The Branch had 32 members, 7 fewer than the previous season (3 new members and 10 non-renewals).
We met on 37 Monday evenings from September to June for combined playing. One-to-a-part groups met in each other’s houses.
Our Christmas Evening was on Monday 17 December, when we played to an audience of family and friends. The conductors from the Branch were Michael Graham, Annemarie Klein and Peter Wraith, and we were joined by members of the Edinburgh Adult Education Evening Class conducted by Marg Hall. The collection raised £276 for the Bethany Trust. Andrew Short, who was standing down as Branch and Committee Member, was presented with a ceramic bowl inscribed with the words from Hamlet “Come, some music! come, the recorders!” made by Marg Hall, in recognition of his many years’ service to the branch.
On 21 January we hosted a joint meeting of the Edinburgh Branch and the Edinburgh Adult Education Evening Class conducted by Margaret Hall.
This year branches were awarded £150 to run an event to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the SRP. The Edinburgh Branch used this money to host an all-day workshop on 16 February led by Pamela Thorby. This was a highly successful event, with 16 solo players and groups from all over Scotland signing up for a 20-minute master class with Pamela in front of an audience. There were also plenty of opportunities during the day for audience participation, ending with a massed playing session for everyone.
The National Recorder Festival took place on 12 May at All Hallow’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin.
Clare Johnston was the Edinburgh Branch delegate.
The full minutes, reports and accounts of the Conference can be found at https://www.srp.org.uk/documents/agm/conference_minutes_2013.pdf
A summary of the minutes follows.
NYRO
The Committee had decided to devolve NYRO from the Society as from September 2014.
Elections
Mike Wilkinson (Weald of Kent) succeeded Bob Whitmarsh as Secretary of the Society, David Rollason (Durham) succeeded Mike Wilkinson as Membership Secretary, Naomi Wellings (Birmingham) succeeded Andrew Short as Chairman, NYRO Sub-Committee) and Emily Bannister was elected to the new post of Publicity Officer. Dick Pyper was standing down as Competition Administrator but, as there were no nominations for this post, would continue with the practical arrangements for the Competition until November. Vic Morris (Cambridge) and Frances Tuffery (Ireland) were elected as Committee members for a three-year term replacing April Munday and David Powell. Helen Hooker, as Musical Adviser, had rotated off the Committee and been replaced by Eileen Silcocks.
Subscriptions
The subscription rates for 2013-14 were increased by £1.00 to £23.00 (full member), by £1.50 to £34.50 (household membership) and by 50 pence to £16.50 (student member).
Branches
Conference ratified the creation of a new Branch in Macclesfield and formally dissolved the Isle of Man Branch.
Future Festivals:
The following arrangements were noted:
2014Cornwall Branch 12-13 April 2014 in Truro School, Truro.
2015South Staffordshire Branch, dates and venue to be announced.
Members attended Playing Days in Newcastle on16 March, Glasgow on 20 April, and Durham on 1 June.
On Saturday 25 May, the Edinburgh Branch hosted the Scottish Recorder Festival at St Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Glasgow Road, Edinburgh. Special guests were the members of the Flanders Recorder Quartet, who led all the sessions and gave a concert of breathtaking virtuosity at the end. Thanks are due to Andrew Short, Neil McIntosh, Caroline Higgitt and Bea Frances who sat on the organising committee and helped to make this such an enjoyable and memorable event.
Our Summer Evening was on Monday 17June when we played to an audience of family and friends in Augustine United Church. The conductors from the Branch were Michael Graham, Annemarie Klein and Peter Wraith, and we were joined by members of the Edinburgh Adult Education Evening Class conducted by Marg Hall. The collection raised £86 for The Hypermobility Syndrome Association and £86 for Tartan Clef.
On Saturday 22 June, our Pastoral Visitor was Colin Touchin, when we were joined for an enjoyable afternoon’s playing by visitors from other Scottish Branches and members of the Edinburgh Adult Education Evening Class.
We are grateful to Michael, Annemarie and Peter, for all their hard work in conducting the branch during the 2012-2013 season. Congratulations to Michael and Annemarie on graduating with excellent degrees in music from Edinburgh University. We look forward to welcoming Michael back to conduct us in the 2013-14 season, but Annemarie is now moving on to continue her studies elsewhere, although we hope she will visit us from time to time, and we are grateful to her for the huge contribution she has made to the branch over the past two years.
Eileen Finlayson
September 2013