Committee members
Eleanor Smith (Chair)
Carola Bronte-Stewart
Dr John Kitchen
Graeme Lyall
Andrew Mackie (Treasurer)
Ingrid Uglow
David Jenkins
Arnold Myers
Roger French (Web site manager)
Dorothy Wright (Secretary)
Eleanor Smith (Chair)
Carola Bronte-Stewart
Dr John Kitchen
Graeme Lyall
Andrew Mackie (Treasurer)
Ingrid Uglow
David Jenkins
Arnold Myers
Roger French (Web site manager)
Dorothy Wright (Secretary)
Draft Minutes of last meeting which are to be ratified.
.
THE FRIENDS OF ST CECILIA’S HALL AND MUSEUM
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD BY ZOOM
ON FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2021 AT 4.30 P.M.
Present
Eleanor Smith (Chair)
Carola Bronte-Stewart
John Kitchen
Graeme Lyall
Andrew Mackie (Treasurer)
Ingrid Uglow
David Jenkins
Jenny Nex
Arnold Myers
Dorothy Wright (Secretary)
Although not part of this paper, it was agreed a requirement would be that the Curator be part of the appointment panel and this needed to be written into a separate appropriate document e.g. in minute of agreement with the University of Edinburgh.
The Committee moved on to discuss whether scholarships be awarded to national applicants only or be available to international applicants. After a full discussion including reflecting on the difference in costs between national and international students, the Committee agreed the principle that awards would be based on the quality of the applicants and no specification or restriction on nationality was required. It was felt this position more closely reflected what would have been Pam’s wishes. The Committee further agreed that awards would be made ‘biennially’ and that the agreed position would be outlined to the Executors.
In terms of developing the first paragraph, it was agreed that Andrew would work with Paula Allison to provide a draft for circulation and approval.
In terms of process it was agreed that once a final draft had been agreed, a meeting would be sought with the University to set out our position and develop procedures e.g. the Curator being a panel member.
Elly agreed to seek information on the timing of for advertising scholarships and when awards could be reasonably made.
The Committee moved to discuss the request for contributory funding from a Tom Wilkinson for support for a CD. The Committee agreed the project and the recipient were very worthwhile however our remit was to support students and this individual had already graduated.
The Committee agreed it was not in a position to provide financial support for this project and the applicant would be advised accordingly. It was also agreed to look for ways of promoting the CD as part of our promotion of the concerts discussed at Agenda item 5.
Elly agreed to get in touch with the 20/21 artists to sustain contact and to see if they would be interested in being part of the live stream. It was also agreed to make contact with the Keyboard Trust.
Check numbers with Andrew
Elly reported that she was planning a ‘pandemic Soundboard’ which was likely to be digital. It was noted that digital was the format for 2/3rds of the mailing list. It was also established that the copy shop can take electronic copy and post on organisation’s behalf. It was agreed to find out if this was possible. Elly advised she had made contact with Schwarz to take content for Springboard forward.
The second is entitled ‘Community Connector: At Home with Heritage’. The purpose of this partnership project is to allow the University of Edinburgh Museums =, the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Library of Scotland to maintain established relationships, grow new ones through developing and delivering off-site and offline engagement with the dementia community and those with learning disabilities foe whom digital is not a solution (£21,756).
.
THE FRIENDS OF ST CECILIA’S HALL AND MUSEUM
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD BY ZOOM
ON FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2021 AT 4.30 P.M.
Present
Eleanor Smith (Chair)
Carola Bronte-Stewart
John Kitchen
Graeme Lyall
Andrew Mackie (Treasurer)
Ingrid Uglow
David Jenkins
Jenny Nex
Arnold Myers
Dorothy Wright (Secretary)
- Welcome
- Notes from the Chair
- Minutes of the meeting held 28th October- subject to minor changes the minutes were approved and adopted.
- Matters Arising
- The banners were ready to go however they are not being produced as no events were planned at which the banners could be used
- Wording -Pam Jackson award- paper for discussion on the agenda
- Annual General Meeting- the chair thanked Jenny Nex for organising the musicians. The Chair noted the meeting had gone well.
