2007 AGM Minutes

The Harsnett Choir

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at the University of Winchester,
9 August 2007

Present

David Weekes (Chair)
Ed Sutton (Musical Director)

John Bridger, Sylvia Bridger, Bill Caldow, Bobbie Caldow, David Cole, Barbara Elliott, Heather Everett, Mark Harris, Malcolm Hollis, Sally Johnson, Anne Jones, Catherine Kelly, Jerry King, Sarah King, Frank Manning, Gill Mapley, Karen Mortley, Alison Norris, Helen Petchey, Alan Power, Vera Price, Graham Spearman, John Taylor, Clavell Tripp, Geoff Walker, Sally Walker, Rosemary Wells and Martin Woods

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were taken from Heather Bower, Derek Perry and John Price.

2. MINUTES OF 2006 AGM

The minutes of the 2006 Annual General Meeting, held at the Norwich Sportspark, were approved subject to the correction of minor typographical errors.

3. MATTERS ARISING

There were no matters arising.

4. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

“The last twelve months have been quite eventful in the history of the Harsnett Choir, firstly of course because of the retirement after 21 years of John Rippin and his replacement by Ed Sutton, whom we have been delighted to welcome following a rigorous selection process. I would like to thank the members of the sub-committee convened for that purpose for the time and effort they put in to achieve that result. Thanks also to Anne Jones and Mark Harris, who took on the joint secretaryship – and I pay tribute to the extreme efficiency which they have displayed. Sally Johnson has arranged the accommodation for this week splendidly – my thanks to her and to Graham, who helped her with that task, and of course for all he does for us as Treasurer. I should also like to thank Geoff Walker for his continued supervision of the robes and Bill and Bobbie Caldow for making St Barnabas available for our rehearsals.

“On a slightly sad note we say goodbye to two of our longest serving members – Catherine Kelly, who has been singing with us since 1990, and of course Derek Perry for even longer. We thank them both for their loyalty and shall miss them very much.

“Finally may I thank the members of the Committee for their time in helping to ensure the smooth running of the choir. We are also very pleased that Rosemary Wells is joining the committee as choir librarian, and we thank her and Brenda for looking after the music for us this week.

“As regards the future, I have agreed to serve one more year as your Chairman, if that is your wish, but take this opportunity to put the choir on notice that I shall stand down this time next year. I have enjoyed my time as Chairman very much, but feel that a new face in the chair will be good for the choir.”

5. MUSICAL DIRECTOR’S REPORT

“I shan’t speak for too long – it’s not like I’m known for it! I am new to the Harsnett Choir and I have been received with a very warm welcome. I should also like to thank David for describing me so kindly as ‘a result’.

“Rochester 1: We started our time together with Evensong at Rochester Cathedral. I deliberately threw you into the deep end to see how you would cope with an 8-part anthem and I was pleased with the result. You sang well and responsively.

“Canterbury: With only a limited rehearsal time for Canterbury we sang music that, although it was not easier, was much better known. After initial concerns over copies and with organ balance the choir sang brilliantly and, most helpfully to me, were patient while problems were resolved (Secretary’s note: Steve Barker, who runs the choir at Hackington—where we practised in the morning—attended the service and complimented us on our singing).

“Rochester 2: We returned to Rochester for a whole Sunday. Sunday-only singing is very hard: there is no time in situ, on the organ, with the vergers, etc. The practice time is hugely limited, but this is what Cathedral singing is all about and we put in a sterling effort. With only a few slip-ups we managed admirably.

“Saturday and Sunday singing is much more rewarding. With (usually) three services and larger congregations, weekend residencies are much easier. There is more time to rehearse and more time to get to know the building, the organ, the vergers and the set-up.

“Organists: I have, on behalf of the choir, thanked all the organists – Tim Storey, John Moore-Bridger, David Stratkauskas and Chris Burton.   Our organists do a difficult job in places and on instruments they do not know. A good organist makes my job so very much easier.

