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Dear Colleague

Before I append details of our next event, I must mention the Members' Evening on 20th September. This was a first class introduction to our Jubilee Year and was well received by those present. Sadly, attendance by our members was small. Perhaps the next event will rectify this.

Saturday 18th October sees Keith Wright from Durham Cathedral at St George's Church, Hartlepool. His programme is one of transcriptions featuring, amongst others, Walton's Crown Imperial, Vivaldi's D minor Concerto arr. J S Bach, Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance no 4, and Wagner's Prelude to Act 1 of Die Meistersinger - a varied programme.

Mentioning John, he will have been at St George's as organist for 62 years in November - a record indeed. Our congratulations go to him.

Finally, please make every effort to attend this, the first of our celebrity recitals.

PS At our September event I managed to mount a small display of events of the Cleveland Association from 1948. If members have any more information, I would be glad to receive it.

Welcome to this our Diamond Jubilee year. You will see from the heading that we have reverted to the 1948 structure of President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Officers and Committee. I am delighted that Archdeacon Paul Ferguson has agreed to be Hon. President. Our two Vice-presidents need no introduction. They have been an integral part of the Association since its foundation and their input is incalculable.

Enclosed you will find the card of events. There is one change. On 18th April 2009 the event at Osmotherley will be the Chairman's Evening. You will also find two tickets for Keith Wright's recital at St George's, Hartlepool.

Our first meeting will be on 20th September at Stockton URC. It is a meeting arranged by members and guests. We have contributions from organists, a choir, singers, and a violin and guitar duo. This promises to be an excellent start to the year.

I also enclose a membership application form and ask that all members try to recruit a new member. In my experience, many interested people do not realise that membership is open to all, not just to organists. Please do try to recruit.

Our Treasurer tells me that many members have yet to pay their subs. These were due at the last AGM. Please contact John Waring.

Finally, I enclose details about an event at Kirkleatham on Saturday 13th September. It is worthy of support and I hope as many members as possible will attend.

The Bate Organ at Kirkleatham Almshouses - Saturday 13th September Open Console from 2.00pm - 4.00pm
The Binns Organ in St Cuthbert's Church will be open at the same time.

Light refreshments - tea, coffee, fruit juice, biscuits and possibly sandwiches and scones, prepared by the ladies of the Almshouses, will be available from 2.30pm - 4.00pm.

The dedication of the organ and its opening recital will take place the same day at 6.30pm The evening features Mike Addison, Elizabeth Sotheran, Organist of Audley End, Shelford & Cambridge and Jeanette Wainwright, soprano.

The evening opens with a piece of organ music, the dedicatory prayers, a hymn, an anthem by Jeanette Wainwright followed by a programme of organ music and possibly one or two more arias or anthems by Jeanette.
Admission is free, with a retiring collection.

DIRECTIONS- From A19, A174 and A66 follow the brown and white tourist signs to 'Kirkleatham Hall Museum'. Sir William Turner's almshouses stand opposite the museum and there is ample on-site car parking.
Visit www.communigate.co.uk/ne/swthospital for pictures and details of the almshouses.

Our final event of the year will be the outing to Thirsk and Sharow on Saturday 21 June. The event originally planned, the visit to Howden-le-Wear, had to be cancelled. However, the outing should be good.
We meet at St. Mary's Thirsk at 2.00 where Alan Morton, the organist, will welcome us. It is many years since we last went there and the instrument has recently been rebuilt by Principal Pipe Organs. It is a three manual with Great 11 Swell 11 Choir 8 and Pedal 8. There is parking outside the church or in the free car park opposite the east end of the church.
We then take the Ripon road to Sharow where we are expected around 3.30pm There is parking on the road by the church. The instrument here is a small two manual with Great 9 Swell 4 and Pedal 1. After visiting there any members who wish to attend evensong at the cathedral should note that it starts at 5.30pm I will have details of the music to be sung when we meet at Thirsk.
This has taken a great deal of time to organise and I hope that members will support it. Anyone requiring transport should get in touch with me.

The 2008/2009 season will be our diamond jubilee year. Members will remember that Simon Lindley came as guest speaker at the dinner ten years ago. I'm delighted to say that Simon has agreed to come and give a recital on Tuesday 17 February 2009. Other events will include Keith Wright from Durham Cathedral, a harp and vocal recital, two choral events and a members recital. Full details will be sent in August.
An up-to-date list of members will be issued in August. If there are any amendments, please let me know asap.

