The Cambridge Concert Orchestra’s 50th Anniversary Concert A celebration of light music composers past and present (Conductor Suzanne Dexter-Mills) including two world premieres The Lakes of Cold Fen by Nigel Hess and Grantchester Variations by Tim Brooks in aid of Voluntary Service Overseas Saturday 8th July 2017 7:30pm West Road Concert Hall Cambridge CB3 9DP www.cco.org.uk www.vsointernational.org Charity number: 263524 Charity number: 313757 MESSAGES FROM OUR FRIENDS Cambridge Concert Orchestra From our President, Brian Kay: “Light Music has been with me for as long as I can remember: my late Father's favourite playing for pleasure programmes were Friday Night is Music Night, Melodies for You and the New Year's Day concert from Vienna. Sadly he died before I had the good fortune to present all The Cambridge Concert Orchestra has been making music, and making it fun, for many years th three for radio and television. I made my singing debut with Max Jaffa on the Spa at and this evening's concert marks the group's 50 anniversary. The CCO enjoys playing a Scarborough and when I came to Cambridge as a choral scholar in the mid 60s I got to wide repertoire of light orchestral music and is very fortunate to have its own extensive library know Charles Shadwell at his pub in Trumpington! - all a far cry from the rarefied of sheet music, much of it donated to the orchestra by Charles Shadwell (formerly of BBC atmosphere of King's chapel, but in its very different way just as near to my heart. Variety Orchestra). This means that every concert is different and there is always something Presenting nine years of Music in Mind on Radio 4 (in succession to Richard Baker), for everyone. While the orchestra's emphasis is on enjoyment, the concerts also serve to fifteen years of the Vienna concert (ditto!) and seven years of my own Brian Kay's Light Programme on Radio 3 were among the highlights of my life as a broadcaster and the raise money for local, national and international charities, raising approx. £20,000 in the past sad thing now is that the BBC has largely turned its back on what my former colleague years. Wider details about the orchestra can be found in subsequent pages so we five , David Jacobs used to call 'our kind of music'! But the melodies linger on, thanks to sincerely hope you enjoy this evening's concert. people like you and there's no doubt that you are right up there with the best of them. I'm sure I speak for so many when I say thank you for the music and long may you keep the flame alight in your own magnificently splendid way.” VSO From Nigel Hess: Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) began in 1958 when Alec and Moira “May I take this opportunity to wish the Cambridge Concert Orchestra the heartiest of Dickson recruited and sent 16 British volunteers overseas in response to a letter congratulations on their 50th Anniversary, and I am sure that the next 50 years will be equally fulfilling and inspiring!” from the Bishop of Portsmouth asking for people to teach English in Borneo. Much has changed since then. Over the years VSO has engaged more than 43,000 From Peter Bumstead: volunteers to work on international development programmes in over 120 countries. Today “I am greatly honoured that the Cambridge Concert Orchestra has chosen to perform th VSO is a truly global organisation. We recruit skilled volunteers from all over the world and my piece, Smoke-Screen, in their 50 Anniversary Concert, and I wish them and their from all sectors of society, including business leaders, parliamentarians and young people. conductor every success in the future.” Last year our organisation: MESSAGES FROM THE ORCHESTRA · trained over 66,000 teachers in 16 countries, benefiting more than 850,000 school From Suzanne Dexter-Mills – musical director: children “It has been a privilege to be the conductor of the Cambridge Concert Orchestra for the · increased the knowledge and skills of 31,863 health practitioners past 15 years and to be here tonight to celebrate 50 years of music making. CCO is · supported over 984,000 people to access better health services fortunate to have an extensive library from which to select repertoire but it is important to · improved access to food and income for 146,000 people in 15 countries. encourage new light orchestral music to be written and performed. To mark our 50th anniversary we have invited Nigel Hess and Tim Brooks to write new works for the We are always looking for new ways to turn human energy and ingenuity into lasting change. occasion. Five pieces in tonight's programme are by living composers, but we have also We still send professionals to share their skills with their local counterparts, but