- Livestream Concert Proposal- Paper A
- Pam Jackson Bequest
Although not part of this paper, it was agreed a requirement would be that the Curator be part of the appointment panel and this needed to be written into a separate appropriate document e.g. in minute of agreement with the University of Edinburgh.
The Committee moved on to discuss whether scholarships be awarded to national applicants only or be available to international applicants. After a full discussion including reflecting on the difference in costs between national and international students, the Committee agreed the principle that awards would be based on the quality of the applicants and no specification or restriction on nationality was required. It was felt this position more closely reflected what would have been Pam’s wishes. The Committee further agreed that awards would be made ‘biennially’ and that the agreed position would be outlined to the Executors.
In terms of developing the first paragraph, it was agreed that Andrew would work with Paula Allison to provide a draft for circulation and approval.
In terms of process it was agreed that once a final draft had been agreed, a meeting would be sought with the University to set out our position and develop procedures e.g. the Curator being a panel member.
Elly agreed to seek information on the timing of for advertising scholarships and when awards could be reasonably made.
- Bursary 2021
The Committee moved to discuss the request for contributory funding from a Tom Wilkinson for support for a CD. The Committee agreed the project and the recipient were very worthwhile however our remit was to support students and this individual had already graduated.
The Committee agreed it was not in a position to provide financial support for this project and the applicant would be advised accordingly. It was also agreed to look for ways of promoting the CD as part of our promotion of the concerts discussed at Agenda item 5.
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe Plans-2021
Elly agreed to get in touch with the 20/21 artists to sustain contact and to see if they would be interested in being part of the live stream. It was also agreed to make contact with the Keyboard Trust.
- Treasurer’s Business
Check numbers with Andrew
- General Fund- £14,946.27 ?
- Dep? Fund- £13,613?
- Bursary Fund- £8,107
- Legacy Fund- £456,999 ?
- Publications
Elly reported that she was planning a ‘pandemic Soundboard’ which was likely to be digital. It was noted that digital was the format for 2/3rds of the mailing list. It was also established that the copy shop can take electronic copy and post on organisation’s behalf. It was agreed to find out if this was possible. Elly advised she had made contact with Schwarz to take content for Springboard forward.
- Website
- Any Other Competent Business
The second is entitled ‘Community Connector: At Home with Heritage’. The purpose of this partnership project is to allow the University of Edinburgh Museums =, the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Library of Scotland to maintain established relationships, grow new ones through developing and delivering off-site and offline engagement with the dementia community and those with learning disabilities foe whom digital is not a solution (£21,756).
- Date of Next Meeting
Achieves
Friend's AGM 26th November 2016
Farewell to Dianne after over 20 years with the Friends committee
Minutes of the Committee Meeting held in the Green Room, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh, held on Wednesday, 4th October, at 5.15pm.
Present : Martin Hillman (Deputy Chairman), Paula Allison(Minutes Secretary). Andrew Mackie (Treasurer), Carola Bronte-Stewart, Gill French, Roger French, David Jenkins, John Kitchen.
In Attendance: Jenny Nex, Jeremy Upton.
1.Welcome.
Martin Hillman, Deputy Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and informed those present that Pam Jackson was gravely ill and unlikely to return to her post as Chairman. Committee members expressed their shock and sadness. There was an unanimous show of approval and gratitude to Martin for assuming the post of Deputy Chairman until a permanent replacement for Pam could be found. M. H. proposed that Carola Bronte- Stewart be co-opted on to the committee. P.A. seconded the motion.
2. Apologies for absence. Willie Hendry, Pam Jackson, Jacky MacBeath, Arnold Myers.
3. The Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 16th May, 2017 were approved as a correct record with the exception of further explanation of Ruthanne Baxter’s plans for promoting the Friends’ activities on social media. P.A. will amend the May minutes accordingly.
3a). Jeremy Upton, Director of Library and University Collections, addressed the meeting in response to fears expressed in a letter, composed by the Deputy Chairman, previously circulated to the committee, and intended for the University Principal, Sir Timothy O’Shea. The main concerns outlined in this letter were: a) the loss of one (of two) academic posts at St Cecilia’s as principal Curator Darryl Martin was not being replaced and b) the role of the remaining curator, Jenny Nex , which would be academically curtailed as she would no longer be able to be a primary supervisor for PhD students and would no longer be supported in academic research.
