Newsletter to Patrons, Sponsors & Friends, 6th January 2012
Dear Friend,
Our very best wishes to you for 2012; may it be a year of happiness, good health and good fortune.
What a wonderful year of singing 2011 was! We had some excellent concerts presenting both well known works which are ‘part of our repertoire’ as well as venturing down ‘the road less travelled’ – exciting! For a chorister it’s always great to learn new works – it means more work, more concentration, more dedication, but when it all comes together in the end it’s just the most wonderful feeling. We hope you also find it exciting to be introduced to works outside the usual repertoire.
Our last concerts of 2011 were great successes. The Best of Broadway concert in November was a true ‘showstopper’ – the auditorium was jam-packed and everybody was enjoying themselves – the atmosphere was electrifying. During the interval one could hear people humming the catchy tunes! Wonderful!
The two ‘Christmas with Richard Cock’ concerts were equally well attended, and not only the choir but also the audiences were in very good voice. These concerts are a wonderful tradition, an integral part of Christmas in Jo’burg for many people, and when choir and audience together sing ‘Oh Come, All Ye Faithful’ and ‘Hark the Herald Angels’ – shaking the walls and roof of the Linder – it really is quite exhilarating!
As we are now in January 2012 it is time for me to thank you for your support throughout the past year and to invite you to renew your financial commitment to the Symphony Choir of Johannesburg.
As you’re probably aware staging quality choral concerts is an expensive undertaking these days, and though the choir members do not receive any remuneration, the cost of the orchestra, venue, soloists, advertising, etc.etc. are all expenses which must be met, and we seldom manage to break even, even when we fill the house, so our supporters are extremely important to us and we are most grateful to anyone who is supporting the choir financially. We always strive to keep the Patron, Sponsor and Friend contributions at a reasonable level, but inflation is out of our control and the Committee has found it necessary to increase the contributions for 2012.
For 2012 the contributions for the three categories of financial supporter are as follows:
1) FRIEND: R640+ per annum
2) SPONSOR: R2 220+ per annum
3) PATRON: R10 950+ per annum
Payment options are:
i) a cheque made out to ‘The Symphony Choir of Johannesburg’
ii) a direct deposit into the choir’s bank account,
iii) a monthly stop order (Sponsor & Patron only)
The choir’s banking details are as follows:
Symphony Choir of Johannesburg
Nedbank
Branch Code: 146 905 (Business Northrand)
Current a/c: 146 909 5130
If you choose a direct deposit, please state your name and PATRON/ SPONSOR/ FRIEND – (whichever is applicable) in the deposit reference section. Please post a copy of the deposit slip to the address below as proof of payment. Alternatively fax or e-mail a copy to 011 447 0870 / kate@danishlanguage.co.za.
If you choose to give your support through a monthly stop order please inform me accordingly also stating your status as PATRON or SPONSOR, and please note that the monthly amount for Sponsorship is minimum R185 and for Patronage minimum R913.
The benefits that come with financial support of the choir are, as you know, substantial:
Patrons receive ten free tickets to each of our concerts per year
Sponsors receive 2 tickets for each choir produced concert (maximum 10 tickets per year), and
Friends get two free tickets per year to be used at the choir’s own concerts - use the two together or separately as you wish.
The tickets are all in the top price range (R200), so you will always get the best seats. As always you’ll receive a free programme, and refreshments during the intervals at our concerts You will also receive regular Newsletters to keep you informed of what’s happening, and be able to book your seats in advance and collect your tickets in the foyer before each concert, thus saving you time and effort. Finally, the names of our financial supporters are published in our concert programmes and on our website. For our Patrons with logos displayed on the website there’s now the extra bonus of a hyperlink to their website!
These benefits apply only to the concerts that the choir stages itself, not concerts which we perform for other organizations (e.g. Last Night of the Proms for Lifeline
A bit of quick and easy arithmetic will show you what a fantastic deal it is! Take a sponsorship at R2220 – you get 10 tickets @ R200 = R2000 + 10 x refreshments @ R35 = R350 + 5 x programmes @ R20 = R200 . . . . . well, need I say more??
So – what can you look forward to in 2012 from your favourite choir?
April : Friday 6 @ 18:00 | J S Bach: St Matthew Passion
June : Sunday 24 @ 15:00 | Tribute to Prof. Khumalo + Coleridge-Taylor: Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast
October : Sunday 28 @ 15:00 | Best of Broadway II
December : Saturday 8 @ 19:30 | Christmas concert
Sunday 9 @ 15:00 | Christmas concert
Over and above this there’s a possibility of a concert with the New England Youth Ensemble in June and possibly Honegger’s King David in September but this is still being negotiated, so I’ll bring you up-to-date later regarding those two.
Booking for these concerts is through Debbie (082 853 9709 or scj@worldonline.co.za) as usual.
We still have some of the wonderful Maestro-wine left - a very nice Sauvignon Blanc tasted and approved by Michael Fridjhon. You can stock up your cellar by placing an order with Isobel Osborn isobelo@telkomsa.co.za - 011 706 3474 or with Richard’s office rcock@iafrica.com – 011 447 9264 and arrange with them for you to pick-up when it suits.
1 case of 6 bottles @ R400; 2 cases of 6 bottles @ R750; every case of 6 thereafter R375 per case.
We thank you once again for your generous support of the Choir – and hope it will be continued in 2012. It is greatly appreciated!
Yours sincerely, on behalf of the Symphony Choir of Johannesburg,
Kate Pape
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