Dear All
I hope BSO members are looking forward to the last rehearsal of the year (a sectional) on Wednesday and a well-deserved break after that.
Please remember that there is a social afterwards at Brewpoint for any BOS members (that’s members of BSO and BS). Please join us if you’re over 18 and would like to. There’s more information below.
If you haven’t already filled in the feedback form / survey, you won’t be able to drink too much or stay too long, as you need to do that by midnight on 10 December ;)
For BS players, a reminder that there is an online meeting at 7.30pm on Tuesday 16th December. Please do log on if you can. The committee would very much appreciate your views. Again, there are more details below.
I hope to see some or all of you at the BSO rehearsal, Brewpoint and/or the meeting on the 16th. If I don’t. I hope you have a lovely break and look forward to catching up with you in the new year.
Karen x
Karen Mason
Chair
To reply to Karen: [email protected]
From the Committee:
You spoke, we listened… At the AGM, we had a request to reinstate post-rehearsal pub visits.
SOCIAL EVENT FOR Sinfonia and BSO:
Christmas Pub Visit: Wednesday 10th Dec - (if you are over 18) you are invited to join us at Brewpoint from 9.45pm after the BSO rehearsal for a Christmas drink. Just turn up! (They close at 11pm, so it'll be a quick drink!)
Brewpoint has a relaxed pub/restaurant vibe with plenty of parking at the front door. A good range of non-alcoholic drinks are served as well as normal pub fare and there should be space for us to gather round some of the larger tables.
We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
Brewpoint: www.brewpoint.co.uk
Cut Throat Lane
Bedford, United Kingdom
MK41 7FY
BSO Information: Last week of term!
Rehearsals: Sectionals this week at BGI at 7.30pm.
Room allocations:
Brass and timps: in the main hall
Violins: upstairs - follow Olivia to the open plan area
All other sections: where you were last time.
Sinfonia Information:
🎻 SINFONIA JANUARY CONCERT – FIXERS’ DEADLINE: 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.
To assist with fixing, here is the full breakdown of instrumentalists Ian has requested for this concert:
1. Ethel Smyth – The Wreckers Overture
Woodwind:
- 2 Flutes + Piccolo
- Oboes + Cor Anglais
- 2 Clarinets + Bass Clarinet
- 2 Bassoons + Contra Bassoon
Brass:
- 4 Horns
- 2 Trumpets
- 3 Trombones
- 1 Tuba
Percussion:
- Timpani
- 1 Percussionist
Other:
- Harp
Strings:
- 10 – 8 – 6 – 5 – 3
2. Amy Beach – Gaelic Symphony No. 2
Woodwind:
- 3 Flutes
- 3 Oboes
- 3 Clarinets
- 2 Bassoons
Brass:
- 4 Horns
- 2 Trumpets
- 3 Trombones
- 1 Tuba
Percussion:
- Timpani
- 1 Percussionist (triangle)
Strings:
- 10 – 8 – 6 – 5 – 3
3. Fanny Mendelssohn – Overture in C
Woodwind:
- 2 Flutes
- 2 Oboes
- 2 Clarinets
- 2 Bassoons
Brass:
- 4 Horns
- 2 Trumpets
Percussion:
- Timpani
Strings:
- 10 – 8 – 6 – 5 – 3
4. Florence Price – Symphony No. 1
Woodwind:
- 2 Flutes
- 2 Piccolos
- 2 Oboes
- 2 Clarinets
- 2 Bassoons
Brass:
- 4 Horns
- 2 Trumpets
- 3 Trombones
- 1 Tuba
Percussion:
- Timpani
- 1 Percussionist
Strings:
- 10 – 8 – 6 – 5 – 3
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
Orchestra Manager
Bedford Sinfonia
Sinfonia Financing meeting 16 December 2025 7.30 pm via Zoom – open to all members
ZOOM LINK FOR THE MEETING: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7044421352?omn=82396579835
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:
Message from Ian:
I hope some players at least will be able to join in the debate about future financing of Bedford Sinfonia. I most sincerely wish the Sinfonia to continue beyond the 25-26 season and look forward to hearing members’ thoughts.
Meanwhile, a very Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year to all Sinfonia members.
Message from Ann for Publicity:
Sinfonia members! You have a gem of a concert coming up in January!
We need to sell 200 tickets and we've sold about 25 so far.
Please start selling now as January comes round very quickly!
If each of you sell 10 tickets, we'll sell out in advance, which is on my Christmas list....
We're celebrating....
BSO Concert Review - written by Elias, one of our Youth Ambassadors, who is hoping to join BSO very soon on the violin and doing his Duke of Edinburgh Award with us by helping me with writing articles and joining our Youth Ambassador's team! Thank you, Elias for a fabulous article and congratulations on your first press article!
Click here to read it: https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/review-bedfordshire-symphony-orchestras-first-concert-of-the-season/
From our friends:
Bedford Choral Society with Ian Smith have their Christmas concert at the Corn Exchange coming up next Saturday. With lots of lovely carols to get you into the Christmas mood!
Chamber Music Course 35 Years' Celebration!
Book your place now... this is aimed at all past and present players and staff who have participated in Chamber Music Courses over the last 35 years. Email Jan for more info. I hear there are plans for great food too...
Editor's addition: I attended the very first one and played a Shostakovich quartet! Changed my musical life! Ann x PS Yes, it does mean I am that old!!!
Best wishes
Ann
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