Members' Page

[Top] [Home]

The Sheffield Chamber Orchestra gratefully acknowledges assistance from

Making Music

and

The University of Sheffield

Members' page
Useful information for members of the Sheffield Chamber Orchestra (and interested non-members)

Rehearsals

Rehearsals are held at Endcliffe Methodist Church Lower Hall (just below Hunters' Bar - use rear entrance on Neill Road) on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm. - 9:30 pm. Please bring a music stand and try to arrive at the rehearsals at least 15 minutes before the starting time so that you can get set up, tuned and ready to start playing at 7:30.

There are usually 6 or 7 rehearsals prior to each concert, and on the day of the concert an afternoon rehearsal is held at the concert venue. Rehearsals are taken seriously and you should expect to work hard, but they are also friendly occasions - full of goodwill and humour. If you don't feel confident, please ask for advice from the section leader. There is a great deal of orchestral know-how to be learned, however brilliant your instrumental technique, and punctual attendance at every rehearsal is absolutely vital.

Rehearsal Schedule 2008 - 2009

All rehearsals are at Endcliffe Methodist Church Lower Hall, 7:15 (for 7:30 start) - 9:30 pm, unless stated otherwise.
2008 Autumn	2009 Winter	2009 Spring
14th October	20th January	17th March
21st October	27th January (Sectional)	24th March (sectional)
28th October (Sectional)	3rd February	31st March
4th November	10th February	21st April (SGM)
11th November (AGM)	17th February (Sectional)	28th April (Sectional)
18th November (Sectional)	24th February	5th May
25th November	Saturday 28th February Firth Hall, University of Sheffield. Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:30 pm CONCERT 7:30 pm.	Saturday 9th May Bents Green Methodist Church. Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:30 pm CONCERT 7:30 pm
Saturday 29th November Firth Hall, University of Sheffield. Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:30 pm CONCERT 7:30 pm.
Note: Sectional rehearsals - strings at Endcliffe Methodist Church, wind and brass at Bents Green Methodist Church - BUT this is subject to confirmation. Please listen for announcements at rehearsals.

If you can't attend a rehearsal, for whatever reason, please let us know well in advance. Contact either another member of your section or the Membership Secretary (strings) or Emma Barber (wind and brass). If necessary, please give your music to another orchestra member to take to the rehearsal.

New members

The Sheffield Chamber Orchestra welcomes new members, subject to available vacancies. Please contact the Chairman, Robin Saunders in the first instance. We don't normally hold auditions, but a minimum playing standard equivalent to Grade 8 is expected.

We also maintain a list of additional players of instruments that we do not normally use regularly, such as trombones, extra double basses, horns, keyboards, percussion, etc., whom we can call upon when the concert programme demands it. If you would like to be added to this list please contact the Chairman, Robin Saunders (strings and percussion) or Emma Barber (wind and brass).

Music

Music for each concert is available at the first rehearsal, and is shared between desks where necessary. Individual practice is vitally important. Please mark the parts only in soft pencil (always bring a pencil and a rubber to each rehearsal). After each concert performance hand in ALL music to the librarian, Peter Dyke - NEVER take it home after the concert! The Orchestra is fined for missing parts. (We always have to pay for the hire of music - the orchestra has no library of its own).

Subscriptions

The current Annual Subscription is £70 (£25 for students) and is due in October, at the beginning of the Orchestral year. Payment, preferably by cheque, payable to "Sheffield Chamber Orchestra" should be given to the Treasurer, Steve Dumpleton. Pro-rata rates apply to those joining the Orchestra later in the year.

Gift Aid

If you are a UK tax payer at the standard rate, we can reclaim the income tax that you have paid. This gives us an extra £16.80 for each tax-paying member's subscription and therefore is a particularly valuable source of income for the Orchestra. Please ask the Chairman, Robin Saunders for a Gift Aid Declaration form, if you have not already made a tax declaration.

Ticket sales and publicity

Ticket sales provide our main source of income. The help of all members of the Orchestra is essential to publicise our concerts to as wide an audience as possible by distributing flyers and selling tickets (available from Sue Shaw at rehearsals). Each member is urged to sell at least 3 tickets (preferably a good deal more) in advance of each concert.