Saint John the EvangelistBoxmoor

Music at St John’s

FULL SCORE

MASJ - Full Score, April 2014

EventsIt is so pleasing to report on the many activities of Music at St John’s through this latest edition of “Full Score”. I would once again like to thank those who have loyally supported the many events that have been organised. This edition looks at the activities of our charity from the late summer months of 2013 through to the spring of 2014 and I’m sure that you will agree that we have all been very busy during the period.

In September 2013, Music at St John’s held its first 12 hour sponsored Music Marathon. This event was briefly covered in the last edition of Full Score but I make no apology for including some commentary now. This event was an undoubted success in so many ways. A Music Marathon is what it claims to be, and it was a joy to see so many different kinds of music being performed by such a wide range of ages and capabilities. The day started and finished with a masterful display of drumming which resonated so well throughout the church

that no one could escape the intense atmosphere it created. Sandwiched in between were singers, organists, instrumentalists, pianists, groups of young children singing and there was even an opportunity for the audience to ‘sing along’ to some well known popular

songs. The day was organised by Sheena Wilson and we are so grateful to Sheena and her team for giving us a day to remember.

During October we welcomed the Gobstoppers Theatre Company to give their annual performance of ‘Songs from the Shows’. These young people are so talented and it is immediately evident when you watch them perform that they really do enjoy entertaining an audience, if you closed your eyes whilst listening to

Mus

ic H

alf M

arat

hon

- Sep

tem

ber 2

013

Mus

ic H

alf M

arat

hon

- Sep

tem

ber 2

013 Mus

ic H

alf M

arat

hon

- Sep

tem

ber 2

013

songs from such popular stage shows as ‘Les Miserables’ you could easily have been in the West End – Thank you Gobstoppers.

Our Annual Music Festival in November encompassed five events over the four days. We enjoyed a very stimulating recital given by students from Dacorum Music School on the Saturday morning, and on the Sunday afternoon we were entertained by four local organists who played the new Nicholson Organ - Cream teas were served during this event.On the Saturday evening we joined forces with the New School of Organ Studies to promote a ‘Silent Film Spectacular’. The organ console was moved to its central position and a large screen was erected directly above the console. Our guest organist for the evening was Donald MacKenzie who is the resident organist at London’s Leicester Square Odeon Theatre. The main feature film was a very early edition of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and there was a supporting film co-starring Oliver Hardy; it was quite enthralling to be able to witness the talents of Donald’s accompaniment whilst watching such very special silent films.

Before Christmas we held another of our very successful Christmas Tree Festivals, in which we displayed 43 beautifully decorated trees. Many people in Boxmoor and Hemel Hempstead come year after year and it has become an extremely popular event, so much so that even Father Christmas came to visit us for the first time.

The last day of the year, 31st December saw another ‘first’ for Music at St John’s. Following his successful running of 2012 miles in 2012, John Garner organised a sponsored 10k run and 4k walk. The runners and walkers left St John’s at mid-day and with their duty done, returned to the church to be welcomed by some liquid refreshment and hot food. It was a good way to slim down from the Christmas festivities in readiness for the New Year. Despite the sudden ‘cloud burst’ halfway through the course everyone seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly.

For our Annual New Year Concert we once again welcomed Rufus Frowde conducting the St John’s String Ensemble in a very enjoyable concert of music by Handel, Warlock, Grieg and Holst. The programme also included the Stabat Mater by Pergolesi and two songs composed by Michael Nyman and we were thrilled to welcome local sopranos Katherine Boyce and Bimbi Shaw-Cotterill to sing for us. This concert saw 2014 off to a splendid start.

In February we held a most successful Quiz Night. In a packed St John’s Hall, 10 tables of ‘Quizzers’ thought their way through some very challenging and intriguing questions. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the evening, including the ‘bangers and mash’ which was provided whilst the brain cells were rested. Thanks go to Alan Munford for organising these events for us.

Mark Wilson and Will Hollands (two members of the St John’s Church Choir) were tasked with carrying out a community project as part of their sixth form curriculum.

They decided with another student, Sam Dilks, to carry out a fundraising event with Music at St John’s as the beneficiary. On Saturday 8th March they both cycled a 52.6 mile route that included Leighton Buzzard, Tring and St Albans having started and finished at St John’s. They arrived back at St John’s sore but smiling having had a few mechanical issues with the bikes during the ride.

