Form printed off and in post!

- will collect on Monday Thanks DC!

It looks like I will after all be able to come, but probably wont get form off until Tues/Wed next week.

Form printed and filled in - and then found I was out of stamps. I'll post it tomorrow.

Wonderful! Look forward to seeing you



Cool andante

I'm really looking forward to this!

Looks like I'm going to be able to come to this one! I was resigned to the fact I couldn't afford it, then my other half offered to pay the hotel/petrol as a birthday present, so my form will be posted tomorrow.



I'm not planning any ensembles, but if anyone needs an oboist for thiers, I'm happy to join in.

Can anyone recommend any good hotels in Chester? Or any that should be avoided?

Will be great to see you again amber_piano!

Chester is quite a touristy place, so there are plenty of places to stay. Drop a PM to my partner in crime for this event (pianocrazy), and I'm sure she'll have ideas.

There is a hotel called the 'Woodhey House Hotel', part of the Focus group, near Chester. Last time I looked a suite of rooms cost approx. £45 per night including breakfast for two. We stayed at another hotel in the same group for the Ribble Valley Piano Week last month, also at £45 per night, excellent value! The hotels have swimming pool, sauna, etc., and the included breakfasts had a very wide choice. We booked that one through www.laterooms.com and will be booking the Chester one as soon as we decide how long we are staying.

Thanks. I'll check that out.

Just had another look at Laterooms and the 'Comfort Hotel' in Chester looks a good price - breakfast not included.

Form filled in, cheque filled in, envelope addressed and stamped - in post tomorrow .

Wonderful : should be able to collect that on Thursday!

I'm collecting more forms tomorrow.

Next, and final, collection will be on the closing date, Saturday 22nd August. Please ensure your form is in my PO Box by then (so post by Thursday 20th, I'd say )

By first class post

One thing I'll add : there's been a lot of post strikes recently, and more are planned : if you've sent your form, and it hasn't arrived by 22nd August (I'll post a cast list), then let me know.

Errrm, Barry old chap, if you don't happen to find my form in your magic post box tomorrow, it might just be because the only stamp I had available was a second class one.....

....or it could be held up in a postal strike .

My daughter is expressing interest in this. Can you clarify a few things, please? Can she just come along to take part in the finale Orchestra bit, or do you have to do a solo / ensemble too? (Perhaps you have sold all your slots for those anyway?) If she just does the orchestra bit does she turn up in time for the finale rehersal, or do you come for the whole day and spectate the rest of the time? It also says that Under 18s need to be accompanied. That does mean by a spectator I hope! (I'd hate to be handed a trombone and told to join in )

She doesn't have to do a solo or anything as well if she just wants to play in the finale.
It's entirely up to you whether she (and you) want to go for the whole day. It's quite possible that she could get to join in some informal playing during the morning and people to tend to like to socialise too.
And yes, you just need to chaperone your daughter. playing is not required if that's not what you do.

I think that covers it. If not Barry will be along some time to correct me but he's not online as much for a few days.

Sbhoa's got it right on the button - hope to see you both there!

Thanks, we've printed the form.

Just wondering if andante and andante_in_c in the same room will have the same devastating effects as matter and anti-matter meeting.

Oh bother! Just realised that the 19th is the first orchestra practice of term for both my girls. (And the little one starts the next orchestra up, so I was going to take her rather than send her on the bus). As usual having three children leads to you being outnumbered!

I really will get to a forum event again soon, it'd be great to see old friends and new faces. I'm just a bit poor at the moment! Reading about all of them is definitely hwetting my appetite though...

Aww, that's a pity. Hopefully we'll see you at another forum do soon.

I'm now wondering if she can do both. Chester appeals as it is only just over an hour from here, so it might be possible to come for the afternoon. I'll get back to you when I've thought a bit more about the logistics. There could yet be an andante implosion!

I'm filling in my form at the moment but just to clarify as I don't want it in the post with me planning to do all the wrong things!

