Voting is now complete; the orchestra's choices for the three concerts in the 2009/10 season were as follows:

November 2009:  Mahler Symphony No. 5 in C# minor

March 2010: Stravinsky The Rite of Spring

June 2010: Shostakovich Symphony No. 10 in E minor

So – three great twentieth-century classics for what will be a very exciting season.

If you'd like to make suggestions for next year, please send an email to Tina saying what you'd like to add to the list.

The Brunel Sinfonia's AGM will be held in the second part of the reherearsal on Wednesday 4th February. Please do come along so we can get a good idea of everybody's views. This is a good opportunity to ask questions or to find out how you can help so it woudl be great if as many of you as possible can stay for it.

1st April 2008 saw a new phase in the Brunel Sinfonia's history as the orchestra began voting for the programme in the Summer Season.

From 1st April forwards, one piece for each concert will be chosen by way of an orchestra vote.  All members can submit nominations to drtinamehta@hotmail.com and from the ever-expanding list of nominations, Tom Gauterin (conductor) will select four options on which the orchestra can vote. 

The first season's candidates are:

1.  Wagner – Ride of the Valkyries

2.  Wagner – Overture to the Meistersingers

3.  Mozart – Overture to the Magic Flute

4.  Mozart – Overture to Don Giovanni

Orchestra members can submit their vote (one each!) to dave.sherwin@burges-salmon.com

The chosen piece will open the concert on 21st June 2008!

The Brunel Sinfonia's concert on 15 March saw the orchestra produce its best playing yet, and was a joy for all involved.

The short gaps to the summer season is looking very busy!  The orchestra's trustees will meet on Monday 31st March to review the season, and especially the results of the orchestra survey, which yielded some extremely useful feedback – thank you to everyone who helped us out.  We want to make sure that we keep providing a "product" that both the orchestra and the audience want to buy!

 Dates for the diary:

Wednesday 23th April – first rehearsal of the summer season

Saturday 21st June – summer concert

Exciting news!  As the Brunel Sinfonia enters 2008 and its fourth year, we have some spaces in the orchestra which we would love to fill as we seek to get back up to our full complement of 100 players.

We are looking for violinists, violists, and double bass players.  We are also seeking trumpets and trombones.

If you are interested, or know of anyone who is, then do have a look at the "Joining Us" page.  Dave Sherwin (dave.sherwin@burges-salmon.com) would love to hear from anyone interested in these spots.

Current Players!

 Please check your email inboxes – I need your replies asap as to whether you are wanting to play in the upcoming season!

 Dave

The Brunel Sinfonia has announced the dates for its 2008 concerts which can be found on the "Upcoming Concerts" page.  Hopefully there will be no clashes with the New Bristol Sinfonia this season so Bristol conert-goers should be spared the agonising choice!

All programmes are still to be confirmed but first thoughts can also be seen on "Upcoming Concerts" page.

Rehearsal dates for the Autumn Season and 2008 Spring Season are now available on the "Current Players" page.

The Brunel Sinfonia's summer concert on 24th June was a tremendous success, pulling in another bumper audience – though the clash with Glastonbury and two other Bristol concerts did mean a small dip in numbers.  In terms of the standard of playing, however, the Brunel Sinfonia managed to hit new heights, with Tom Gauterin controlling things wonderfully.

Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis opened the concert, and a more perfect setting for the work could not easily be imagined.  The soaring strings filled the cathedral with a hymn that resonated down the ages before dying away to a thundering silence.  Chris Golding's Flute Piece followed, and it was such a pleasure for the orchestra to play work by one of its own.  Kevan Boll did a cracking job on the solo part and Fletch losing the first horn part meant that the composer sat among the orchestra turning the pages of the score. 

 One wonders how Elgar would have felt sat among the orchestra for his First Symphony.  This hugely demanding work was brought off with high rushes of adrenaline and stretched the orchestra to its utmost.  At 50 minutes it is quite a long haul, but lips, arms and fingers were up to the task and it was great fun.

All limbs got further exercise at Roger's party, for which we are always extremely grateful, or on the subesquent dancefloors of various Bristol nightspots.  Frank's wallet apparently went home bulging after his casino visit, so the first round of drinks next season are definitely on him!

THIS WEEK'S REHEARSAL IS AT BRISTOL GRAMMAR SCHOOL

We are rehearsing in their Great Hall which is in the main building.  There is parking in the main car park located just behind the main Hall on the map.

Everyone should have received a map by email!  See you all there!

Another blockbuster audience of over 400 witnessed the Brunel Sinfonia's spring season climax.  Opening with Sibelius' Finlandia, the orchestra set the standard for a great evening.  Founding member Alice Billen returned to give a wonderful performance of Walton's viola concerto, ably supported by a reduced-size orchestra.  The second half saw probably the orchestra's finest performance to date: the sumptuous melodies of Rachmaninov's Second Symphony echoed around Clifton Cathedral and brought a wonderful reception.

As ever, Roger Levett kindly hosted a wonderful after-party which was well-attended as usual.  A large number then made their way to Baroque on the triangle for further, well-deserved revelry.  Thank you to all involved for your help and assistance, especially those who hung around after the concert to lend a hand – it was hugely appreciated!