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The Buzz
November 2021

A message from Peter

Head of Music
You will know by now that Christopher Roberts has resigned from his role at Benslow Music in order to take up the post of Operations Manager at the National Centre for Early Music in York. In his 5 years with us, first as Music Administrator and soon after as an outstanding Head of Music, Chris achieved an enormous amount, inter alia expanding and diversifying the course and concert provision, attracting new customers, establishing protocols for guests, course participants and tutors, developing music and marketing strategies, managing social media and the website, taking on the brunt of developing a new database, driving changes in staff structure, the initiative in establishing online courses and the livestreaming of concerts at the start of the Covid pandemic.  Thank you Chris for all the great deal you have done for Benslow Music, and greatest good wishes for all that the future will bring.

Peter Collyer, Head of Music and Learning




I am delighted to announce that BMT Council has appointed Dr Peter Collyer to the (slightly re-vamped) role of Head of Music and Learning here. RCM-trained, Peter may be known to you as viola player (Britten-Pears Orchestra, Bournemouth SO, English Concert, EBS, Orchestra Révolutionaire et Romantique, La Serenissima, London Handel Orchestra et al) or from his work as Head of Performance and Early Music Studies at Southampton University, or similar roles at Oxford University, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Trinity Laban. Latterly he has been Head of Music and the Performing Arts at Morley College and so brings to us wide experience of many areas of music making which I know will be of great value to us at Benslow Music.
Peter, whose PhD thesis was titled ‘Leipzig School Editors and Editions of String Chamber Music 1840-1930’, started full-time work with us on Monday 15 November and I am sure you will all want to get to know him and make him welcome when you are next here. Certainly we look forward to a fruitful and exciting period as he helps us take the organisation into 2022 and well beyond.

In order to (try to) avoid confusion Peter’s email address will be peter.collyer@benslowmusic.org.
Mine changes to peter.hewitt@benslowmusic.org (my former address will continue to work).


Other news and information
Many thanks to all who participated in the recent Membership survey. Responses are being analysed closely and will inform planning.

The House
At last the stair carpet in the main house has been replaced and the area has returned to something of its former glory. Also the exterior paintwork on the ground floor, main house, and staining/painting of external woodwork to the Waldeck block has been completed. We now feel more weather-proof and warmer thanks to the new boilers. I am grateful to all involved in seeing this work through to completion.

An unexpected recent expenditure was replacing burnt-out mains electricity cable, now safely replaced, between cellar and first floor level. Gratitude for swift action by Coulter Electrics and thanks to all for their forbearance during consequent power cuts.

Courses
Courses are now publicised through September 2022 and those up to end June are bookable via our website. Booking for July to September 2022 will open to Members at 11am on 10 January and to Non-Members at 11am on 7 February. Though, we do not intend to return to full descriptive printed brochures, the cost of printing and postage now being prohibitive, a pamphlet showing course titles during the first half of 2022 are now available on site.

Covid-19
For the time being please remember to take a Lateral Flow Test shortly before you travel to Hitchin and record negative result on the form sent with pre-course information. Clearly if the result is positive then please alert us by phone (see FAQs on our website).
 
With best wishes,
Peter
Belinda Sykes
We have received the very sad news that Belinda, popular performer and tutor at Benslow Music, has died having fought illness for some time. Raised on folk music, trained as a singer and oboist at GSMD with further vocal and improvisation studies elsewhere in Europe she performed and recorded extensively, worked with composers and founded the medieval/folk ensemble Joglaresa. She was a much-loved charismatic powerhouse and will be much missed.

Victoria Couper who led Joglaresa’s recent course here writes: "Belinda went into hospital just that evening after our workshop ended, and sadly, yesterday (16 Nov) morning, she danced on through to the other side. She went peacefully, which is a blessing. I can't really express how much we will miss her, and I'm sure you feel the same. Belinda was a force of nature, bringing a wealth of knowledge and such delight to so many of us, and we are all so lucky to have shared what time we did with her. I am sorry to share such news, but hope you all know how glad she was that we were with you last weekend."


Our condolences to Belinda’s family and many friends.
News from Benslow Music Instrument Loan Scheme - Alumni news

Violinist and BMILS alumnus, Cristian Grajner de Sa, made a successful international concerto debut with the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Portugal in November. Closer to home, he will be playing Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3 with the Milton Keynes Sinfonia on 11 December.
Details can be found here.
Etta Dainty, Head of Benslow Music Instrument Loan Scheme
Photo credit: Data Images

Festive events at Benslow Music this December


The Benslow Music Christmas Quiz, Thursday, 2 December 19.30 

Christmas Dinner at Benslow Music, Tuesday 21 December at 18.30

Children's Music Workshop

Friday 10 December  2021, 09.30 - 11.30
At Benslow Music we believe that music enhances children’s lives by boosting learning and wellbeing. This relaxed children’s music workshop is aimed at home-educated children from Hertfordshire.  Come and join in the fun with singing, percussion and African drumming for your little ones this December.

Book tickets

Friends of Benslow Music concert - Alison Langer

Monday 13 December 2021, 15.00 GMT

An Opera Awards bursary recipient, British-Irish soprano Alison Langer has sung at Opera Holland Park, Glyndebourne and Opera North. Future engagements include her debut at The Royal Opera House. Alison's programme will include songs and arias on the theme of love by DuParc, Copeland, Verdi, Charpentier, Mozart and Bizet. 
Book tickets

Browse our other December concerts »
January - June 2022 Residential Courses are now on sale

July to September 2022 Courses Booking dates for your diary
Booking for Members opens 11am on 10 January 2022
Booking for Non-Members opens 11am on 7 February 2022

Booking line: 01462 459446
Enquiries: info@benslowmusic.org
From our friends

The North Herts Guild of Singers


Christmas Concert: Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols; Carols for Audience and Choir

Conductor: Harry Bradford

Saturday 11 December  2021, 19.30

Book tickets

Finding Handel by Helen Dymond 


One of our long-standing course participants, Helen Dymond, has written a new novel about Handel, due to be published at the end of this month by Austin Macauley. Finding Handel is a biographical, not a musicological work: it is intended to make Handel better known to the general reader. It portrays a creative master nearing the end of his life, reflecting on his past and going through a spiritual journey in order to complete his life's work. 
 

Exceptional times ...


Please click on the link to see the latest updates to our COVID-secure venue and measures 
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