Now, we’re looking forward to 2023…

Easter Course: 12 – 14 April (Applications open 10 February)
Summer Course: 29 August – 1 September
Winter Course: 28-30 December

We’re looking forward to seeing some familiar faces, and hopefully a few new ones as well!

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None of this comes free. Although we pay well enough to get the very best conductors and tutors available – and keep them on board – everybody else in Yorchestra donates their services. Ultimately what this means is that you and I value the organisation so strongly that we feel impelled to put our shoulders to the wheel and keep it turning. I know that the organising committee can always use more help. My own search right now is for two more trustees to replace two who have retired.

Anyone can be a trustee. Basically the trustees keep an eye on the financial situation, help to dictate policy and appoint the course directors, although under the upgraded charitable status we are moving into, trustees do not have to put their own finances on the line should things go wrong. Let me quickly add that we are in very good financial health. But we need to strengthen our financial position still further. Many families’ budgets are coming under strain for any number of reasons. So we need not only to keep our fees at the same level, but if possible even to lower them. That is why we are mounting a serious fundraising campaign over the summer, in which we hope to include a new Friends of Yorchestra organisation.

Being a trustee need not be taxing. Basically we meet no more than three times a year, for about an hour at a time. If you happen to have been in the programme within the last 15 years or have expertise in fund-raising, we would especially like to hear from you. But do not be put off if neither of these applies to you: we need your enthusiasm. Please apply, by June 20 if possible, with a very brief resumé about yourself – no more than three sentences – to this website and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you feel unable to apply but know someone who might be interested, please encourage them to put themselves forward.

In the meantime, I do hope you will all have a happy and refreshing summer and I look forward to meeting you at our course in August.

With all good wishes,

Martin Dreyer, Chairman of Yorchestra Trustees

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The courses will be COVID-compliant and we’re very much looking forward welcoming back our young musicians.

The courses will run w/c 23rd August and more details will be available shortly. Keep watching out for updates on our website, social media and our email newsletter.

The post Save the date for our Summer Courses 2021 first appeared on Yorchestra.

Before that, we must tell you of some personnel changes. Martin Dreyer has succeeded Lyn Whiting as chairman of trustees and Judith Battersby has taken over at the helm of the management committee.

Martin joined the trustees a year ago and became chairman on 1st June. He continues to have some writing commitments and also as an associate lecturer at York University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning, but he is essentially retired and looking forward to devoting his spare time to the cause. His younger son was a violinist in Yorchestra for two years.

Judith has been associated with Yorchestra for many years, partly through her three daughters, all of them musical, and partly as a member of the management committee. After taking 2019 off to marry her eldest daughter, she chaired the committee’s meeting in January on an acting basis, and has since allowed her arm to be twisted into continuing at its head. She works in school administration.

Martin’s predecessor was Lyn Whiting, whose contribution to Yorchestra virtually since it began has been immeasurable. For some time she ran it almost singlehandedly, as she recounts, “from her kitchen table”. When we first became a charity, she became a trustee and nobly stepped up to the chairmanship three years ago when her predecessor had to resign for health reasons. We are delighted that she has agreed to remain as a trustee.

There has been one other significant resignation. Rachel Gray has decided to step down as a Course Director (organising Yorchestras 1 and 2), a position she has held with distinction for a considerable time. But she will continue as a cello tutor. We count it a privilege to have a musician of such high calibre on our teaching staff.

Cherry Fricker, who is our treasurer and has so far been on the management committee, attending trustees’ meetings when required, has now become a full trustee. Her financial expertise will be extremely valuable at that level.

Although we have been forced to cancel both August and New Year courses, we are planning to resume activities during the Easter holidays next year. Full details will be announced during the autumn, along with other initiatives now under discussion. We are aware that music budgets may well be squeezed as a result of this crisis, which makes us all the more determined to continue at full steam.

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In line with government advice we’ve sadly taken the difficult decision to cancel our Summer Course.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

The post The Summer Course is cancelled due to Coronavirus first appeared on Yorchestra.

In line with government advice we’ve sadly taken the difficult decision to cancel our Easter Course.

We’ll contact you if you’ve booked a place to organise a refund.

The post Coronavirus results in cancelled Easter Course first appeared on Yorchestra.

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And here are a couple of photos of our interviewees in action:

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The post Extra bursary funding received! first appeared on Yorchestra.