Message from Karen:
I hope you all had a good break over Easter. I was delighted to hear the start of the BSO rehearsal last week and look forward to hearing some of the BS rehearsals soon.
We are still in need of a couple more committee members, so if you are at all interested in joining the committee, please let me know. If you don’t feel you can join the committee, but you’re prepared to help out in other ways, please let me know that, too.
For example, Pete Halliday has been organising refreshments at the BSO rehearsals for the past few months but, sadly for us, has decided that the May concert will be his last with BSO. If you are able to take over from Pete (on refreshments, not trumpet!) that would be fantastic.
Karen x
Karen Mason
Chair
To reply: [email protected]
From the Committee:
A couple of people have asked me to send out again this season's calendar which has the dates of next year’s concerts on the final page.
Please note that there is an important change to the January 2027 Sinfonia concert: it is now Saturday 16th January 2027 at the Great Hall, Bedford School (and NOT 23rd Jan) and Sinfonia may not be required for all Choral Society concerts.
Link to calendar: 2025 26 BOS Season Calendar (5).pdf
Further details about next season will follow shortly.
The Season Ticket for 2026-7, our anniversary year, will be on sale very soon at the start of May.
BSO Information:
Rehearsals: Wednesday 22nd April BGI 7.30pm: SECTIONALS
Please use the following spaces.
Violins: Main Hall
Violas: Sixth Form Common Room
Cellos: as last time
Double basses: as last time
Wind: as last time
Horns: as last time
Sinfonia Information:
Message from Ian:
Rehearsal schedule for 2nd May concert:
21 April Full with trombone
Message from Ann and Georgina for Publicity:
I’d love to launch a new weekly social media series called ‘Why We Play’ to introduce the wonderful people behind our orchestra to a wider audience. The aim is to share what makes our orchestra so special in order to help us attract new members and boost concert audiences in a really genuine, uplifting way.
I’m looking for volunteers to take part by sending either:
- a photo + short written answers, or
- a short video (just filmed on your phone is perfect!)
You’d simply be answering the questions in bold, for example:
Why We Play 🎻
Meet Sarah, Violin
🎶 Favourite music: Anything by Brahms
❤️ Why do you play in BOS?:
It’s the one place in my week where everything else switches off and I feel completely myself.
✨ Three words to describe BOS: Welcoming, energising, joyful
This is why we play ❤️
By sending in your content, you’d be giving consent for it to be shared publicly on our social media channels.
The easiest way to take part is just to WhatsApp me your photo/video and answers on 07735341832.
It would be fantastic to get as many of you involved as possible from all sections of the orchestra. These posts really help show the heart of what we do, and the more voices we include, the stronger that message becomes.
Thank you so much in advance. I really appreciate it and can’t wait to share your stories.
Best wishes,
Georgina
Open Rehearsal: May 6th with U3A
We’re delighted to be welcoming 40+ people from U3A Bedford/Kempston (University of the Third Age) for a visit to see us in action. This is a paid event and is therefore intended to be not only informative, but also fun, entertaining and “an experience”!
They will be seated around the orchestra and we will serve refreshments for them in the break on the terrace, if the weather is good enough. The break will be slightly extended. Bjorn will also take some time to chat to them during the rehearsal to explain what we are doing and guide them through the evening. Many thanks to him in advance!
A couple of things for you to help with the organisation:
- Please allow extra time to arrive and set up, especially if you usually use the lift (double basses)
- Put ALL your cases, coats and stuff in the theatre area behind the folding doors (behind Bjorn). With so many extra people, many of whom are elderly, we need to keep the raised seating area and floor clear to prevent anyone tripping over
- If you would like to help with serving refreshments, please let me and Georgina know on Wednesday - a team of 4 would be great, 3 for drinks and 1 for cake.
- Please come and talk to our guests during the break. We would like this to be a regular “outing” for them on their calendar and the contact with YOU is the most important part of the experience. Some are from the classical music world, some have never heard a live orchestra. The aim is that everyone finds something interesting and most of all, that they feel welcome and want to come again!
- Concert tickets will be on sale for them at the end of the evening at the Reception desk upstairs. They will start to leave at 9.15pm to give them time to leave and buy tickets before we need to leave and be out by 9.45pm
Open Rehearsal: BSO NEW RECRUITS May 20th
If you know someone who would like to find out more about possibly joining us in September in BSO (dependent on available places and suitability), do invite them to take a look at our Open Rehearsal coming up on May 20th at BGI 7.30pm.
For more info and the booking link: https://www.ticketsource.com/bedfordshire-orchestral-society/open-rehearsal-for-new-recruits-for-sept-2026/e-vrgdzd
It's a great opportunity to see if we might be a good fit and it's a wonderful chance for us to invite people in and have "the BSO experience"! Last year, we welcomed a numbert of new members and those who didn't join have become keen supporters of our work and audience members!
Best wishes
Ann and Georgina
PS to reply to Ann: [email protected]
Reply to Georgina: [email protected]
0 comments