North West Early Music Forum Acting Chairman’s Report 2015/2016
1. NWEMF’s previous Annual General Meeting took place on 21 March 2015. Elections and re-elections on that occasion resulted in the following Committee:
Presidents: Roger Wilkes, David Allen
Vice President: Andrew Mayes
Chair: vacancy
Secretary: Ruth Stock
Treasurer: Martin Steward
Newsletter Editor: John Huthnance
Membership Secretary: Gill Lowden
Members: Elizabeth Dodd, Mark Flinn, Bob Foster, Peter Syrus, Clive Walkley.
The Committee has held two meetings since March 2015: in September 2015 and January 2016. In addition to standard administrative items (ratification of Minutes of previous meetings, receipt of Reports from Treasurer, Membership Secretary etc.), and to various other matters, as is customary members have reflected on workshops held since the previous meeting(s), have confirmed arrangements for future events, and have considered topics and tutors for the forthcoming season and beyond.
2. NWEMF has had another busy year. The following workshops and events have taken place since March 2015:
21 March: Verse Anthems by Byrd & Gibbons (William Hunt; Knutsford)
18 April: Purcell King Arthur (John Hancorn; Didsbury, Manchester)
16 May: Mediaeval Polyphony from Organum to Josquin (Donald Greig; Morley Green)
27 June: Masterpieces of the Portuguese Golden Age (David Allinson; Upton, Chester)
19 September: Music by Ludwig Senfl (Eileen Silcocks; Lancaster)
17 October: Robin Hood…Pastoral Music (Sara Stowe; Grappenhall, Warrington)
28 November: Venetian Polychoral Music (Jamie Savan; Didsbury, Manchester)
23 January: Madrigals for Spring (Martin Westhorp; Westhoughton, Lancashire)
20 February: Libera nos…Libera me (Peter Syrus; Cilcain, Clwyd).
Again, it is pleasing to report that all workshops and events, even those on more specialised topics, have been well supported, and feedback has generally been positive.
3. The Committee’s plans for the 2016-17 season are well in hand, and arrangements for the following events are already well advanced:
16 April: Handel and Bononcini (David Vickers; Didsbury, Manchester)
14 May: Battle Masses (Clive Walkley; Natland, Kendal, Cumbria)
18 June: Music by Clemens non Papa (Stephen Rice; Didsbury, Manchester).
Autumn 2016 to include:
17 September: John Hancorn – Purcell Dido & Aeneas
15 October: Ali Kinder: A Polychoral Workshop with Recorders and Viols
5 November: Robert Hollingworth & Richard Boothby – Music by Martin Peerson
26 November (tbc): Morris Davies (tutor): ‘Changing Chords’.
2017 to include:
A Vocal Workshop (Alistair Dixon)
A Brass Workshop (Adam Woolf)
A Choral Workshop in Lancaster (Justin Doyle)
A Mediaeval Workshop (Rachel Davies)
As always, though, suggestions of workshop topics, music and tutors are warmly welcomed from all members – as are offers of help with the organisation.
4. NWEMF membership totalled 128 in March 2016 compared with 121 in March 2015.
5. I would like to record my thanks to all those members of NWEMF who have contributed articles of one sort or another to the NWEMF Newsletter. In doing this, I would encourage other members who attend events to consider contribute a review of the occasion; profound scholarly insights and erudite musical knowledge are definitely not prerequisites for the task of authorship, given that other members, not present on a particular occasion, will simply appreciate an idea of what music was performed, the numbers of people taking part, and how enjoyable the workshop happened to be.
6. All members of the committee have worked tirelessly and with dedication throughout the past year, in their various capacities. Ruth, as Secretary, has continued to maintain an accurate administrative record of NWEMF’s affairs, while Martin, as Treasurer, has performed wonders in managing the Finances. Gill has dealt very thoroughly (and often tactfully) with membership and subscription issues, while John continues to produce ever-more-attractive editions of the Newsletter. Not the least task undertaken for the entire membership is that of maintaining the NWEMF web site, as well as sustaining NWEMF’s links with the other regional fora – roles which David Allen performs magnificently, both as web master and as Inter-Fora Representative. My other five colleagues may be ‘ministers without portfolio’, but are no less dedicated than their Officer colleagues, taking an active part in suggesting, organising and running events, including by corresponding with guest tutors and fixing venues – and, together with Officers working as a team, brainstorming a range of issues, especially ones related to a future programme of events which appeals to all strands of the NWEMF membership and which takes place in various venues across the region. I should single out Bob Foster, who, in compiling the Diary of Events which appears in the Newsletter, provides within it a substantial component in terms of pages and one most heavily packed with information. As with other organisations of all kinds, most of this multi-faceted work goes on behind the scenes. I would therefore like to thank most warmly all of my colleagues who have continued to give so generously of their time and energy to help maintain the vitality of NWEMF, not least as it approaches its 40th anniversary in November 2017.
Roger Wilkes
Acting Chair, NWEMF, March 2016
Following the 2016 AGM: some brief notes
A very productive AGM took place in Knutsford on 5 March, attended by 18 members. The most specific, very positive, outcome was the election of a new Chairman: Mark Bertinat. Mark was warmly applauded on his assumption of this role, and I know that we will all wish to offer him total and unequivocal support.
Any member not present at the AGM who would like to receive a copy of my Acting Chairman’s Report, as presented to the Meeting, is invited to contact me for a copy. I am happy to send the document as an email attachment, but, if you wish to have a hard copy, please send me a stamped self-addressed envelope.
[Editor’s note: I believe this refers to the report above].
Members should kindly note that, while events since March 2015 have generally been well supported, both the AGM workshop and at least one earlier one would have been cancelled if the workshop director and/or organiser had made a decision concerning its musical and/or financial viability on the day cited as a deadline for receipt of bookings (only 12 people had booked by 25 February). The Committee will doubtless deliberate on this problem when it meets in April. We do acknowledge, however, that some people are genuinely uncertain as to their ability to take part in a specific event until quite late on; organisers take this into account where possible. Do we fail to attract you, as a member who sings and/or plays ‘early’ music – or others known to you, whether or not NWEMF members – because our events take place in inaccessible locations (far from where you live), or don’t cover musical topics which most appeal to you, or (instrumentalists) do not cater for the instruments which you play (or any combination of these reasons). What are we NOT doing?
Lastly, NWEMF – formed in Manchester in November 1977 – will have its 40th birthday late next year. The Committee will discuss ways in which this anniversary can be celebrated – but your own ideas are warmly invited! Will we make it to 50 years? If so, we need (a) more younger members and (b) more active assistance from members in the organisation department (no need to join the Committee for this!)…
Roger Wilkes