Dear Colleague,
The penultimate event of the year will be the Presidents Evening on 17th. May. This will be followed by the AGM. It is important that we have a good turnout for both events, for Trevor's recital and to show him our support and thanks for all that he continues to do for us, and for the AGM where we look for the active participation of all members not, as in the past, the few. The venue will be St Luke's Church, Hartlepool. I am informed by the churchwarden that the best way is by Elwick Road then into Dunston Road and Hart Road. The church is on the comer of Tunstall Avenue and Hart Road. As always, the recital commences at 7.30pm. However, members may wish to plan their own route.

Trevor's programme: -
Prelude and Fugue in E minor (The Wedge) BWV 548       J.S. Bach
Voluntary No. 1                                                                     J. Stanley
Piece Heroique                                                                      C. Frank
Scherzo in G minor                                                                E. Bossi
Noel VI                                                                                   L-C Daquin
Chrysanthmums                                                                     G. Puccini
Dieu Parmi Nous, from La Nativite du Seigneur                  0. Messiaen

Please do make every effort to attend.
Yours sincerely
G.Hill
Hon. Secretary
St Luke's have a website www.saintlukes.org.uk

Once more, it falls to me to keep you up to date with the future events of the Association.

First, on 23rd April there is the Celebrity Recital by Dr George McPhee, from Paisley Abbey - an organist of considerable distinction. Note that this is on WEDNESDAY 23rd April, not our usual Saturday time. Posters are enclosed and two tickets - please do your best to display the posters in prominent positions (I have more available if you would like them), and to use the two tickets, which will help to ensure a large audience for this event. (Click here for a downloadable poster.) The programme which Dr McPhee is playing looks interesting and varied, and should provide an enjoyable evening.

Second, we have been asked to publicise a recital in St Peter's Church, Osmotherley. This is by Ashley Grote and is on Thursday, 8th April at 7.30 p.m. Tickets are £8.50, including programme and refreshments. Ashley Grote was until recently organ scholar at Westminster Abbey, and is now assistant director of music at Gloucester. (This information from Geoff s memory!)

Dear Colleague
Our next event is a concert by the Michaelmas Singers and the Cleveland Consort on Saturday 8 March. The venue is Yarm Parish Church and the event commences at 7.30pm. There will be an admission charge of £5.00 which is payable at the door.
The programme - Music of the Tudors - will feature Byrd's 4 part mass and various 16th century anthems. There will be viol music from the Cleveland Consort.

The Michaelmas Singers were founded in 1967. They are now in their 41st season. Their new conductor, Matt Lennox joined them in 2008. There are between 25 and 30 singers giving 4 to 8 concerts per year.

This looks like another MUST for all members. Please do make every effort to attend. Incidentally, I was pleased with the large turnout at our last event, the concert by the Tees Valley Youth Choir. It all helped to make it a memorable evening.

One change to the programme. The June event featuring Otto Kramer at Howden-le-Wear has had to be cancelled. I'll send details of the replacement event soon.

Our next event will be on Saturday 16 February when we welcome again the Tees Valley Youth Choir. Please note the change of venue to Stockton URC. This is because of the breakdown in the heating at the Parish Church. The concert begins at 7.30pm
Your committee is now actively planning events for the 2008/2009 season. Several suggestions have been made but, if there are others, please do contact any member of the committee.
Our Treasurer tells me that there are seventeen members who have not yet paid their subscriptions for the current year. As they run from the AGM this is a matter of some concern. If you have not yet paid please contact John Waring as a matter of urgency.
I hope those of you who have internet access have looked at our website. Thanks again to John for arranging this. He is looking for material to include, perhaps details of organs (and choirs) in the area. All details to him, please.
I should have begun by wishing you all a Happy New Year. As I was abroad it was not possible to do this at the relevant time. However, I shall be back in Australia for the first three weeks in April.
Finally, I was in Gloucester Cathedral over the weekend to hear a stunning performance of 'The Armed Man' by Karl Jenkins. It was also interpreted through dance with twenty four dancers using the centre and two side aisles. The visual effect was overpowering and I felt very privileged to be there. I travelled down by train and we were diverted through Lichfield. The train was travelling so slowly at one stage that we were overtaken by a sparrow!!
Please do make every effort to come on 16th.

FROM RICHARD HIRD
Anne Harrison wonders if attention can be drawn to local Organists Associations to a course for organists
which will take place in York this June, led by Robert Fielding (http://www.romseyabbey.org.uk/robert_fielding.htm).
Details are on the RSCM website (http://www.rscm.com/courses/index.php).
Leaflets also are available. Many of the RSCM courses happen further south, so it would be
good to show that there's scope and support for ones further north!