J.U. advised that there had indeed been a re-balancing after the re-opening of the Hall. There had been an increased emphasis on the museum aspect of St Cecilia’s with the focus shifted to public outreach and the staff had subsequently been required to cope with much greater visitor numbers. He acknowledged that the Friends had legitimate concerns but remained positive about new directions envisaged for the music and art curators and in general for the proposed inter-disciplinary model of teaching in the Arts and Humanities .
J.U. reminded the meeting that the University School of Music made the academic decisions regarding St Cecilia’s and urged the committee to contact Dr Elaine Kelly, Head of Music, to discuss the significant changes within the school and to learn of their plans for St Cecilia’s. He also suggested that after meeting with Dr Kelly, the committee might find it very useful to communicate with Professor Dorothy Miell, Head of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, as she is keen to make more use of St Cecilia’s.
Jenny Nex informed the meeting that the university was reconsidering all its under- graduate and post – graduate music courses as they were all running at a deficit. She added that there were plans to create a broad-based musicology masters which would involve exploring music from different perspectives using an inter-disciplinary approach. Furthermore, the role of curator was in flux and the university had plans to model Jenny’s job on the that of the Art Curator’s and that although nothing had been finalised, the intention was that the curators would do their own work with a team under them to help with bureaucracy and that both curators could be part of an inter-disciplinary supervisory team for PhD students.
G.F. pointed out that the Friends provided Bursaries to support the study of early musical matters that can be linked to St Cecilia’s and therefore had an obvious interest in the academic life of the Hall.
J.U. noted that changes to the curatorial role would be in place in the near future and that it would be better to have the full picture regarding these changes before making decisions regarding approaching either the Principal or university funders with our concerns. He ended by stating that he regarded the Friends as partners and valued their commitment to the work of St Cecilia’s
A.M. agreed that we should approach the academic stakeholders in the Hall before approaching the Principal. This comment was unanimously approved by the meeting.
M.H. took the opportunity to state that he was willing to stand as an interim chair for 13 months only and that unless someone else was found to replace him, he would wind up the committee at that point.
D.J. commented that perhaps it was time for the university to take over some of the role of the committee and that winding up might be not such a bad idea.
4.) Matters arising from the minutes:
2017 concert series-audience figures in the refurbished Hall. Unfortunately, the Treasurer could not provide the committee with accurate numbers as the number of tickets sold by the Fringe box office had not yet been made available.
2018 concerts series: J.N. presented a paper which highlighted the difficulties involved with managing a high level of footfall in terms of general visitors to the Hall while at the same time hosting a full- length concert with interval refreshments. She outlined two options for Friends’ Fringe concerts going forward:
Option 1 would be to continue with the 3pm slot but offer hour-long concerts without interval. This would remove the complications associated with having general visitors and refreshments for concert goers at the same time in the Laigh Hall. J.N. also felt that 1 hour concerts might attract more audience members as it would fit better into packed Festival itineraries and perhaps be more attractive to casual visitors who happened to be in the Hall at performance time.
Option 2 would be to continue with full- length concerts with interval but move them to after public opening hours perhaps at 5.45 in line with EIF concerts at the Hall, or as evening concerts at 7pm. There would be an added cost of hiring a servitor to man the front door
After discussion, the committee decided that option 1 was the better way forward and agreed that the revenue from refreshments and publications at concert intervals entailed rather a lot of work and not much revenue.
J.N. then introduced proposals aimed at broadening the remit of the concerts to include more types of instruments. This would enable the concerts to better reflect the range of instruments now on display in the Hall and perhaps induce expert players to play collection items where appropriate.
J.N.’s final proposal was that there should be an annual concert dedicated to Sir Nicholas Shackleton using one or more carefully selected clarinets from his collection. Funding for this would come from the Shackleton Bequest.
The committee agreed enthusiastically with all these programming proposals
6. Treasurer’s business.
A.M. reported that he continued to have problems with the Bank of Scotland who had still not recognised him as having a mandate to operate the Friends’ finances. He added that currently Dianne Fraser and Martin Hillman had authority to sign cheques for the Friends and therefore, according to the Bank, had this mandate.