My daughter (aged 12) says that she will come and play a duet with me - James Bond theme tune proposed on the grounds that we could play it but can't i.e. should be able to learn it next week before she goes back to school. Assuming that I can get my act together I have a month to learn 'Fantasia on Greenselves' Vaughan Williams something that's been in the pipeline for a while (I would need an accompanist). She might also be persuaded to play a solo (also needing an accompanist) but I'm not sure what as she is away at the moment can we book a provisional slot?

We would both play in any finale/group/ensemble if you'll have us. (Two post grade 5 cellos). Hope to hear from you before I put the form in the post in case I have to revise it.

Thanks

All good , see you both there!

Form is in the post, first class, despite worrying reports of postal strikes.

See you there!

Final reminder!

Closing date for this concert is this Saturday, and I will be collecting forms that morning!

I will publish a cast list over the weekend, if you've sent me a form, and you're not on the cast list, please PM or email or text or call me!

And there we go!

Applications for this concert are now closed!

I'll be collecting the remaining forms later today, and I'll publish a cast list.

If your name is not on that list, and you were expecting to go, contact me! Thanks!

Here is the list of performers. If you're not on this list, and you are intending to come to the concert, please contact me as soon as possible.

pianocrazy, pianocrazy's 3 friends, Babybird2, gedall40, lois, lois' mum, oldnotes, rachi, rachi's pupil, StuMac, Panthera, Appassionata, petrat, andante_in_c, katyjay + 1, Swisscello + 1, Mad Tom, andante, kingsley13, fsharpminor, DaisyChain, amber_piano, Robodoc, sbpiano, barry-clari.

I will be allocating accompanists to people who need them in the course of this coming week : it will be up to you to contact the accompanists to sort out sending music etc.

Two other things : is anyone up for a little clarinet ensemble? And petrat would like to do a recorder ensemble, please contact her if you're interested in performing in that, with the size of recorders you're willing to play.

Thanks everyone for your support : without you all, there'd be no event. Give yourselves a cheer!

I'm slightly worried that you have me down as a "performer", but I'm assuming that sitting in the audience and clapping will count as performance enough.

I'll almost certainly make this as a spectator I think! My student concert is a few days beforehand so I'd probably be too stressed and clapped out to play anyway

Yep, it will!

Solari : text me sometime beforehand when you know if you're coming.

We have an almighty rollout of new kit over several weekends at work but I'm pretty sure I can dodge out of that weekend. Did you want a lift up and back or something?

I'll probably drive, it's a fair journey though! M40/M42, M6 toll methinks.

I've got the weekend off, and am travelling up on the Friday, and back on the Sunday, and I already have my train tickets. Thanks for the offer though Solari

M6 toll - yes, go for that : infinitely better than the regular M6 and its associated jams...

M6 Toll is brilliant, except that every time I use it they put the price up £4.70 now! Nearly a tenner for a round trip, but much less stressful than sitting in the roadworks on the M6.

Last time I was on there, I thought it was like the Autobahns in Germany (ie: no speed limit) so was doing 135 (and was still being overtaken by other people)!

Oops

Sadly we won't be able to make this event. I think Emsoboe would have enjoyed it as there are several younger people attending.

I'd like ot say next year but things are going to be difficult on Saturdays in future.

Now that we have numbers finalised I'm hoping to organise a meal after the concert. Can you let me know if you are interested in this and preference for food:
Italian
Tapas Bar
Chinese
French
Any other preference

Pianocrazy

Sorry I can't stay for a meal despite living near. I persuaded Mrs to delay going on holiday by one day to make the event so I'll have to go home and pack

Yes definately interested in the clari ensemble

Lois

I can't make the meal, sorry

I can make the meal: prefer not tapas but anything else is fine.

What's the parking situation in Chester on a Saturday?

I'll go with the majority : will eat any of the above cuisines!



*makes note*

thanks!

Clari ensemble for me please!
I prefer Italian, but don't really mind any of the choices.

*makes another note*

thanks!

I'll join in with the clarinet ensemble. (I can't get there until at least 1 o'clock though)