ACTIVITIES

WWYM is organising five Christmas Concerts this year, four at the Wiltshire Music Centre and one in Calne. Parents and members have been notified of the ticket arrangements and all remaining tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday 4th December. The Junior Strings will be performing a

piece specially written for us by Sara Trenchard. We are hoping to enter this ensemble for the regional round of the National Festival of Music for Youth which will take place in March.

STAFF CHANGES

After Christmas we welcome back Kim Rance from maternity leave to

conduct WWJ W. I am very grateful to Celia Harries for the fantastic job she has done with the band during the last six months and to Angela Mumford for assisting her.

In July the Wiltshire Music Service appointed a full-time percussion teacher. Nathan Cole will be based at the WMC and will take responsibility for all our percussion equipment. He will also teach and develop percussion in schools in the area. We intend to start a West Wiltshire Young Musicians Percussion Ensemble on Monday 15th January 4.30-5.30 p.m. Information has been sent out to pupils learning percussion, however if you know of any person who is interested they can contact me for further information. We also hope to organise a percussion day at the WMC during the latter part of next year.

The Wiltshire Music Service has appointed an administrative assistant to be based in our office at the WMC for three mornings a week. Lesley Meredith will provide admin support for me and WWYM and assist staff with some admin tasks. This is fantastic news for all of us and will help and improve the management of WWYM and the WMS.

FUND RAISING

I am very grateful to Sara Perkins who has been writing to all the local councils for grants. We have received £25 from Devizes Town Council, £70 from Chippenham Town Council and £300 from Bradford on Avon Town Council.

Noreen Schonfeld has produced two CD’s of music performed at the Summer Festival. They will be on sale at the Christmas Festival. The previous CD proved to be very popular and helped greatly as a fund raiser.

During this term we have purchased another Harp £675, a bass clarinet for WWJW £700, temple blocks for D&DWB £100 and a second hand tenor horn £150.

During the Christmas Festival we are to launch an appeal to purchase a Marimba, cost £3500.

If you are taking any photos of musicians at the Christmas Festival it would be great to have copies preferably A5 or A4. I can then use them for a display. Unusual ones are always of interest.

Finally can I wish you all a fantastic Christmas. Rehearsals next term start the week beginning 8th January 2007.

James Monckton

Musical Director WWYM