A.M. presented the draft accounts of the Friends of St Cecilia’s Hall and Museum for the year ending 31st July 2017, stating his intention to submit the accounts and charities regulator forms to Malcolm Macrae in December.
Giving an update on membership( 6 new life members joined this year and 42 renewed annual membership),
A.M. went on to discuss some of his observations, as a new treasurer, concerning membership. He felt that a more rigorous approach was needed to create an accurate membership list and suggested the possibility of a fixed date from which to run annual memberships. He was also of the opinion that membership fees should be raised and at the same time offer some incentive to members.
A. M. confirmed that the assets of the Friends amounted to £31, 000, a much lower figure than in recent years. This could be explained by the two major projects of restoring the concert hall organ and paying for the new teaching lab in St Cecilia’s , the latter costing £25,000 and coming off the 2017 accounts. There are further commitments of £5,000-£6,000 which will come off next year’s accounts.
On looking at the sources of income available to the Friends, A.M. expressed the view that more income could be generated from Fringe concerts and catering by raising prices. He suggested that specific pricing of tickets be left to a later meeting but gave, as an example of higher catering pricing, £3 charge for a glass of wine.
A.M. then led a discussion concerning payment rates for musicians performing in Friends’ Fringe concerts. He proposed that the committee ensured that the minimum payment for each artist would be £100. The committee fully supported this view.
M.H. proposed and G.F. seconded that the Treasurer’s accounts be approved. The committee agreed.
7. Website report
R.F. reported that there were no problems on the technical front and there had been neither complaints nor compliments concerning the site which typically had 320 – 450 hits per week with news and forthcoming events being the most popular searches.
R.F. confirmed that he had renewed the subscription to weebly, the website provider, and he asked, as always, for more information from all concerned in order to keep the website fresh and relevant. It was suggested that R.F. contact Erica Schwarz and ask her to send him the Soundboard file in MS word format.
J.N. agreed to have R.F.’s name put on email distribution lists so that he would automatically be kept up to date with information of events, news and information concerning St Cecilia’s.
8. Publications.
9. Date and time of next meeting.
Tuesday, 9th January 2018 at 5.15 in St Cecilia’s Hall.
10. Any other business
Present : Martin Hillman (Deputy Chairman), Paula Allison(Minutes Secretary). Andrew Mackie (Treasurer), Carola Bronte-Stewart, Gill French, Roger French, David Jenkins, John Kitchen.
In Attendance: Jenny Nex, Jeremy Upton.
1.Welcome.
Martin Hillman, Deputy Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and informed those present that Pam Jackson was gravely ill and unlikely to return to her post as Chairman. Committee members expressed their shock and sadness. There was an unanimous show of approval and gratitude to Martin for assuming the post of Deputy Chairman until a permanent replacement for Pam could be found. M. H. proposed that Carola Bronte- Stewart be co-opted on to the committee. P.A. seconded the motion.
2. Apologies for absence. Willie Hendry, Pam Jackson, Jacky MacBeath, Arnold Myers.
3. The Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 16th May, 2017 were approved as a correct record with the exception of further explanation of Ruthanne Baxter’s plans for promoting the Friends’ activities on social media. P.A. will amend the May minutes accordingly.
3a). Jeremy Upton, Director of Library and University Collections, addressed the meeting in response to fears expressed in a letter, composed by the Deputy Chairman, previously circulated to the committee, and intended for the University Principal, Sir Timothy O’Shea. The main concerns outlined in this letter were: a) the loss of one (of two) academic posts at St Cecilia’s as principal Curator Darryl Martin was not being replaced and b) the role of the remaining curator, Jenny Nex , which would be academically curtailed as she would no longer be able to be a primary supervisor for PhD students and would no longer be supported in academic research.
J.U. advised that there had indeed been a re-balancing after the re-opening of the Hall. There had been an increased emphasis on the museum aspect of St Cecilia’s with the focus shifted to public outreach and the staff had subsequently been required to cope with much greater visitor numbers. He acknowledged that the Friends had legitimate concerns but remained positive about new directions envisaged for the music and art curators and in general for the proposed inter-disciplinary model of teaching in the Arts and Humanities .
