of course many people take part in or organise these events, and I would like to thank them on behalf of us all. Thanks are very much due also to all our committee members and the people behind the scenes, co-ordinators, web-master etc. The Club could not continue to function without them.

The autumn opera has not yet been decided, but you will all be notified as soon as possible so that singers can ask to be considered for particular roles. Before that though, on April 26th, I will be conducting Purcell’s “The Fairy Queen”. There are lots of solos for all voices in this work, most of them short, but I would hope all soloists would sing in the choir too. I also hope to use Baroque instruments, so please let me know very soon if you play one. In the case of strings, I have talked to a couple of players who would be willing to re-string with gut, tune down a semitone, and acquire a Baroque bow, which would be quite OK. It would be very satisfying if it could be an entirely Club occasion.

I’m sure that we can all look forward to another wonderful year of music-making and listening. The AGM is very early this year – 23rd Feb. I hope you will all try to come. It will be my last as Chairman: after 10 years I have decided that the Club would benefit from a change and have been lucky enough to persuade Mike Crowe to follow me. I’m sure he will be the ideal choice. I have very much enjoyed my time ‘at the helm’, and feel privileged to have been Chairman of such a wonderful institution. I intend to stay on the committee for a while and continue to enjoy all the joys which the Club brings.

With all good wishes to you all for a happy, healthy and musically fulfilling 2008

Lyn Parkyns, January 2008

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