“The Harsnettt Choir has proved itself to be a welcoming, accepting and friendly bunch. I’ve very much enjoyed working with you these past months and always look forward to our next outing. I’d like to thank you all for your hard work, dedication and especially for the support you have shown me.”

6. FINANCIAL MATTERS

6.1 Treasurer’s Report

Graham reported that income in the year to 31 October 2006 had been £1427 and expenditure £290, a net Choir income of £1137 including a surplus of £844 on the Norwich week. The explanation for the Norwich surplus lay in the inefficiency of the University in handling receipts and payments from the Choir, for which they had by way of compensation allowed one night free. The surplus had been retained in Choir funds rather than returned   to members in order to build up reserves and reduce the rate at which subscriptions would otherwise have to increase in order to meet the higher level of expenditure now being incurred. The Meeting approved this course of action.

Graham also reported that the Bursary Fund had remained at £289.00.

Bobbie asked about the donation to St Barnabas, and it was agreed that the incoming Committee would consider this.                                                           (Action: Committee)

It was unanimously agreed to adopt the accounts.

6.2 Subscription for 2008

Graham proposed that the subscription be raised to £20 for 2008, as had been suggested at the previous year’s AGM, and (subject to review of the Choir’s financial health) to £25 in 2009.

It was unanimously agreed that the subscription should be raised to £20 in 2008.

7. SECRETARIES’ REPORT

“This is the first report from us, the Dynamic Duo, and if you so choose we will gladly make it our last.

“A year ago we were all somewhat apprehensive about the future of Harsnett Choir. Perhaps not unnaturally so when both Judith Roads and Chris Moore decided to end their association with the Choir at about the same time as John Rippin decided he would step down and there were no events planned beyond the Winchester week. However, any fears seem to have been unjustified.

“Members will remember that a subcommittee was set up last year to search for a new Musical Director, and at an auditioning afternoon in the autumn a clear favourite emerged in Ed, who is looking remarkably unfazed after nearly a year of Harsnetting. It is pleasing to add as a passing note that one of the unsuccessful candidates at audition, David Stratkauskas, played the organ for us at Canterbury and will be playing for us again next year.

“Under Ed’s leadership we have had half a dozen guest singers sing with us this year, and we are glad to say that five of them have been offered membership. The sixth is working abroad for several months, but we hope that she will want to join us when she returns to these shores. The membership list is not closed, though, and we would still welcome suggestions. Whilst on the subject of membership we should mention that during the year the Committee unanimously agreed that Sarah King should be admitted to full membership. Sarah, we welcome you.

“We have been involved in the search for organists this year, as they have been a little elusive. Absence, it has been remarked, is the only quality of organists that is generally recognised.   At least, it is when Mark’s playing.

“And now we must say a few words of thanks. First, to Judith Roads for her help in ensuring an orderly handover of Choir material. We have tried to trouble her as little as possible and she is quietly grateful for having got her life back. At the same time we must thank Rosemary for having taken on the role of Choir Librarian, thereby relieving us of the burden of having our respective box rooms full of boxes of music. And, though it is invidious to single out individuals, Sylvia Bridger for her perseverance with Llandaff Cathedral, who in June this year finally confirmed that we’re ok to have our summer week there in 2008.

“Second, to the churches and choir directors who have kindly loaned us music for free: St Barnabas, Woodford; St Mary’s, Woodford; All Saints, Edmonton; and St Stephen’s, Hackington, for last-minute help with the Stanford that we sang at Canterbury. To that roll of honour we must add St Andrew’s, Backwell, and St Mary the Virgin, Bury St Edmunds. Since this report was drafted, Malcolm has kindly offered the loan of music from his church, and we look forward to seeing the catalogue soon. By the same token, if any other members’ churches are willing to let Harsnett Choir borrow music, we would be very grateful to have a list of what they have available.

“Third, to the cathedral authorities who have made us welcome this past year: Ely, Rochester (where they liked us so much that they invited us back to sing a whole Sunday’s worth of services), Canterbury and of course here at Winchester.