J.U. reminded the meeting that the University School of Music made the academic decisions regarding St Cecilia’s and urged the committee to contact Dr Elaine Kelly, Head of Music, to discuss the significant changes within the school and to learn of their plans for St Cecilia’s. He also suggested that after meeting with Dr Kelly, the committee might find it very useful to communicate with Professor Dorothy Miell, Head of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, as she is keen to make more use of St Cecilia’s.
Jenny Nex informed the meeting that the university was reconsidering all its under- graduate and post – graduate music courses as they were all running at a deficit. She added that there were plans to create a broad-based musicology masters which would involve exploring music from different perspectives using an inter-disciplinary approach. Furthermore, the role of curator was in flux and the university had plans to model Jenny’s job on the that of the Art Curator’s and that although nothing had been finalised, the intention was that the curators would do their own work with a team under them to help with bureaucracy and that both curators could be part of an inter-disciplinary supervisory team for PhD students.
G.F. pointed out that the Friends provided Bursaries to support the study of early musical matters that can be linked to St Cecilia’s and therefore had an obvious interest in the academic life of the Hall.
J.U. noted that changes to the curatorial role would be in place in the near future and that it would be better to have the full picture regarding these changes before making decisions regarding approaching either the Principal or university funders with our concerns. He ended by stating that he regarded the Friends as partners and valued their commitment to the work of St Cecilia’s
A.M. agreed that we should approach the academic stakeholders in the Hall before approaching the Principal. This comment was unanimously approved by the meeting.
M.H. took the opportunity to state that he was willing to stand as an interim chair for 13 months only and that unless someone else was found to replace him, he would wind up the committee at that point.
D.J. commented that perhaps it was time for the university to take over some of the role of the committee and that winding up might be not such a bad idea.
4.) Matters arising from the minutes:
- Anne Desler’s baroque instrument reproduction proposal. As A. D. was on Sabbatical and unable to attend , it was decided that further discussion of this matter should be deferred until the next meeting.
- Doors Open Day. J.N. reported that St Cecilia’s had had a very successful weekend with 651 visitors on the Saturday and 600 on the Sunday. There had been a much appreciated programme of live music throughout the weekend consisting of Lance Whitehead and David Gerrard on the organ, Steven Morrison on guitar and various pianists. Visitors had been offered guided tours of the galleries .
- Peter Williams’ memorial concert .J.K. reported that he had begun planning the memorial. He had identified the 13th and 14th of April, 2018 as two possible dates for the concert. Rosemary Williams had indicated her pleasure in the idea of a memorial concert and her ability to attend on either day. J.K. informed the meeting that he had asked David Ponsford, Leon Coates and John Butt to play at the concert and that there might well be other performers, including himself. The format of the concert would be an evening concert in two halves with refreshments. R.B. had scheduled rehearsal time and the Georgians had signalled that they were happy to help. J.N. indicated that the Ruckers harpsichord owned by Peter Williams and on loan to St Cecilia’s would be played as well as the concert hall organ.
- Proposed Suzanne Parry commission. It was decided not to pursue the idea of commissioning a piece of work, due to the illness of the Chair, Pamela Jackson.
- Proposed consideration of the future of the Friends. The committee agreed that consideration of the future of the Friends would be channelled through the proposed conversations with members of staff at the university school of music.
2017 concert series-audience figures in the refurbished Hall. Unfortunately, the Treasurer could not provide the committee with accurate numbers as the number of tickets sold by the Fringe box office had not yet been made available.
2018 concerts series: J.N. presented a paper which highlighted the difficulties involved with managing a high level of footfall in terms of general visitors to the Hall while at the same time hosting a full- length concert with interval refreshments. She outlined two options for Friends’ Fringe concerts going forward:
Option 1 would be to continue with the 3pm slot but offer hour-long concerts without interval. This would remove the complications associated with having general visitors and refreshments for concert goers at the same time in the Laigh Hall. J.N. also felt that 1 hour concerts might attract more audience members as it would fit better into packed Festival itineraries and perhaps be more attractive to casual visitors who happened to be in the Hall at performance time.
