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AGM (ANNUAL GENERAL MUSIC)

At the AGM of our umbrella charity, South London Community Music, we joined with all the other ensembles in the first performance of the Symphonic Suite: the Voices of the SLCM, written by our trombonist, John Holland. About 70 musicians squeezed into the hall at Herne Hill United Church to play a work specially written so that we all played simultaneously and also as individual ensembles, on the ‘theme and variations’ principle. The different musical styles contrasted to very good effect, and John got a rousing reception for his unique and striking composition.

The other ensembles were the: Southwark Concert Band, Classical Consort, Ancient & Modern Consort, and Clarinet Consort. This meant that we had the pleasure of including instruments of all shapes and sizes. Those of us who play in more than one of these groups had a particularly interesting time, as did our Conductor, Bob Bridges, together with three ensemble Conductors, Alan Taylor, John Holland and Iona Kouski, leading a remarkably disparate assembly of musicians.

Playing music can be both hungry and thirsty work, so it was very important for us to ensure that our players were well fed and watered. Some of the more glamorous members of the band provided refreshments with a cheery smile.
We are very grateful to the Dulwich Community Fund for awarding a grant so the SLCM could commission this unique piece of music, which we hope will be performed again, this time in public, later in the year. Meanwhile it was a great way to make our AGM FUN!