Klarinet Archive - Posting 000960.txt from 1998/10

From: "Alec Hill" <Alec.Hill@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Re: Music in the UK
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 06:30:02 -0400

Hello Donna,

Sorry to have taken so long to respond to your query but I have only just
caught up with my mail!

In fact I organise a clarinet choir (the "Cotswold Clarinet Choir") which is
very close to you, in the Cheltenham/Gloucester area. We are about 20
strong, mostly Bb's, but include an Eb, Alto, 2 Basses and a Contrabass, and
would always welcome a new member. We have a library of about 250 pieces,
including trios, quartets, quintets, so there is the possibility of playing
in various combinations and a variety of styles.

We meet every Wednesday evening from 7pm to 10pm and are easily accessible
from the M5 motorway. We have a regular conductor and once a month are
visited by a professional teacher who gives individual lessons, in addition
to taking a three hour choir session on Sunday afternoons.

There also exists an adult wind band (the "Colwell Arts Wind Band") which
meets in Gloucester from 7pm to 9pm on Monday evenings in term time only.
They can always accomodate a new clarinet player.

There are numerous orchestras in this vicinity but, as you obviously
discovered, these are difficult to get into as they require only two
clarinettists and there many excellent players around. I suspect the only
solution is a prolonged campaign of homicide to eliminate your potential
rivals! A less drastic alternative is to take up the bass clarinet, as
there is some demand and not too many players available.

You might consider joining the Clarinet and Saxophone Society (CASS). They
produce a directory of members. This contains, for example, 30 members in
the Shropshire, Hereford & Worcester area. CASS arranges various residential
courses. The next one is at Rye in Sussex from 13th to 15th of November.
Several of our choir members will be attending.

If you are interested and want more information please email me privately or
telephone on 01242 260316.

Hope this proves useful to you.

Regards, Alec Hill

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