David Meacock from the A40 Concert orchestra has contacted us with details of the following Haiti Fundraising Event
David Meacock update, 19th March 2010
Dear All,
I'd like to say a HUGE THANK YOU VERY MUCH to everyone who supported this event, once again. I know you'll all understand that I can't email you all individually let alone hand-write to you, but the thanks is just as sincerely sent. I've included anyone who sent me an email in connection with Messiah 4 Haiti, and hope that you can please forward this on to others you know who participated. Sorry also for being a little later than I would have liked, but I had the regular A40 Choir concert the following Saturday to do (playing as well as conducting!)...
Adding in some post-concert donations and additional Gift Aid has increased the total we all raised together to just under £2,800.
Not only did we raise this goodly sum, we also had a great afternoon and night of music-making culminating in a performance which I believe many a choral society rehearsing for a whole term would have been proud.
Many singers kindly said afterwards that they would like to do such events regularly. So, I would suggest perhaps we could do so at generally quieter times of the year as far as other choral concerts are concerned - say in the 1st half of October or just after Easter, annually or bi-annually. Failing a disaster similar to Haiti, we could think of supporting medical causes such as local scanner appeals, Cancer Research or the British Heart Foundation. In principle, I am very happy to do the actual organising of such events, but the critical issue is that we need even greater numbers, as this would ease stress levels considerably with less reliance on professionals' goodwill and generally having to hammer every price down to the rock bottom low (this time, zero in all cases, apart from the substantially reduced hall hire). So, if singers/conductors can please see how many in their choir would not just think this a good idea but would themselves be willing to truly commit to this sort of event that would be a start. Please ask your Choir committees/conductor to test the waters and revert to me a.s.a.p.: ideally, it would be good to have a core of about a dozen choral societies sending at least 25-30 singers each. As I enjoy living a little dangerously, I'd be happy to do other core choral repertoire apart from Messiah, such as Verdi, Mozart & Faure Requiems - and even my all time favourite Gerontius if we had a few Sunday afternoon rehearsal sessions. I'd welcome feedback on repertoire and how that would or would not affect likely numbers willing to participate, as well as how far people would be willing to travel as 'local' large venues can be difficult to find. Once we have a core, I'd also be happy to informally review other aspects such as audience/singer tickets pricing, with those asking me to telephone them on these issues: I had some very helpful input from a fellow conductor this time round.
Best wishes, David. 01753 886005.
Dear Morgensterns Teleteam,
I'm emailing you to ask whether you would be willing to circulate all of your orchestral players (Strings, Timp., Oboes Bassons, Trumpets) to ask them if they would be willing to play in the orchestra for "Messiah 4 Haiti - a concert in aid of the Haiti Earthquake relief efforts.
I'm hoping to involve 200+ singers from at least three local choirs and raise significant monies (£10K+) for this terrible situation.
We all see the TV pictures which perhaps have also to a degree immunised all of us against the true reality and awefulness of it. Just imagine how you'd feel if part never mind all of your house burnt down, never mind all the death and destruction everywhere. . . Anyone who has done or had builders in to do a house extension will hate the dust - but how many times worse must the dust of destruction be there... Someone in my choir pointed out that this disaster is the equivalent of SEVENTY Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet crashes happening simultaneously.
Given the uniqueness of the situation everyone performing would be doing so for free.
Details are as follows:
Venue: St Clement Danes School, Chenies Road, Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, WD3 6EW - website with map etc: http://www.stclementdanes.org.uk/contact-us.htm
Date: Saturday 6 March 2010
Concert: 7:30
Rehearsal: 2-5
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN MUSIC STAND
Repertoire: Handel Messiah (a sheet will be issued setting out pretty usual concert performance cuts)
Fee: none for anyone (If there are any problems, such as a paid gig cropping up, please let me know immediately; and if any unforeseen circumstances prevent you from playing, I would be grateful if you would please find a deputy of equal standing to yourself and forward their details.)
Dress: Men DJ. Ladies: all black
I'd be grateful if professional players interested could please email me at david.g.meacock@btinternet.com or tel 01753 886005 if any further details are required.
Singers will pay £8 each to sing, adult audience in advance of 5 p.m. on Sat 6th are £15, adults at the door are £20 and full time students under 21: £9
Best wishes, David Meacock, Founder Conductor A40 Choir, tel: 01753 886005
