Dear All
I hope you’re now enjoying a break from rehearsals in the busy run up to Christmas. It was lovely to hear that so many BOS memebers went to BrewPoint last week for a catch up. I was sorry I couldn’t join you.
Your committee will be meeting this Wednesday evening (17th December). If you are at all interested in joining us and filling either the Secretary and BSO Orchestral Manager positions which are currently vacant, please let one of us know before Wednesday. In the absence of any willing volunteers, we will be allocating jobs!
I am looking forward to seeing as many BS members as possible at 7.30pm tomorrow (Tuesday 16th December). This meeting will be critical for the future of BS so, if you’re not able to make the meeting but you have views on the committee’s proposals (as outlined by Jo in the last newsletter and repeated again below), please email one of the committee.
If I don’t see you before, I wish you the happiest possible Yuletide and all the very best for 2026.
Karen x
The Zoom link for the Sinfonia meeting on Tuesday at 7.30pm: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7044421352?omn=82396579835
More details below...
Karen Mason
Chair
To reply: [email protected]
From the Committee:
BSO Information:
Rehearsals: HOLIDAY TIME!
First rehearsal at the start of term: Wednesday 14th Jan 2026
Sinfonia Information: Sinfonia Financing Meeting this week
ZOOM LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7044421352?omn=82396579835
Just a reminder of the Sinfonia Financing Meeting for all members on Tuesday 16th December 2025 at 7.30pm via Zoom.
Please join if you can, as we’d really like to hear as many views on our plans for financing Sinfonia from September 2026 as possible.
Further info below:
As you know the Committee has (for many years) been trying to find a way for Sinfonia players to become members of Bedfordshire Orchestral Society and to find a way to finance Sinfonia which doesn’t rely so heavily on subsidy by BSO membership subscriptions. The Committee has looked at several different permutations but has concluded that the following may be the fairest:-
Key points:
· To establish the identity of Sinfonia as a “classical sized” orchestra
· The orchestra for the Choral Society is financed by the fee paid by BCS to BOS
· BSO players pay £165 per annum or approximately £5 per rehearsal
· For fairness it is proposed that all Sinfonia players pay the equivalent of £5 per rehearsal ie £25 per concert
o This would be for all Sinfonia players for Sinfonia concerts. (There would be no fee to play in BCS concerts)
o For fairness, people who play in BSO would also pay £25 per concert to play in Sinfonia
· Players who plan to play in all three concerts in the season would pay £75 at the start of the season, those who are not needed for all three concerts would pay for the concerts they are asked to play in.
· There will be no change to the present arrangements in the 25-26 season, and the above proposals will begin in September 2026.
We will hold a meeting via Zoom at 7.30pm on Tuesday 16th December [Link..]. This will be with Ian Smith, Karen Mason as Chair, Ann Collins as past Chair and present Publicity, myself as Treasurer and other members of the Committee, for you to bring your thoughts, comments and concerns.
We need to have reached a conclusion about how Sinfonia concerts can be financed by the end of January 2026 so that we can plan realistically for the 26-27 season.
If you have any comments or questions about the above please email Karen at [email protected] and me at [email protected]
We hope that as many Sinfonia players as possible will attend so that we can address concerns and share our thinking as fully as possible.
Sinfonia Section Leaders:
🎻 SINFONIA JANUARY CONCERT – FIXERS’ DEADLINE: TODAY
MONDAY 15 DECEMBER
Concert: Saturday 24 January 2026, All Saints, Queens Park, 7.30pm
Rehearsals: 13 January (strings), 15 January, 20 January (incl trombones), 22 January, 7.30pm – 9.45pm
The concert will feature a superb programme of female composers (Ethel Smyth, Amy Beach, Fanny Mendelssohn and Florence Price) which requires slightly larger forces than we would normally have for a Sinfonia concert: expanded woodwind, full brass, harp, percussion, and a strong string section (10 – 8 – 6 – 5 - 3).
All fixers must confirm their sections to Jane Sieling ([email protected] or on WhatsApp on 07737 043632) by Monday 15 December, please.
Please ensure your players are contacted as soon as possible so we can finalise the lineup before the Christmas break.
Thank you all for your hard work in bringing this exciting programme together.
Jane Sieling
Message from Ann for Publicity:
Dear All
Many thanks to the BSO Brass section for their Christmas photo - and surprise video. Watch out for a special and festive video which will be released on 24th December on our social media. Find us on Facebook/Instagram!
If like me, you're still looking for some final Christmas presents for those who love music, one of the best you could give is tickets to one of our 2026 concerts! Book now in 3 clicks and save yourself time and energy...: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/bedfordshire-orchestral-society
A good job done!
I’d like to thank you all for your incredible energy and help this year. Without you, we wouldn’t have sold thousands of pounds worth of tickets and brought classical music to thousands of people. Top sales team!
Have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year as we look forward to bringing orchestral music to many more people from Bedfordshire in 2026.
Best wishes
Ann
PS to reply to me: [email protected]
PPS the next newsletter will come out on the first Monday in January.
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