MUSIC DIRECTOR’S REPORT 2023 AGM
2023 saw the SCJ almost back to its former glory, having endured 3 years of post Covid recovery. We had a full year of activities which included a concert of Mozart and Haydn Masses, the St John Passion by Bach, Carmina Burana by Orff, A Sea Symphony by Ralph Vaughan Williams and our Christmas Concert.
The high point of the year was definitely – A Sea Symphony by Vaughan Williams – when we collaborated with the Philharmonia Choir of Cape Town and performed to two very appreciative houses both here in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The singing during the year was of a high standard and we managed to attract quite a lot of new members during the year.
Since Covid, the singing of the choir has had a new intensity and I am very happy to say that I believe our standards of performance have risen recently, particularly because I feel a new sense of dedication in the choir members. Many people commented on the depth of feeling in both A Sea Symphony and the Christmas concert and I feel this myself.
As I said last year, there are very few large Symphonic choirs in South Africa now and we are along with the Philharmonia Choir in Cape Town managing to maintain a very special tradition. We are privileged to be able to perform the large-scale choral works which are the standard fare of choirs like this.
A renewed thanks to all our Patrons, Sponsors and Friends, who continue to support us through thick and thin. And a huge vote of thanks to the committee, who have been working very hard behind the scenes to maintain our long-term stability and viability. This is an issue which is challenging for us all, and we will deal with this in the months ahead. I would also like to thank Sue, who helps me with the Choir rehearsals and to Eugene Joubert who accompanies the Choir. And, a very big thank you to Pridwin School and St Vincent’s who make their facilities available to us for our weekly rehearsals. In the coming couple of years, we will have to look at the longer-term future of the choir and towards finding a new director for the Choir.
2024 is promising to be a ‘bumper’ year and I look forward to it with energy and excitement.
RICHARD COCK: Music Director
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2023
Following the discussions at last year’s AGM, the Committee planned the 2023 programme with a view to reinforcing the financial sustainability of the Choir. Accordingly, the programme contained a mix of popular works and less-performed pieces, with varying formats of orchestral accompaniment.
The Choir began the year with a performance of Mozart and Haydn Masses, followed by performances of Johan Bach’s St John Passion, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Ralph Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony and a Christmas concert. The Carmina Burana performance was accompanied by two pianos and percussion; and was well attended despite the winter scheduling. In contrast, A Sea Symphony was a large work and was performed together with members of the Philharmonia Choir of Cape Town and a full orchestra.
The Choir benefitted in 2023 from the allocation of a grant of R139,000 from the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra towards the performance of A Sea Symphony.
The Choir’s 2023 concert programme was performed at a gross deficit of R248,000. However, this was well covered by the Mzansi National Philharmonic grant and income of R434,000 from sponsorships. The annual financial statements reflect an overall operating surplus for the year of R196,000; and the Choir finished the year with reserves of R945,000.
My thanks go to Richard Cock and Jenny Gill for their ongoing contribution in raising corporate sponsorships. My thanks also go to the regular Patrons, Sponsors and Friends, many of whom are Choir members, who continued their generous giving in 2023. Our sponsors are essential to the Choir’s sustainability.
Thanks are also due to all those who gave of their time and skill to ensure that Choir activities continued to run as smoothly as possible. In particular, I would like to mention Debbie Kruger for Choir administration; and all the members of the Choir Committee, for their advice and efforts.
Finally, of course, I must record my gratitude to our incomparable Music Director, whose expertise, energy, humour and entrepreneurial skill makes it possible for the choir to continue producing such varied and beautiful music, and to have great fun in doing so. As we look to reduce this risk of key man dependency in future, he will be difficult to replace.
STEVE BALL