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News Archive – 2012

News Summary

This is a summary of older news items for this web site, with links to more details further down the page or elsewhere on the site.  Note that some old links on this page may no longer work, or may no longer be active. 

13th December 2012 Following his farewell concert as conductor of HSO, Peter Craddock has circulated a letter of thanks to the orchestra and its supporters, which you can read below.
13th December 2012 What a way to go! Peter Craddock bowed out after 50 years as Havant Symphony Orchestra conductor with a performance of Rachmaninov’s epic second symphony that was as rhythmically taut as it was sumptuous in tone and expression.  …  See our Reviews page for a link to the review of the December HSO concert by Mike Allen published in the Portsmouth News, plus some additional details which didn’t make it into the News. 
6th December 2012 Helpers urgently needed for Oaklands concert!

We need four volunteers to act as stewards to direct people before the concert and help them find their seats.  This mainly involves arriving early – by around 6:15pm – to be told what you need to know, then helping until the time of the concert. 

We also need two volunteers to help serve the wine and cold drinks in the Dining Room during the interval. 

If you may be able to help, please contact Sandra as soon as possible – telephone 023 9248 3228 or email sandra.craddock​@ntlworld.com.

1st December 2012 If you haven’t yet bought your tickets for the 8th December concert at Oaklands School, we recommend that you book in advance (see the Tickets page) and collect your tickets at the door, as this will save time on the night. 
1st December 2012 Here’s an interesting article in the Portsmouth News:  Conductor Peter passes on baton after 50 years
30th November 2012 The Havant Orchestras Newsletter for December 2012 is now available, with additional information about the HSO concert on 8th December, the finale of the HSO’s 50th year Anniversary celebrations, with Peter Craddock’s farewell appearance as conductor of the HSO. 
20th November 2012 In the Guide Awards run by the Portsmouth News, the Havant Orchestras are currently heading the list of nominees in the ‘Best Classical Music Act’ category.  If you think the Havant Orchestras should win this category, please vote for them, by the closing date of 26th November.  Click here to go to the Guide Awards page, which contains information about all the nominees and a link to the voting page.
23rd October 2012 Conductor Peter Craddock is a fine musician who always does his homework  …  See our Reviews page for a link to a review of the October HCO concert by Peter Rhodes. 
13th October 2012 Each year, the Charity Commission requires the Havant Orchestras to file a Trustees' Report and accounts.  The report for the society’s 2011-2012 season, for the year ending 31 July 2012, is now available on their website.  There is also a direct link to the charity registry entry for the Havant Orchestras from the registered charity number at the bottom of the home page for this website, and you can find the reports using the link to View Accounts.
13th October 2012 The Havant Orchestras Newsletter for October 2012 is now available, with additional information about the new season and the HCO concert on 20th October. 
8th September 2012 Highlights of 50 Years Of HSO – Contributions please!

The December concert at Oaklands will conclude the celebrations for 50 years of the Havant Symphony Orchestra and mark Peter Craddock’s retirement as HSO conductor (although he will be continuing to conduct the Havant Chamber Orchestra). 

To help celebrate this occasion, we would like to share some memories of highlights of these 50 years of music-making, and in particular we would like people to let us know what moments or occasions they remember most from the 50-year history of the Havant Symphony Orchestra.  We would like to hear from players, friends and audience members about their special memories of the orchestra – perhaps an outstanding concert or performance, or one of many tales of narrowly-averted disaster behind the scenes.  We would also be interested in pictures or articles relating to the orchestra and its players. 

We hope to be able to edit and publish a selection in a newsletter and on the website around the time of the December concert. 

Please e-mail your highlights to Jonathan Scott, the editor and webmaster of this website, webmaster​@havantorchestras​.hampshire.org.uk

8th September 2012 Players please note that detailed rehearsal schedules are now available on the Rehearsals page for the HSO Hayling concert on 22nd September and the HSO Oaklands concert on 8th December.  This includes details of rehearsal venues, key rehearsals and specific items to be rehearsed. 
9th July 2012 Peter Craddock’s 50 years running the orchestra he founded have been marked not only by musical quality but by generosity of spirit.  …  See our Reviews page for a link to Mike Allen’s review of the July HSO concert. 
1st July 2012 The brochure containing details of the concert programme for next season, 2012-13, has been published and will be available at the July concert.  The concert programme and ticket information pages for next season on this website have been updated to match.  Further information such as soloist biographies and programme notes will be added later. 
30th June 2012 The Havant Orchestras Newsletter for July 2012 is now available, with additional information about the HSO 50th Anniversary concert on 7th July. 
23rd June 2012 Memories of 50 Years Of HSO – Do you recall any especially memorable occasions or moments that you would like to remind us about from the 50-year history of the Havant Symphony Orchestra?  Do you have any interesting pictures or articles relating to the orchestra and its players? 