we have included some well- known pieces from the light music repertoire too. embraced a range of methods that allow us to provide whatever kind of help is needed most, CCO is widely known for its eclecticism in performing a wide range of music and raising including promoting international understanding and action, knowledge sharing, and youth large sums of money for charity. Long may it continue.” exchanges partnered with the International Citizen Service (ICS). From Jan Mentha - chairman: VSO's vision is a world without poverty. We know, from almost sixty years of experience, that “It has been my privilege to chair the Cambridge Concert Orchestra for the last 17 years. In that when teachers pass on their skills to others, when community groups are shown reliable time, I'm pleased to boast we have gone from strength to strength. I extend my warmest thanks to sources of income, and when governments help to make systems fairer, this brings about previous Chairmen, Committee members and all members of the Orchestra past and present who laid the foundations for what you see (and hear!) today. Thanks to you, our audience – lasting change. without whom we would be just a rehearsal orchestra. My wish for the next 50 years (and beyond) is that we maintain our commitment to light music, and remain a friendly and welcoming orchestra.” Cambridge Concert Orchestra MESSAGES FROM OUR FRIENDS playing for pleasure From our President, Brian Kay: Light Music has been with me for as long as I can remember: my late father's The Cambridge Concert Orchestra has been making music, and making it fun, for many years favourite programmes were Friday Night is Music Night, Melodies for You and the and this evening's concert marks the groups 50th anniversary. The CCO enjoys playing a wide New Year's Day concert from Vienna. Sadly, he died before I had the good fortune to repertoire of light orchestral music, and is very fortunate to have its own extensive library of sheet present all three for radio and television. I made my singing debut with Max Jaffa on music, much of it donated to the orchestra by Charles Shadwell (formerly of BBC Variety the Spa at Scarborough and, when I came to Cambridge as a choral scholar in the mid 60s, I got to know Charles Shadwell at his pub in Trumpington! – all a far cry Orchestra). This means that every concert is different, and there is always something for from the rarefied atmosphere of King's chapel, but in its very different way just as everyone. Whilst the orchestra's emphasis is on enjoyment, the concerts also serve to raise near to my heart. Presenting nine years of Music in Mind on Radio 4 (in succession money for local, national and international charities raising approx £20,000 in the past 5 years. to Richard Baker), fifteen years of the Vienna concert (ditto!) and seven years of my Wider details about the orchestra can be found in subsequent pages so we sincerely hope you own Brian Kay's Light Programme on Radio 3 were among the highlights of my life enjoy this evening's concert. as a broadcaster, and the sad thing now is that the BBC has largely turned its back on what my former colleague David Jacobs used to call 'our kind of music'! But the melodies linger on, thanks to people like you, and there is no doubt that you are right up there with the best of them. I am sure I speak for so many when I say thank you for the music and long may you keep the flame alight in your own magnificently VSO splendid way. From Nigel Hess: Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) began in 1958 when Alec and Moira May I take this opportunity to wish the Cambridge Concert Orchestra the heartiest of Dickson recruited and sent 16 British volunteers overseas in response to a letter congratulations on their 50th Anniversary, and I am sure that the next 50 years will from the Bishop of Portsmouth asking for people to teach English in Borneo. be equally fulfilling and inspiring! Much has changed since then. Over the years, VSO has engaged more than 43,000 volunteers From Peter Bumstead: to work on international development programmes in over 120 countries. Today, VSO is a truly I am greatly honoured that the Cambridge Concert Orchestra has chosen to perform th global organisation. We recruit skilled volunteers from all over the world, and from all sectors of my piece, Smoke-Screen, in their 50 Anniversary Concert, and I wish them and their society, including business leaders, parliamentarians and young people. conductor every success in the future. Last year our organisation: MESSAGES FROM THE ORCHESTRA · Trained over 66,000 teachers in 16 countries, benefiting more than 850,000 school From Suzanne Dexter-Mills – Musical Director: children.