Option 2 would be to continue with full- length concerts with interval but move them to after public opening hours perhaps at 5.45 in line with EIF concerts at the Hall, or as evening concerts at 7pm. There would be an added cost of hiring a servitor to man the front door
After discussion, the committee decided that option 1 was the better way forward and agreed that the revenue from refreshments and publications at concert intervals entailed rather a lot of work and not much revenue.
J.N. then introduced proposals aimed at broadening the remit of the concerts to include more types of instruments. This would enable the concerts to better reflect the range of instruments now on display in the Hall and perhaps induce expert players to play collection items where appropriate.
J.N.’s final proposal was that there should be an annual concert dedicated to Sir Nicholas Shackleton using one or more carefully selected clarinets from his collection. Funding for this would come from the Shackleton Bequest.
The committee agreed enthusiastically with all these programming proposals
6. Treasurer’s business.
A.M. reported that he continued to have problems with the Bank of Scotland who had still not recognised him as having a mandate to operate the Friends’ finances. He added that currently Dianne Fraser and Martin Hillman had authority to sign cheques for the Friends and therefore, according to the Bank, had this mandate.
A.M. presented the draft accounts of the Friends of St Cecilia’s Hall and Museum for the year ending 31st July 2017, stating his intention to submit the accounts and charities regulator forms to Malcolm Macrae in December.
Giving an update on membership( 6 new life members joined this year and 42 renewed annual membership),
A.M. went on to discuss some of his observations, as a new treasurer, concerning membership. He felt that a more rigorous approach was needed to create an accurate membership list and suggested the possibility of a fixed date from which to run annual memberships. He was also of the opinion that membership fees should be raised and at the same time offer some incentive to members.
A. M. confirmed that the assets of the Friends amounted to £31, 000, a much lower figure than in recent years. This could be explained by the two major projects of restoring the concert hall organ and paying for the new teaching lab in St Cecilia’s , the latter costing £25,000 and coming off the 2017 accounts. There are further commitments of £5,000-£6,000 which will come off next year’s accounts.
On looking at the sources of income available to the Friends, A.M. expressed the view that more income could be generated from Fringe concerts and catering by raising prices. He suggested that specific pricing of tickets be left to a later meeting but gave, as an example of higher catering pricing, £3 charge for a glass of wine.
A.M. then led a discussion concerning payment rates for musicians performing in Friends’ Fringe concerts. He proposed that the committee ensured that the minimum payment for each artist would be £100. The committee fully supported this view.
M.H. proposed and G.F. seconded that the Treasurer’s accounts be approved. The committee agreed.
7. Website report
R.F. reported that there were no problems on the technical front and there had been neither complaints nor compliments concerning the site which typically had 320 – 450 hits per week with news and forthcoming events being the most popular searches.
R.F. confirmed that he had renewed the subscription to weebly, the website provider, and he asked, as always, for more information from all concerned in order to keep the website fresh and relevant. It was suggested that R.F. contact Erica Schwarz and ask her to send him the Soundboard file in MS word format.
J.N. agreed to have R.F.’s name put on email distribution lists so that he would automatically be kept up to date with information of events, news and information concerning St Cecilia’s.
8. Publications.
- Sales : M.H. reported that sales had been quite poor in recent months and that sales from the desk in the Hall had now been taken over by R.B. who had promised that the university would help move stock from the Reid to St Cecilia’s.
- Soundboard: M.H. feared that the next edition would be a slim one due to the illness of P.J. but items so far pencilled in were: Bursary winners’ reports, Deputy Chairman’s report and AGM report.
9. Date and time of next meeting.
Tuesday, 9th January 2018 at 5.15 in St Cecilia’s Hall.
10. Any other business
- Reports required for the AGM had to be with the Deputy Chairman by 2.30 on 22nd October.
- The committee wished to record their vote of thanks to Darryl Martin for all his co-operation and support through the years and to wish him well in his new job.
- M.H. agreed to write to Dr Elaine Kelly , Head of Music, to arrange a meeting to discuss the committees’s concerns over the future direction of the Hall.
- A lunch had been arranged for the 19th October to meet with John Rosenfield from the British Association of Friends of Museums who wished to hand over in person Soundboard’s first prize in the Newspaper competition for membership groups under 250 .
- A meeting had been arranged to take place after the lunch to discuss Fringe 2018 concerts.