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From the President, June 2008
- Thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of our May non-residential weekend – wonderful to have so many people helping to clear up at the end!
I think it was a token of how much we all enjoyed ourselves. We were given a great start with the soirée, which included a huge range of players, from solos by three young Spensley Street Primary School performers to the Well Aird consort who have been playing together for close to forty years.
Spensley Street was a comfortable venue, the principal and staff called by and took a real interest in our playing, and we had very positive feedback from participants on the different sessions.
A special thank-you must go to Marion Maddern, who provided musical examples to help people indicate the level they play at – this really helped the committee in setting up the small ensemble groups and the tutors in selecting music.
Two aspects of the weekend could have been improved:
the classrooms were cold on the Saturday (though the school responded very quickly when we phoned them to ask for the central heating to be turned on); and it would have been good to have more people!
Several people had to cancel at the last minute and we fell just short of our break-even point.
A report on the weekend is included later in this newsletter.
The committee is now turning its thoughts to October and our residential weekend at Myrniong.
Do get in touch with a member of the committee if you have ideas for themes or sessions at this weekend - we are starting to organise it now!
A booking form will come with your July newsletter.
More immediately, the Early Music Society are participating with us in a polychoral blow-in on 22 June – a wonderful opportunity to play with other instruments, and hopefully accessible to all.
And for July, there are still some spaces in the program for our ‘Focus on Youth’ soirée (players under 25 especially welcome).
Also, we have just located an agency in South Australia which provides very low-cost computer software to voluntary organisations – this is DonorTec, which has negotiated arrangements with companies such as Microsoft for essentially free software.
More on this next time.
On a wider front, we’re looking at encouraging summer schools at the universities, along with classes at community centres.
For younger players, the Don Cowell Memorial Trust has agreed to contribute some support to recorder playing at eisteddfods... We’re on the move!
Kate Patrick
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 Spring weekend 2006: Lake Burnbrae, Myrniong
We’ve had lots of positive feedback on this year’s Spring Weekend, which started with the inspiration of a concert by Sospiro and had a rousing first session with a range of percussion instruments as well as recorders under the leadership of Barb
Praetz.
Tutors were Barb Williams, Barb Praetz, Rachel
Snedden, Liz Zetzmann, Jill Ferris, Katrina Dowling, Cavin Adams and Ursula Grawe – a great team and very thoughtful preparation.
An array of soloists inspired us in Marillier’s Lorne Concerto, led by Diane Draper on the Sunday afternoon; thanks to Di Rex, too, on the keyboard.
 Fifty participants – more than enough to tackle the 40-part Tallis Spem in Alium led by Rachel
Snedden, and we were able to play right through it twice. There were people who are new to the Guild (and who are now members - welcome!), a wonderful group of young players from Albury/Wodonga/the Kiewa Valley, led by Ursula
Genaehr, and two visitors from the Sydney Society of Recorder Players, who got together a quartet to play us their 50th anniversary piece Angels by Lance Eccles, and kindly presented the Guild with a copy for the library.
 Almost every aspect of the weekend was mentioned as being “the best” by someone: the friendly atmosphere, getting to know others, companionship; the Lorne Concerto, the
Tallis, the first Big Blow with Barb Praetz, playing with different groups and leaders (“the music was challenging but not too hard!”), the special sessions (new thoughts to chew on, great handouts, Sospiro’s interesting approach to playing with other instruments); the fantastic tutors; the excellent contributions to the happy hour (including a crabby German snail); the food, the venue, the helpful staff.
There were a few issues which we will try to iron out next time: uneven skills in some groups; some people would have liked a little more free time; mattresses still too thin (the YMCA has recently taken over the venue, we have suggested they buy new mattresses). A comment on the venue: “Great, lovely for walks – shame not enough time to do this”!
From a first timer:
“The best aspect was the big blows. The concert was great and it was good to play a range of different music in the home group. It was great to have the new experience of playing with lots of other people. [Suggestions for next time?] I’d like longer breaks between playing music.”
From a participant who has attended many Guild weekends:
“Good attendance – plenty of new faces, especially young children and interstate people. Concert was excellent, home group was very good, I learnt much from the special sessions. Overall experience was excellent.”
We have booked Myrniong for 5–7 October 2007. Do put it in your diary now!
Kate Patrick
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