BENSLOW MUSIC NEEDS YOU

THE

We are always looking to expand our welcoming arms to other amateur musicians who are not aware of the great courses and concerts we have on offer.

UZZ
MARCH 2014
Welcome to the March edition of The Buzz. It was with regret that Council learned at its meeting in January of Stephen Pettitts decision to stand down as Director of Music. A more detailed statement is given opposite, but I would like to take this opportunity personally to thank Stephen for all that he did for Benslow over the past five years; he will be missed. Council will decide on the best way forward for the longer-term at its meeting on 15 March, and in the interim we are grateful to Fane Henderson for agreeing to take on the Director of Musics responsibilities temporarily, and to John Witchell, one of the Trustees, who has agreed to provide guidance as necessary. We are confident that, in this way, we can ensure that services to members continue without difficulties while we put a more permanent solution in place. Council also learned with regret that the pilot of the new course booking software had shown that it was unlikely to deliver all that is required for Benslows multi-faceted operation An immediate review was commissioned, which is due to report the March meeting. More positively, Council approved the expenditure required to roll WiFi out across the whole campus, something for which we know members have been asking. Finally, I commend the latest course brochure to you. It contains an exciting mix of opportunities to extend your skills and

Are you able to support Benslow Music by distributing posters or course brochures in your local area? Please contact Vicky on 01462 459446 or email vicky@benslowmusic.org as she would be delighted to speak to you.

knowledge while simply enjoying yourself. Please do what you can to spread the word about Benslows offer through your friends and contacts, and through local music shops, libraries and performing groups. Personal recommendation is by far the most effective form of marketing. Philip Meaden Chairman of Council

OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Benslow Music Trust regrets that Stephen Pettitt has decided to resign his position as Director of Music with effect from 30 April 2014. Stephen will continue to provide advice on Benslow matters as necessary until that time, but he will stand down from operational duties on 21 February. We are grateful for all that Stephen has done to develop the course programme since he joined Benslow Music. His popularity with members and tutors alike is considerable and he will be missed. We wish him well for the future. Fane Henderson will assume acting responsibility for the music programme under the guidance of one of the Trustees, John Witchell. Fane will be well known to Benslow members through his work as Assistant Director of Music. John is a highly experienced musician and administrator with long experience of Benslow Music through his work as County Music Adviser for Hertfordshire and Head of the Music Service. He served as Chair of the Music Education Council and remains active as a professional performer in retirement.

www.benslowmusic.org

latest news
As planning begins for the 2015 course programme I am very keen to get in touch with our loyal base of course attendees to find out the kinds of courses you want to see in the Benslow Music programme. If there is a course you have attended elsewhere that you would like to see in the Benslow programme, a tutor you would like to work with or any other comments on how our current programme can be improved or expanded I would delighted to hear your thoughts. Please dont hesitate to contact me directly (fane@benslowmusic.org) with any ideas or suggestions. Any criticisms will be held in the strictest of confidence. What makes Benslow Music such a special place is the course members and your comments will be taken very seriously. Planning for our forthcoming baroque opera Theodora is now nearing its climax but we still have a few spaces in the chorus for altos, tenors and basses and we are still looking for a bassoonist to join the orchestra, so if anyone is interested in getting involved in this years production which will be held at our campus please get in touch soon. Tickets are now available for the fully staged performance on Saturday 26 April at 7pm from our box office. If you wish to pre-order your ticket please call us on 01462 459446. Look out for the April edition of The Buzz which will be the opera special and will contain further details of the project, a highlight of the Benslow calendar. Bookings for the Jul-Dec 2014 period opened to members on 17 February and the ballot for the high demand courses was taken on 3 March as promised. As this was the first time we have trialled this procedure lessons have been learned and the process will be revised for the next brochure. However, we do think this way of handling bookings for our most popular courses and spaces is the fairest system yet and we are delighted with the positive response from our members. Whether it be for a course, a concert or another event, we look forward to welcoming you to Benslow Music very soon. Fane Henderson Acting Director of Music

course booKinG opens

The brochure for Jul-Dec 2014 will be posted to non-members this week and booking will open to everyone from Monday 17 March from 9am, we will be processing postal applications in the afternoon. As usual there is much to entice non professional musicians of all standards and styles, with improved offerings throughout. We look forward to hearing from you.

places aVailable
We still have places available on the following March and April courses. Flute Choir
(Code 14/224, 18 - 20 March)

The Roderick Swanston Lectures - II

(Code 14/RS2, Saturday 22 March)

Beyond the Score

(Code 14/227, 28 - 30 March)

Reed Making Day for Oboists

(Code 14/005, Saturday 29 March) (Code 14/231, 11 - 13 April)

