The lunchtime Cathedral Concert in October was a success, with the usual  large audience and a remarkable performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto by Mark. The orchestra played well in this and in the rousing Der Freischutz Overture by Weber. Because of the cost of extra players, we probably made a loss but the artistic reward & increased publicity are certainly worth it.

The Prom Concert on 10 December was enjoyed by all. It was gratifying to hear unsolicited praise from all quarters of the audience and in particular from our ebullient President, Patricia Routledge. We were greatly helped by Jacquie Clarke, Co-ordinator of the CSO Friends who organised the drinks, nibbles and mince pies at the end of the concert. I must apologise to members of the orchestra who worked hard to clear the stage and collect the music after the concert, and then found that all the mulled wine had been drunk by the time they joined the party!

Further celebrations took place at the Thai House the following Wednesday, when fifteen of us met to share a delicious meal.

In 2012, we start rehearsing for the 31 March Spring Concert on Tuesday 10 January in the upstairs room at Christ Church. This is an all- English affair with the wonderful Fifth Symphony of Vaughan Williams as the centrepiece. We will be playing the original string version of the Capriol Suite. Roy Lidstone who took the fantastic photo of the entire orchestra in July, has researched VW extensively and will give a pre-concert talk about him. Roy is also a CSO Friend and has his own folk band. He told me a very funny story about the time when he was headmaster of West Dean primary school and put on their Nativity Play. He encouraged the children to think their part and invent their own words. One boy acting the part of a shepherd confronted by the Angel Gabriel came out with the immortal line “Christ! Who the Hell are you?”.

Please look at Phil Jenkins’s review of the Prom Concert, and refer to the schedule for details of 2012. NB Half Term break is 14 February. Michael’s excellent Prom programme gives all the concert details, as well as David’s wonderfully updated CSO website.

The Summer Festivities Concert will be on Saturday 7 July, again in St Pauls. We have not yet been informed of the Festivities’ dates; so it is somewhat of a gamble whether we can be included in the Festivities brochure & ticketing in 2012. Mark Hartt-Palmer will again be featured, this time playing The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams. I’m waiting for details of the trombone concerto and soloist, but the Dances of Galanta [Kodaly] and Dvorak’s 6^th Symphony are definite.

Can I remind the Committee that we have a meeting at 7.30pm Sunday 15 January 2012, chez Barry.

Happy New Year from Jean and me.