Community Concerts
A one-hour informal concert given by a small ensemble of our players, typically four, with lunch or tea provided, in a community venue.
Who is it for?
The purpose of an SPO Community Concert is to provide access to great music to people who might not otherwise encounter it because:
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They are less mobile and can’t or don’t want to travel to events
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They are older and don’t want to go out in the evenings
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Classical music is not part of their experience
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They are deterred by the cost
Who comes to them?
It is likely that an event of this type will appeal to people who already have a love of music and hear it from time to time; they of course are welcome too, but it is axiomatic that we try to reach people for whom it will be an unusual, or even a first-time experience.
What do the audience experience?
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Lifts to the event, and home again, for anyone who needs them, provided from a trustworthy local volunteer.
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A personal welcome and introduction from Leslie Olive or another member of the SPO leadership team.
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A concert by a quartet of musicians playing music carefully chosen to be attractive without “dumbing down” for about an hour.
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A finger buffet lunch following the concert.
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A simple souvenir, such as an SPO pen, as a memento of the occasion.
The Lunch
A finger buffet lunch is provided by local people, who donate their time and the ingredients used.
They also make up the team to prepare, serve, and clear up.
How much are the tickets?
We aim for these concerts to be free of charge. This is achieved by a combination of business sponsorship or grants to cover the unavoidable costs, local people providing and preparing the lunch, parish councils providing the venue free or at a reduced rate, and so on. After the first event, in Rattlesden, some members of the audience said there should have been a retiring collection, so we plan to do this in future.
Feedback
The SPO contact (usually Leslie Olive) will bring feedback cards or forms and encourage everyone to fill them in (using SPO branded ballpoint pens which the audience can take away with them.)
The Community Concert is absolutely an event in its own right, but it should also be an opportunity to point towards a forthcoming SPO concert and highlight opportunities for easy access to it.
Voluntary Local Organisations
COULD THIS BE YOU??
The success of this vision depends entirely upon our finding voluntary local organisers. This can be an individual working with an informal group of friends, or an established organisation, club, or institute.
The Volunteer Local Organiser undertakes the following responsibilities:
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AUDIENCE CREATION – Publicity using word of mouth, features and notices in village and church magazines and newsletters, simple posters and flyers. The target is to have the hall comfortably full.(Note: The SPO can provide a simple poster/flyer template for you to photocopy, also wording for village magazine articles etc.)
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STEWARDING & VENUE MANAGEMENT – Making sure the hall is ready, open, heated and lit, “all systems ‘go’” in good time, there are stewards to put and put away chairs and assist the audience as necessary, and closing up after the event.
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CREATION & DISTRIBUTION OF TICKETS – Useful to have tickets numbered with a simple serial number (can be done by hand) to keep a track of how many people are coming. Making sure the tickets are readily available.(Note: SPO can provide a template for tickets, or actual tickets as you prefer.)
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LUNCH OVERSIGHT – organising a local team who will donate their time and the ingredients.
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Being the point of contact for the SPO link person.
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Contact with the body responsible for the Village Hall: it is helpful to the project if the body responsible for the hall will donate its use for this event without charge.
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…and sorting out any loose ends either personally or by touching base with the SPO link person.
Past Community Days
2018
Yoxford Village Hall | Wenhaston Primary School | Yoxford Primary School
St Nicholas Hospice, Bury St Edmunds | Hawstead Village Hall | South Lee School
Freckenham Village Hall | Red Lodge Primary School | Ixworth Free School
2017
Shotley Village Hall | Shortly Primary School | Westerfield High School
Kesgrave Community Centre | Kesgrave High School & Kesgrave Primary School
St Elizabeth Hospice, Ipswich | Orwell Park School | Nacton Primary School
Britannia Primary School, Ipswich
2016
Hadleigh Community Centre | Hadleigh High School
St Elizabeth Hospice, Ipswich | Orwell Park with Orwell Park School
Hardwick Community Centre (Bury St Edmunds) | Hardwick Primary School
2015
Tattingstone Village Hall | East Bergholt Community House
Tattingstone Primary School | East Bergholt High School (Masterclass)
Hoxne Village Hall | Debenham Community Centre | Debenham High School
Trimley St Mary
Exning Tea Concert | Exning Primary School
2014
Needham Market Community Centre | Bramford Tea Concert with Bramford Primary School
Eye Community Centre Lunchtime Concert | Hoxne Primary School
Harleston Tea Concert at Bishop Ashcroft High School
2013
Stoke-by-Nayland Lunch Concert | Nayland Primary School
2012
Rattlesden Pavillion Lunch Concert
Rattlesden Primary School | Beyton Middle School | King Edward IV High School