Dear All
With the north wind blowing today after a glorious summery week, I feel that Autumn is coming and indeed our Autumn Sinfonia concert is only a few weeks away now!
Many thanks for your subscriptions that are coming in. For those who haven’t received a paper copy at rehearsals, here is a digital copy for you to download: BOS Membership FORM 2025-26 v2 (2).docx
A reminder please that we would appreciate your help to complete subscriptions by the end of September. Any problems, please email Jo, our Treasurer: [email protected]
BSO Information:
Rehearsal: Wednesday 24th September
Time: 7.30pm - be seated by 7.25pm
Finish: 9.30pm
Venue: Bedford Greenacre Independent School, Manton Lane
Message from Bjorn:
Repertoire for this week:
REHEARSAL 24th SEPTEMBER
MENDELSSOHN - MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM OVERTURE AND INCIDENTAL MUSIC (BRASS SPARINGLY USED….)
OVERTURE
SCHERZO
INTERMEZZO
NOCTURE
WEDDING MARCH
DANCE OF THE CLOWNS
DVORAK THIRD MOVEMENT (NO TROMBONES)
Committee News:
AGM invitation:
Dear Member,
On behalf of the trustees of BOS, I am pleased to invite you to our Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will be held on:
Date: Thursday 2nd October 2025
Time: 7pm-8pm
Venue/Link: Online on Zoom - click on the link to join https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7044421352?omn=86296418740
AGM minutes from previous year, October 2024, available here: Oct 16 2024 Minutes AGM.docx
The AGM Report is available here for you to read in advance: Bedfordshire Orchestral Society (BOS) – 2025 AGM Report (8).pdf
The Treasurer’s Report is here: Bedfordshire Orchestral Society AGM 2.10.25 Finance Report.pdf
We need a Chair! Without the Chair, the Charity can not function! The workload has in recent years been untenable, but with the recent creation of two Orchestra Managers, a 5 year plan in progress with budgetary decisions made in advance, this should make the role much more manageable.
For a job description and a chat about it, please reply to me.
This is open to ALL members - young, not so young, new/old members. You don’t need to know anything about running an arts organisation, just be willing to learn on the job! With the Orchestra Manager roles now separated out, most of the job of Chair is having a strategic vision of where we are going, communicating with a lot of people both within and outside of the organisation to make sure things happen and prioritising on that basis!
If you wish to stand for Chair or any of the elected positions, please put your name forward by emailing me by replying to this email.
If you wish to raise an item under Any Other Business, please submit this in writing to the Hon. Secretary, Julia Lence, by September 21st: [email protected]
Please find the Order of Business below.
We look forward to welcoming you to the meeting.
With best wishes,
Ann Collins
Interim Chair
Bedfordshire Orchestral Society
Order of Business
- Welcome & Introductions – Chair welcomes everyone, confirms quorum.
- Apologies – Secretary notes who couldn’t attend.
- Approval of Minutes of Last AGM – Members approve.
- Chair’s Report – Review of the year.
- Treasurer’s Report & Presentation of Accounts – Questions & approval.
- Appointment of the President of the BOS: Baroness Young of Old Scone
- Appointment of Auditors/Examiners
- Election/Re-election of Trustees/Officers – As per constitution.
- 5 Year Plan Preparation: Idea-gathering Exercise for all Members
Discussion groups: (this may change depending on numbers)
- Sinfonia in 5 years’ time: “the dream” (hopes/expectations)
- BSO in 5 years’ time: “the dream”
- What does “music education” look like for us in 2030 and beyond? (Our key objective in the Constitution)
- Audience and Membership Outreach: how to sell 3000 tickets every season and increase and diversify the profile of our members
- Financial sustainability: what does it look like in 2030 and beyond?
(Members choose one working group to join. Group discussion for 15 minutes and one person from each group feeds back the discussion points.)
- Any Other Business (AOB) – Pre-submitted or approved items.
- Closing Remarks & Thanks – Chair ends the meeting.
Two messages from Jo Ploszajski Hon Treasurer:
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
- As of Friday morning, the Society had received 30 membership payments. Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed. I estimate that this is about half of the number of potential members. The Committee would be so grateful if all membership subscriptions could be paid (and forms completed) by the end of September. Thank you so much in anticipation.
You can find a membership form here BOS Membership FORM 2025-26 v2 (2).docx with details of payment amounts and the Society’s Bank details.
If you have any difficulties with payments please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected]
- As you are aware I will present the Treasurer's Report of Financial Activities and Results at the AGM on 2nd October. Details above. There is a link to the full report (only 3 pages!) also above, but here is an AI generated summary to stimulate your curiosity to learn more about how the Society can sustain financial viability and to encourage you to read the full report!!
AI Generated Summary of the BOS Finance Report Yr ending 31st July 2025:
Financial Summary
- Total receipts for the 2024-25 season increased by £8,248 to £33,994, driven by a 37% rise in subscription income and doubled ticket sales.
- Income from Bedford Choral Society decreased due to fewer concerts, resulting in a loss of approximately £3.5K.
- A £2,500 grant from Gale Family Charitable Trust supported outreach efforts, including free tickets for under-18s, supplemented by individual donations totalling £1,052.
- Total expenditure was £41,927, leading to a loss of £7,967, with costs rising due to carried-over creditors, advanced payments, and increased miscellaneous expenses.
- Reserves are now at £16,385.61, significantly below the required 75% of annual expenditure, necessitating a plan to rebuild reserves to £30K.
Cost Reduction and Revenue Enhancement Measures
- Implemented cost-saving strategies include reducing programme printing, limiting payments to professional players, and a recruitment drive for new members.
- Membership subscriptions increased to £165, with additional voluntary donations encouraged. Ticket prices to rise to £20, while payments from Bedford Choral Society were negotiated to £3.5K per concert.
- Grants have been applied for to support various initiatives, including equipment purchases and the Young Composers Competition, and the Society is exploring commercial sponsorship opportunities.
Future Plans
- The Society will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2027 alongside Beethoven's 250th anniversary, programming significant works to attract funding and support.
- A new “Friends’ Scheme” will invite donations to bolster financial stability, while ongoing efforts will focus on securing grants and enhancing community engagement.
- A five-year financial sustainability plan is underway to ensure long-term viability and ambitious programming.
A reminder about the Young Composers’ Competition May 2026: entries can now be submitted!
FB link to the post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AgSCmff8i/?mibextid=wwXIfr
If you’re a teacher or a music student, take a look and share!
Have a wonderful week!
Hit reply to reply to me or email: [email protected]
With best wishes
Ann Collins
Interim Chair
From our friends:
Next Saturday 27th September, there is a Wootton Upper School Alumni concert with many of our BOS members involved.
For more details and tickets:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/bedford/wootton-upper-school/wootton-alumni-concert/e-vzylgl
A wonderful opportunity to hear Gramophone Award nominated star Charlie Lovell-Jones playing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. Bedford players and audiences will remember him from his stunning performance of the Britten Concerto earlier this year.
The concert is in aid of the Milton Keynes Cancer Centre, where conductor Catherine Rose was treated during 2022. It includes Rossini’s Overture the Italian Girl in Algiers and Haydn’s Symphony No 92 (The Oxford).
Date: Saturday 4th October at 7.20 pm
Venue: Stantonbury Theatre, Milton Keynes
Tickets: £15 from www.stantonburytheatre.co.uk
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