ABINGDON SCHOOL MUSIC SOCIETY
Message from Carolyn May, Chair
I would like to encourage all parents who have connection with the musical life of the School to join the Abingdon School Music Society.
What does the Society do?
- Raises substantial funds for the Music Department – help given by the Music Society includes subsidising music tours overseas and the purchase of a number of instruments for the Music Department. These include special small instruments to help younger pupils starting out on the larger instruments, or more specialised instruments to allow a broader instrumental repertoire.
- Organises social events with a musical flavour.
- Provides refreshments at School concerts – probably the Music Society’s most prominent role! Assistance is always welcome.
- Fosters support for music within the School. In 2005/6 we helped with bursaries for the China Orchestral Tour, in 2006/7 we helped the music department to provide the boys with high quality lockers for the storage of precious instruments and we fund an annual bursary for Lower 6th boys to undertake special study towards the achievement of prestigious and competitive choral/organ awards at university.
- Funding of Annual Masterclasses – in 2008 the internationally known tenor, Robert Tear, and in 2009 the Hungarian Piano Professor, Gyorgy Nador. In 2010 we have a Strings Masterclass.
Who can be members of the Society?
- All parents of boys at the School – parents of music students are particularly encouraged to join.
What is the subscription?
- £10 per year per family.
The subscription is automatically included on the December school fees bill sent to parents of music students. Other parents, please send a cheque made payable to the ‘Abingdon School Music Society’ to the Music Society Treasurer, c/o the Music Department.
How can you help?
You can help the Music Society in any of the following ways:
- Serving drinks at concerts
- Joining the committee – new members always welcome (one termly meeting on the first day of term).
- Offering advice/ideas on fund-raising
- Supporting social events
- Attending the AGM (held in 2009 on 14 October, before the Piano Masterclass).
Please register your interest by contacting the Music Society, c/o the Music Secretary, Caren Hardiman music.sec@abingdon.org.uk – we very much look forward to hearing from you (if you have replied before, please do so again to confirm your interest - we will very much appreciate your involvement).
