Members’ Page

This page contains info for Orchestra Members only.  If you are not a member, we suggest looking at the Home or Achievements pages for info for you

Pandemic Progress

Our activity remains on hold while Coronavirus pandemic restrictions are in place. Your committe has been working hard to try to re-establish some form of playing as soon as possible.  From August the Government guidance on the Performing Arts was relaxed so that amateur musical groups could meet and rehearse again (including wind players) provided that strict social distaincinbg was maintained.  Since then , the committee has been working hard to develop a detailed Risk Assessment and liaising with the DLT – and plans were nearing fruition.  Then the Sept 9th Announcement and ‘rule of six’ has put it all in doubt again. We are awaiting advice from Making Music and will update you as soon as we have revised the plans.

When we do re-start rehearsals we know that some members may feel unable to attend – perhaps because they are shielding, living with a vulnerable person, feel at risk, or self isolating.  We understand this and want to assure you that we will hold your place in the orchestra for you until better times.    If you are unsure of your personal level of risk this self-assessment tool issued by the BMA may be of help.

Please keep an eye on our Facebook page where you will find snippets of news about us as things develop, and light hearted stuff to keep those in facebook and our other followers aware that we haven’t gone away!

Also, the committee is exploring more creative ways we can keep in touch and work together.  We are keen for suggestions from members, so if you have any ideas, please get in touch using the info on the Contact page.

We will notify members by updating this page and by email when the situation becomes clearer.

Cancelled Concerts

We had a full year plan for concerts before Lockdown, and although it is now all on hold, we list the programmes with links to manuscript and YouTube performances so you can play your part alongside a performance if you wish.

Cancelled from 28th March 2020:

  • Tchaikovsky – Polonaise from Eugene Onegin (Manuscript see Mvt 19; Youtube)
  • Elgar – Three Bavarian Dances (Manuscript; Youtube Dance1  Dance2 Dance3)
  • Sibelius – Karelia Suite (Manuscript; Youtube)
  • Elgar – Cello Concerto, with soloist Danushka Edirisinghe (Manuscript; Youtube).  (Danushka is a member of the NYO and is taught by Ben Davies. In 2019  Danuschka won the Gregynog Young String Player of the Year Award and Leicestershire Lord Lieutenant’s Award – Young Artist of the Year 2019 – for his musical achievements.)

Cancelled from 11 July 2020 (Folk theme)

  • Vaughan Williams – Folk Song Suite; (no Manuscript;  Youtube)
  • Holst – A Somerset Rhapsody; (Manuscript; Youtube)
  • New commission from Ben Graves; (no Manuscript or Youtube – obviously!)
  • Dvorak – Symphony No 8  (Manuscript  ;  Youtube)

Planned (but unlikely) for 21 November 2020 (Russian Theme):

  • Balakirev – Overture on Three Russian Themes; (No Manuscript; Youtube)
  • Mussorgsky – Dawn at the Moskva River;  (Manuscript; Youtube)
  • Rimsky Korsakov – Trombone Concerto; (No manuscript; Youtube)
  • Tchaikovsky – Symphony No 6 (Manuscript;  Youtube)

 Rehearsals (and refreshment breaks!)

Rehearsals are held in the Theatre building at the Sherwood Rise site of the Djanogly Learning Trust, NG7 7AR (See map) on Monday evenings from 7.00 pm to 9.15 pm. If you are able to arrive a few minutes early to help put out chairs, that is really helpful.

We have a refreshment break at ‘half time’ for which we ask members to bring their own (small) mug. Three members of the Orchestra are rostered each week to provide the refreshment – so please check the Rota to see when you are scheduled.

Membership and Subs

If you are not a member but interested in joining the Orchestra, please see info on the Home page.  Members need to be able to come to rehearsals regularly – as frequent gaps make it less enjoyable for other players.

Subs should be paid by standing order – either annually in January;  or quarterly in November, February, May and August.  Currently they are  £100 per year (Please contact the treasurer, Roger Kilby, for standing order information). One exception is that membership for a full-time student is free – so don’t forget to tell Roger if you already are (or if you become) a student!

Organisation

Our orchestra is a registered charity (Charity No. 1084053) and our structure is defined in the DCO constitution. Day-to-day management is by our committee – each member of which has specific roles, as shown below.  Orchestra Members can read Minutes from committee meetings and AGM (contact the Enquiries for a password).

staff_jackyfisherChairperson: Jacky Fisher.
Jacky has been a member of the cello section since 2001, and is currently the committee Chairperson. She largely retired a few years ago from her job as a social worker in the field of disability. She hides at the back of the cello section, but loves the opportunity to make great music in a full-scale orchestra.
staff_rogerkilby
Treasurer: Roger Kilby. 
Roger has been playing violin with the orchestra since about 1995. He started learning at school and continued at University,  and is still involved in other string groups and choirs. Roger enjoys our Orchestra because he finds both the friendly atmosphere a real tonic after a day’s work, and because it presents the opportunity to tackle some genuinely challenging pieces of music.
 staff_johnthurstonSecretary & Website manager: John Thurston.
John joined the committee in 2012. He plays tenor trombone and joined the orchestra in 2008. Having played for many years previously only in a church music group, the transition to orchestra was challenging at times but was greatly helped and encouraged by other members of the Orchestra.
staff_cathlovatt Membership Secretary and Facebook manager: Cath Lovatt. 
Cath joined the committee in 2013. She plays clarinet, which she started at school (even performing with a very young Nigel Kennedy!). What she really likes about playing with Djanogly is that nobody cares about your day job – it’s just about making music. Her favourite from Djanogly repertoire is Aaron Copeland’s Appalachian Spring – mainly for the lovely clarinet solos.
staff_lauraewartDjanogly Learning Trust Liaison and Concert Programmes: Laura Ewart.
Laura is a member of the trumpet section of the orchestra. Her role on the committee are to write and produce the programmes for all of our concerts. She also works at the Djanogly Learning Trust which helps us enormously in the liaison and organisation of concerts and rehearsals.
staff_robynscottchaplin Concert Activities Manager: Robyn Scott-Chaplin.
Robyn joined the orchestra committee in 2015 where her remit is to Manage activities for each concert. She joined the Orchestra in 2000 as a very new percussionist, and is now our chief timpanist. She only became a committee member after cutting down on her day job, and loves to hear how music is created in front of our ears – just like magic!
staff_susansullivanConcert Venue Manager: Susan Sullivan.
Susan joined the orchestra in 2016 and the committee in 2017. She has been keen choral singer for many years, and decided to learn an instrument in retirement.  Wanting one that you neither have to hold up nor blow down, she decided on the cello. She is enjoying playing in the friendly cello section.

Other Roles

staff_stephenhowarth Leader: Stephen Howarth.
Stephen joined the Orchestra in 2006. As Leader, he has an honorary role on the committee. He started learning violin age 5 and was heavily involved in performing music throughout his whole of his school life and his career as Chemical Engineer. He says that the Orchestra is full of welcoming and friendly musicians who enjoy making music together and putting on a good performance.
staff_emmagrishin Librarian: Emma Grishin.
Emma (who plays flute)  is our Librarian.  She hires or buys the music we need for our rehearsals and concerts, distributing it to players, and collecting it up and returning it after the concert. Emma is not committee members but contributes a vital role to the smooth runnung of the Orchestra.