Introduction to Wind Chamber Music Release our Voice

(Code 14/232, 11 - 13 April)

Classical Orchestra

(Code 14/315, 14 - 17 April)

Easter Composing Course

(Code 14/316, 14 - 17 April)

The Benslow Baroque Opera:Theodora

(Code 14/601, 21 - 27 April) On most courses we can usually squeeze in a few more so even if the course youre attracted to isnt on this list why not ask in any case?
INFO@BENSLOWMUSIC.ORG OR BOOK YOUR PLACE

T:01462 459446 tO

wine tASTING at THE benslow bar

This month we decided to take a fresh look at our house wines and decided that the best course of action would be a wine tasting afternoon. This seemed to prove very popular idea with the staff for some reason!

COMMENTS on RECENT COURSES

CLARINETFEST

After a lot of sniffing, swirling, spitting and deliberation the staff decided that the winners would be: Sanata Ana Malbec 2013 Mendoza A lively ruby colour with deep plum and cherry characteristics to tantalize your palate. Previous recipient of several IWSC awards. Aspen Chardonnay 2012 South Eastern Australia Matured at cooler temperatures this pale yellow wine with an aroma of citrus fruits and ripe apples and underlying notes of vanilla and crisp lemon and lime on the palate. Both wines are available at the Benslow Bar for 12 a bottle or 3 a glass, give them a try and let us know if you agree with our choices.

I think this course was amazing. The tutors so different in approach to each other were brilliant - more please! Tutors worked well together to ensure a good course - gave lots of advice. This was the best course I have attended at benslow Music so far. The range in styles of tutors areas of expertise was great, informative and interesting. ELEMENTARY STRINGS Suitably relaxed and friendly, as well as being first-class CLASSICAL PIANO

Goodbye to michelle

This has been a fabulous course from every point of view - insight and coaching style, the general welcome, the food, in fact the whole Benslow experience. Thank you. Benslow is such a friendly, homely place with fantastic tutors and courses We are sad to announce that Michelle, who has been an enthusiastic member of our Housekeeping Team for the past four years will be leaving Benslow Music at the end of this month. Michelle is moving on to become the secretary for her husbands business, Rapid Supplies based in Hitchin. We wish Michelle all the best in her new role and we will all miss her cheerful character around the campus. STRING QUARTETS WITH THE ALLEGRI Their playing was magnificent and their coaching excellent and inspiring. The food and service couldnt have been better. So many thanks for our happy and constructive weekend EARLY STAGES PIANO Benslow is such a friendly, homely place, with fantastic tutors.

international recital series

An enticing series of concerts of music given by world class artists. Programme details are available on our web site. COULL QUARTET 7 MARCH, 8PM

musical challenGe

column and every 3 x 3 box contains one of each of the following musical symbols:

This month we thought we would challenge the old grey matter with a relatively new concept that we stumbled across - Musidoku Musidoku is a musical variation on the hugely popular Sudoku number-place puzzle. So, if youre a musician who loves Sudoku, then Musidoku will definitely be your forte. We have included in this months edition of The Buzz the beginners level: Tuning Up The rules are simple: just complete the empty MUSIDOKU - The Musical Sudoku boxes in the grid so that every row, every Level: Tuning Up column and every 3 x 3 box contains one of The rules are simple:each just complete the empty boxes in musical the grid so that every row, every of the following symbols:

PROGRAMME INCLUDES WORKS BY HAYDN, GORECKI, BLOCH AND BORODIN

MAGGINI QUARTET 16 MARCH, 8PM

PROGRAMME INCLUDES WORKS BY HAYDN, BRIttEN AND BRAHMS

DAVID MILLER - LUTE FRIDAY 4 APRIL, 8PM

A PROGRAMME OF WORKS BY SYLVIUS LEOPOLD WEISS

TICKEtS 12 I BOX OFFICE: 01462 459446

FREE ENtRY tO MOSt CONCERtS FOR FULL tIME StUDENtS AND tHOSE UNDER 25.
If you enjoyed thes e puzzles , why not buy the book containing 44 puzzles to tickle and tackle your mus ical brain cells - from all good mus ic s hops . IS B N 978-0-85249-897-2

CONCERtS tAKE PLACE IN PEtER MORRISON HALL, BENSLOW MUSIC, BENSLOW LANE, HItCHIN HERtS SG4 9RB

We would love to hear how you get on. Look out for next weeks musiduko which will be a little harder - taking itwww.mus to the idoku.com next level - Moderato! www.musidoku.com

Copyright musidoku.com Reproduced by permission

Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin, Herts SG4 9RB T: +44 (0)1462 459446 I E: info@benslowmusic.org I W: www.benslowmusic.org