Rehearsal Information for Players

14 September 2024
The rehearsal will be in the same venue as the concert, St James Sussex Gardens. Details below are provisional – to be confirmed during the summer

09:00: Setting up
09:30: Strings only
12:00 Woodwind
13:00: Brass
13:30: Full (Strings, woodwind, brass)
15:40: Break
15:55: Full (Strings, woodwind, brass)
18:00: Finish 

Concert Venue 21 September 2024

13:00: Setting up & coffee / tea
13:20: Strings only
14:30: Full orchestra
14:50: Full orchestra
15:00: Full orchestra
17:45: Full orchestra
18:00: Finish
19:30: Concert

Please stay around afterwards if possible to get the church tidied up and seating back into its usual layout. Please don’t leave it all to the committee members!

There is no parking at the St James Sussex Gardens other than for special cases (e.g. delivery of heavy instruments) and parking near the church is limited.  If you bring a car, you will not be permitted to park it in the church grounds.  Details of local car parks (if any) can be found here. The church is very near Lancaster Gate tube (about 3 mins walk) and not far from Paddington (c. 7 min walk) and we would suggest that people use public transport where possible.  Please check for planned tube closures.

Donations

As always, we won’t be charging a formal subscription fee, but we do depend on donations from the orchestra to cover the venue, music and equipment hire.  We really DO rely on players’ contributions to keep the orchestra afloat.  Our suggested donation is £20, but if you can afford more, that would really help the orchestra.  If £20 is too much, then any contribution, no matter how small, would be most welcome.  If possible, please would you transfer funds electronically to the bank account below, adding a reference including your surname and instrument so that we know where the money has come from:

Barclays – Account Number: 3088 6629

If that’s not possible, we will be collecting cash or cheques on Saturday too.

Dress Code

All black for concert day. Note that changing facilities at the church are limited – there is no separate green room.

Parts and stands

Please bring a music stand and any parts in your possession.  String players should also bring any practice parts they have printed out in case we find ourselves short.  If you have not received the link to the parts or cannot access the files on the website, please let me know.  Please make sure you only use soft pencils on all the parts.

Cello and Double Bass Spikes / Percussion

All instruments with spikes and any equipment resting on sharp edges must use floor protectors.  Please bring these with you.

Refreshments

We may not able to provide rehearsal refreshments this year, so please make your own arrangements.  Please be aware that no food or drink is allowed on the altar.

I hope that this covers everything, but should you have any queries or note any inaccuracies, please mail me at judith@shostakovich.com.  See you all in a few days.