FRIENDS SCHEME

Full details may be found below or view our brochure

The Somerset Chamber Choir has established a fine reputation since its formation in 1984 by former members of the Somerset Youth Choir. We have members based in Somerset and those who return home from their studies or careers outside the county. 

We run a flourishing Choir 'Friends' Scheme offering priority booking, concert mailing/news and varying levels of membership should you wish support the choir financially. The choir is fortunate in performing to an enthusiastic and passionately committed audience. The Friends of the Somerset Chamber Choir are at the heart of that audience.

The Friends make a vital contribution to the choir’s funding through membership subscriptions and donations. The Friends also play an extremely important role as ambassadors for the choir.

The support of the Friends makes a real difference to everyone in the choir – their loyalty, enthusiasm and generosity is a source of encouragement to all those involved in making our concert programme possible. All we have achieved has been made possible through their generous support.

The regular income from the Friends of the Choir and the knowledge that our 'Friends' will regularly attend our concerts, provides vital financial support. This enables us to plan large scale performances of interesting and challenging repertoire. We receive no public funding. Concerts are funded from ticket income, the 'Friends' and the occasional commercial sponsor.

By joining the  'Friends of the Choir', together we will achieve our aim: 

There are 5 levels of membership (Rates from May 2004)

All members receive:

-       Free mailing of advance publicity

-       Name credit in concert programmes

-       Invitation for you and your guests to post-concert drinks with the choir

-       Twice-yearly newsletter

 

Members also receive the following extra benefits:

Friends (£8)

-       Bronze priority booking for concerts

 

Joint Friends (£11)

 

Patrons (£25)

 

Gold Patrons  (£50)

 

Benefactors (£150)

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Priority Booking

Friends of the Somerset Chamber Choir are entitled to priority booking, for all our concerts, over members of the general public. Bookings are processed in order of membership level -  first Benefactors, then Gold Patrons, then Patrons, then Friends. We write to all Friends with details of priority bookings dates, which are also printed on our advance publicity fliers.

Volunteering

We often need more volunteers, either to help out at concert venues or with choir administration. If you would like to volunteer to help us in any way, please write to the Friends Scheme Manager or leave a message on our Box Office voicemail on 01275 349010.

Spreading the Word

Another vital way of helping us is to tell others about the choir and to encourage them to come to our concerts and consider becoming Friends.

Somerset Chamber Choir

The Somerset Chamber Choir was founded in 1984 by former members of the Somerset Youth Choir and is firmly established as one of the most exciting choirs in the area. It recruits from among the most talented singers in the region and places a strong emphasis on encouraging young people to join its ranks.

For many years now, the choir has performed innovative and eclectic programmes, of both established and neglected masterpieces, to audience and press acclaim. The choir regularly performs with many of the UK’s top professional soloists and orchestras.

Exacting performance standards limit the choir to two concerts a year, usually given in Wells Cathedral in the Summer and in King’s College Chapel, Taunton, at the turn of the year or at Easter. The proven quality of the performances is such that they have acquired a festival-like status and are eagerly anticipated.

The choir’s conductor is Graham Caldbeck, one of Britain's leading conductors of amateur choirs. Graham was a Choral Scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge and subsequently sang with the cathedral choirs of Guildford and Winchester. He also conducts the Nonsuch Singers, described last year by The Times as ‘one of London’s best chamber choirs.’

Making the most of your support

Every Friend already makes a vital and much-appreciated contribution to the life and music of the choir, but you can help us even more by:

making a donation in addition to your subscription

making a Gift Aid declaration so that we can reclaim the basic-rate income tax you have already paid on your donation. Gift Aid increases the value of any donation you make by 28%, at no additional cost to yourself. If you pay income tax at the higher rate you can also claim further tax relief.

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 Further information:  

Tel.  01392 432931