BEENHAM BAND
Registered Charity – number 1087848
Report of the Committee for the year ended 31 July 2006
Committee
Chairman – Simon Witcomb, Secretary - Janette MacPherson, Treasurer – Fiona Benjamin, Librarian - Ann Moore, Eleanor Brooks, Lynne Ellis, Xander Hough, Mel Poyda, Jean Rollinson
Conductors
David Wirdnam resigned in October 2005, and after “auditioning” several conductors Katie Roehl was appointed to conduct us until the end of July 2006. Katie was a music student at Reading University, over here for a year’s placement from the USA. Her youth, enthusiasm and Americanisms, combined with her experiments with different conducting techniques kept us on our toes, and she engendered a fresh spirit within the band.
Constitution and object
The band is a registered charity, and its constitution is available to all members. The object of the band is to advance the education of the public by raising the aesthetic taste through the performance of music.
Membership and rehearsals
We have had 43 paying members during the year. We rehearsed every Friday during term time from 7.45pm to 9.45pm in Beenham School Hall. In addition to the main band, satellite chamber groups are encouraged, and during the year saxophone, clarinet, flute and a Dixieland style band have performed at concerts.
Finances
A copy of the accounts for the year to 31 July 2006 is attached. Our expenses exceeded our income by £381, but this deficit was slightly less than budgeted. We spent £382 advertising for a new conductor, but Beenham Parish Council kindly gave us a grant to cover this. In addition we invested £940 in new music, bringing the total cost of our library to £6,024. Subscriptions for 2005/06 were £65 for the year or £25 per term, with concessions. It will be proposed at the AGM that these are increased to £75 and £28 respectively. Being a charity, we are able to recover income tax on subscriptions.
Music
We are building a library of music comprising arrangements of popular tunes and marches, music from shows and films, and light classical music, as well as pieces written specifically for wind band.
Performances and events
3 September 2005 Dunston Park Fete
4 September 2005 Cold Ash day
15 October 2005 Aldermaston Church concert
10 December 2005 Christmas meal
16 December 2005 Christmas concert
4 March 2006 Ashford Hill concert
10/11 March 2006 Ufton Court
9 June 2006 Whitchurch cricket match
10 June 2006 Beenham School fete
24 June 2006 St Nicholas School fete
2 July 2006 Newbury Carnival
21 July 2006 Open air concert in Beenham
23 July 2006 BBQ
Additional events
We started the year with an all day rehearsal in Cold Ash, which was led by James Doherty, the tuba player from Chaconne Brass. Our annual weekend of music on 10 and 11 March 2006, at Ufton Court, was enjoyed by all. Philip Burditt from the Abingdon Band was our guest conductor, and we benefited from the wide range of music he brought with him.
Social
The Christmas meal was in the Six Bells at Beenham, and the band BBQ in July, which was also our farewell to Katie, was very kindly hosted by David Mattimo in Whitchurch on Thames.
Publicity
Xander Hough has been developing a marketing plan, and has arranged for a new logo to be designed, carried out a band survey, and is working on the website.
Future
Our main aim is to ensure that all members enjoy their music making, whilst meeting the objective of the charity.
Simon Witcomb - chairman
19 September 2006
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