As we come to the 50th Anniversary of the first HSO concert in July 1962 we would like to hear from players, friends and audience members about their special memories of the orchestra – perhaps an outstanding concert or performance, or one of many tales of narrowly-averted disaster behind the scenes.  We hope to be able to edit and publish a selection in a special newsletter and on the website. 

If you may have something to contribute, please send an e-mail to Jonathan Scott, the editor and webmaster of this website, webmaster​@havantorchestras​.hampshire.org.uk

12th May 2012 The Havant Orchestras Newsletter for May 2012 is now available, together with the concert programme for next season and Season Ticket booking information
10th May 2012 Players who would like to continue making music during the summer break may be interested to know about four weeks of Summer School courses at Sherborne School this summer.  The courses include orchestral music and chamber music, plus many other musical subjects including conducting, composing and arranging, piano accompaniment, choral and solo singing. 

Firstly, CSSM (formerly at Charterhouse) have a course from 21st July to 28th July.  See their website www.cssm.org.uk for full details. 

After that, the Sherborne (formerly Canford) Summer School of Music this year have three one-week courses from 29th July to 19th August, including chamber orchestra, string orchestra and full symphony orchestra.  See their website www​.sherbornesummerschoolofmusic​.co.uk for full information.

21st April 2012 Players please note that the HCO rehearsal on Tuesday 8th May and the HSO rehearsal on Friday 11th May will both be at St Joseph's Church Hall in West Street rather than at St Faith's Hall, which is unavailable that week.  See the Rehearsals page for details and additional information about other rehearsals. 
27th March 2012 If it is true that you make your own luck, conductor Peter Craddock and his orchestra certainly deserved dazzling replacement soloist Benjamin Powell for the second piano concerto by Shostakovich.  …  See our Reviews page for a link to Mike Allen’s review of the March HSO concert. 
21st March 2012 The Upbeat pre-concert meeting on Saturday 24th March (in the Meon Area at 6.30pm) will be a percussion session with hand-held instruments, led by Sarah Woods and Alex Rumbold. 
17th March 2012 The Havant Orchestras Newsletter for March 2012 is now available. 
13th February 2012 Two former members of the Havant Symphony Orchestra were major contributors to its sister ensemble’s latest success.  …  See our Reviews page for a link to Mike Allen’s review of the February HCO concert. 
3rd February 2012 The Havant Orchestras Newsletter for February 2012 is now available. 
20th January 2012 HSO players please note that the HSO strings rehearsal planned for Friday 27th January is now cancelled for several reasons, but there is a HCO rehearsal for Truffaldino from 7:30pm to 9:00pm.  See the Rehearsals page for additional details. 

Peter Craddock’s letter of thanks

10 December 2012

My dear Friends and Colleagues in Havant Symphony Orchestra
and their loyal Supporters,

I am overwhelmed by the kind comments I have received on my withdrawal from ‘active service’ – words that were spoken to me, enclosed within greetings cards and written in that beautiful Signatories’ book that you presented to me after Saturday’s concert.  I shall long treasure that book with recourse to those sentiments and re-visit it often to recapture the heart-warming heady nostalgia.

I shall also toast you all very frequently (!) with nectar contained in the lovely crystal glass decanter which was your other gift to me.

Thank you all so much for those gifts and for the many hours of pleasure and uplift which you have provided in our music-making together.  We have had so many memorable concerts over the years and lots of outstanding performances.  As far as last Saturday’s final assignment for us – I leave you with the words of one enthusiastic supporter – amongst many – who summed up, very appropriately, the emotionally charged performance …

‘What a gorgeous Rachmaninov – many congratulations.  It was an absolute joy to be wrapped around with all those soupy melodies and the enormous lush sound.  You chose (no, YOU chose) just the right piece for your grand finale with HSO and I think players enjoyed it just as much as the audience.  We were all a bit overwhelmed at the end.’

Thank you all and warmest good wishes for the future with your lucky new conductor!

Peter


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