PHOENIX CONCERT BAND

CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT 2010-11

The Phoenix Concert Band was formed (as the Phoenix Windband) in July 1999 by members of the SCOLA Friday wind and brass band evening class. The original objective was to provide a vehicle for a successful application for lottery funding to obtain sheet music, which had been a major difficulty for the evening class in the early years, subsidise the first Wychcroft weekend and buy the drum kit. Its existence enabled us to buy some other equipment, to maintain a bank account and thus handle the financial aspects of Wychcroft and of buying music, and to provide opportunities for the class to play in public.

We have now ceased to be a SCOLA evening class but instead meet on the SCOLA premises as an “affiliated” body.  We have changed our name to the Phoenix Concert Band, which better describes our musical programme.  We are fortunate to have a leader of Paul's experience and ability and, under his leadership, we have continued to make progress as an ensemble.

Paul’s report for the year records our concerts during the past academic year.  We were pleased to be invited to play again at a number of engagements that have become semi-regular fixtures in our calendar, inc Christmas concerts at the British Home and St Dunstan’s, and in support of Redhill Live at Home.  We also played this year at Sissinghurst for Macmillan Cancer Support.  We will be playing again at Chipstead.  Our congratulations go to Mollie for her 80th birthday and we were pleased to have the opportunity to play at her party.  We were able to resume our annual Wychcroft weekend in January after a gap the previous year because of the weather. 

Suggestions for future activities are welcome, particularly concerning opportunities to play at events.

Thanks are due to our treasurer, Neil, for his sound financial stewardship.  As a result we are able to propose a reduction in our membership subscription and Wychcroft fee for next year, while still having funds to buy new music.  Many thanks also to Paul, for all the effort he puts into raising our standards, to Pam for providing us with attractive music, to Richard, our secretary, to Roger for maintaining the website (www.phoenixband.org.uk), and to every member of the band for making Friday evenings so enjoyable.

BRIAN GLICKSMAN CB

Chair

June 2011