Richard Hird MA(Oxon), MRTPI, LTCL . . . . 46/DH1 3AT
Tel: 0191 3862301

Dear Colleague,
The Annual Dinner will be held on Saturday 12th January 2008 at the Masonic Hall, Roman Road, Middlesbrough, at 7.15 p.m. This was a thoroughly enjoyable event last year, and we would encourage as many members and guests as possible to join us.
The menu is enclosed with this letter: Please make your choices and return the tear off slip to me, together with payment of £17.50 per head - more than last year, but this time we are being charged VAT. Cheques payable to C.O.C.A. Please let me have your replies by Friday, 28th December. It may help if you retain your menu and mark your selections on it, to remind you of what you have chosen.
For the future, the February meeting, Saturday 16th February, will be the Tees Valley Youth Choir, and will be in St Thomas' Church (The Parish Church), Stockton, beginning at 7.30. Even further into the future, the March meeting will be on 8th March, and will be the Michaelmas Singers, and Cleveland Consort in Yarm Parish Church. May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas, with the hope that the New Year will be Happy, Healthy and Peaceful.

Yours sincerely,

Fergus McLellan

Dear Colleague,
Our next event is an illustrated talk on the hymns of Charles Wesley to be given by Professor Richard Watson. This will take place at Nunthorpe Methodist Church on Saturday 17 of this month beginning at 7.30pm. The singing will be led by the choir of the church together with guests from the St Andrew's Singers of Stockton and St Mary's Singers of Acklam. Fergus McLellan will conduct and the organist will be David Lawson.

Nunthorpe Methodist Church is very near to the railway station. Take the Stokesley road from Middlesbrough (A172), go up Dixons Bank and turn left into Guisborough Road. Just before the station, turn sharp left into Marton Moor Road. The church is on the right at the junction with Connaught Road. There is no car park. There will be a retiring collection.

On a personal note, may I extend warmest wishes to you all for Christmas and the New Year. I leave for Australia on 4 December returning on 4 January. This means that the organisation of the Annual Dinner will have to be done in my absence. Fergus McLellan has very kindly agreed to do this. You will be hearing from him sometime in December.

One final item. I get calls from vicars/priests/incumbents asking me for the names of organists who would be willing to play in a venue other than their own. These requests range from the odd Sunday to weddings and funerals. I am trying to compile a list of such members. If you would like to be included, please let me know.

Saturday 1 December Billingham Oratorio Choir An evening of British Music V.Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Parry Blest Pair of Sirens together with part songs, solos and instrumental items. Organist Brian Varley, Conductor Gillian Sild, Stockton URC 7.30pm £4(£3)

Saturday 8 December: Organ recital by Hector C. Parr to mark his 80th birthday: at St Romald, Romaldkirk beginning at 6.30pm. For details, go to
www.c-parr.freeserve.co.uk/Romaldkirk/dates.htm

Dear Colleague
Our next event will be Francis Jackson's recital at St Cuthbert's Church, Kirkleatham on Saturday 20 October beginning at 7.30pm. We are very privileged to welcome him again as he was last with us about ten years ago. You received details of his recital in the first newsletter which also included a ticket for the event. Please note that there is an admission charge of £5.00 for all.
We now have our own website. Very many thanks to John Waring for designing this. John asks me to remind members that subscriptions are now due and urges members who have not yet signed a gift aid form to do so. Forms may be obtained from him.
I look forward to a bumper turnout on the 20th.

TWO events on the same day (nothing unusual about that!)
Saturday 10 November Tudor Organs in Durham Cathedral beginning at 2.00pm with an hour of "introduction" to a) the organs and b) the music (solo and choral use), followed by "hands on" on both instruments. Evensong will follow using the larger organ. There is also a concert on the previous evening.
ALSO on 10 November meeting of the NE Branch of the Musicians'Guild of the URC at Linthorpe URC beginning at 2.15pm to hear carols and to play the organ (please phone 592145 to book a time.) A booklet of some of Stan Burnicle's music will be on sale.

Dear Colleague
Welcome to our programme for 2007/08. As you will see from the enclosed card, we have three celebrity organ
recitals, two choral recitals, a fascinating event at Howden le Wear, an illustrated talk on Charles Wesley and
the Annual Dinner. Quite a packed programme!
The first event will be on Saturday 22nd September at St Mary's, Acklam. Thomas Leech from Ripon Cathedral
will be playing a programme of Bach (the 'Great' C major), Mendelssohn (Sonata IV) and Elgar (the G major
Sonata). Admission is FREE for our members but please present the enclosed ticket at the door.
I am also enclosing a ticket for Francis Jackson's recital on October 20th. Each ticket costs £5 and please pay
at the door. It is ten years since Francis was last with us and we do expect a bumper turnout. He will have had
his 90th birthday by then!
Apart from the tickets, I'm sending an up to date list of members. Please do check the list and notify me of any
changes.
I look forward to seeing many of you on September 22nd at Acklam.

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