They covered the 52.6 miles in just under six hours and their current pledged total is £650. Thank you Mark and Will.

New VicarAfter a vacancy period of some 9 months, we were pleased to welcome our new Vicar, Reverend Michael Macey who was Collated and Licensed on 19th February. We are all looking forward to working with him.

Links with Dacorum Music School Our links with the Dacorum Music School are growing stronger each year; initially through the Principal, Wendy Topping and, since Wendy’s move to Watford, through Camille Maalawy. Camille has replaced Wendy on the MASJ Board and I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Camille and to thank Wendy for all the time and talent she gave to MASJ. Together with Dacorum Music School we

promote three ‘Unisound’ events in St John’s each year; these music days give primary school children the opportunity to come to play either stringed, woodwind or percussion instruments together. Our annual ‘Unisong’ singing day for primary school children takes place in May under the direction of Rufus Frowde, and our thanks go to Paul Davies for linking with the participating schools. Richard Lyne has engineered an annual visit from the ‘Woofyt’ (Wooden One-octave Organ For Young Technicians) in St John’s in May. The day is a resounding success with those lucky school children who were invited. As mentioned earlier students from Dacorum Music School also took part in our Annual Music Festival in November and their contribution together with other events made the festival another success. It is so satisfying to know that the links between Music at St John’s and Dacorum Music School are strengthening each year and long may they continue.

The Joyce Ralph’s Organ BursaryIn January this year, MASJ launched ‘The Joyce Ralphs Organ Bursary’. This award is aimed to help successful young applicants from the parish of Boxmoor towards the purchase of books or music directly related to their organ studies or towards the cost of attending appropriate training courses. If you know of anyone who is learning the organ with a recognised and qualified teacher of organ please contact us on 01442 257023.

PATRONS AND CONTACT DETAILSThe following are our valued Patrons to whom we are most grateful for their support:

Pam Rhodes (BBC Songs of Praise)

The Right Reverend Dr Alan Smith (Bishop of St. Albans)

Zoë Martlew (BBC Maestro)

Malcolm Archer (former Director of Music at St. Paul’s Cathedral)

Antony Hopkins (composer, pianist, conductor, and radio broadcaster)

The Venerable Jonathan Smith (Archdeacon of St. Albans)

Reverend Canon Alan Freeman (former Vicar of Boxmoor)

Reverend James Reveley (former Vicar of Boxmoor)

Reverend Laura Jørgensen (former Curate of Boxmoor)

If you wish to contact us and no other contact name is specified, please get in touch with Peter Garner on 01442 257023.

Music at St John’sc/o St John’s ChurchStation RoadHemel HempsteadHerts HP1 1JY

PERCENTAGE CLUB

Music at St John’s run a fun raffle style draw every month offering modest cash prizes. The profits from this “Percentage Club” go to help fund our activities. Those who wish to support us in this way can purchase numbers in the draws. If you would like further information about this, or would like to have a little flutter by entering some numbers in the draw, then please pick up the separate leaflet from St John’s church or contact Mark Harbour on 01442 230339.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

� 8th May – Unisong

� 22nd May – Unisound

� 23rd May – Woofyt

� 6th to 9th June – Flower Festival

� 7th June – Herts Phil String Quartet

� 13th September – Vale Wind Band – Proms Concert

� 20th September – Quiz Night

� 11th October – Sponsored Music Marathon

� 19th to 23rd November – Music Festival

� 13th to 17th December – Christmas Tree Festival

ORGAN PIPE SPONSORSHIP

SCHEME

If you would like to sponsor a pipe of the new organ, either on your own behalf or perhaps in memory of a loved one, we have an organ pipe sponsorship scheme that will facilitate this. The cost of sponsorship depends on the size of the pipe or set of pipes in question and the money raised goes directly to help pay for the new organ. Under this very popular scheme, we have now had almost 89% of the available pipes sponsored, as well as much of the console equipment, and we are greatly indebted to those who have helped us in this way. Should you wish to learn more about this scheme, please either pick up the separate leaflet from the church or contact Paul Davies on 01442 259447.

Music at St John’s Trustees:

Paul Davies, Peter Garner, Mark Harbour, Catherine Holness,

Nicholas King, Richard Lyne, Camille Maalawy, Reverend Michael Macey, Job Rombout

Registered Charity Number 1119580

Company Limited by Guarantee – registered company number: 05831738