FESYO Newsletter #1 – November 2004

Message from the Chairman

This year we celebrated the 25th birthday of ESYO and it has been a wonderful year. We had a superb birthday party and we have had a fantastic trip to Poland. Each and every player and staff will remember the high quality music experience and the unique opportunity to learn about Poland in the year when Poland had become a member of the European Union.

I must say that the players performed extremely well and behaved responsibly, and the staff were fantastic in managing the trip. The players and staff were a credit to themselves, to ESYO, and to the UK. This encourages all of us to organise and experience such trips in the future.

Finally these opportunities would not be afforded without the support of the parents, East Sussex Music Service, friends and FESYO whose attendance and contribution are invaluable. We understand the importance of the high quality education of our youth today, as they are leaders of the future. But it is the partnership of everyone that makes it happen and enjoyable for all.

Best Wishes
Mustak Damani

Main highlights of 2004 to date:

2 January 2004
The ESYO concert at Lewes Town Hall was a fantastic full house concert with over 400 people in the audience.

Two Glyndebourne tickets donated by ……. Were auctioned and were bought by the Chairman of East Sussex County Council who also made a matching contribution of £250 out of the Chairman’s trust fund.

Raffle tickets were also drawn at this concert with prizes such as two theatre tickets (donated by Mustak Damani, chairman of FESYO) and in total the vening auction and raffle raised £906.

We would like express our special thanks to the donors of prizes and the Chairman of East Sussex County Council for their generous contributions.

8 March 2004
The East Sussex County Council at the Royal Albert Hall will surely live in the memories of the players, teachers and 5,000 audience.

22 February to 23 May 2004
A number of Sunday afternoon chamber concerts were held at Westgate Chapel to enable students to raise funds for the trip to Poland. These were kindly organised by a committee member and where a great success with the support of the FESYO committee.

26 July 2004
A barbecue was held outside the new Performing Arts Centre and ESYO players, ex-players, staff and fesyo celebrated the silver anniversary to 1970s music and an amazing birthday cake (donated by chairman and his family) with the conductor doing the honours of blowing out the 25 candles.

Special thanks goes to the FESYO committee for arranging the barbecue.
Friends donated £1,000 at the party and we are so grateful for their generosity. It is these donations which allowed us to give our young friends support that otherwise would not be possible. IT has been suggested that this donation would start a Reserve Fund for the future as all charities now need to consider their reserves policy.

Thanks and presents were given to the membership secretary for her sterling 6 years work on the fesyo committee and to the previous director of East Sussex Music Service for his tremendous support of ESYO.

29 July 2004
The concert after the summer workshop at St Luke’s Church, the home of the LSO, with its wonderful acoustic was a huge success.

The leader of ESYO was unable to perform due toa cycling accident and his replacement steppind in short notice and put in a tremendous effort to achieve a high standard expected of ESYO players. A letter from her about her experiences in Poland is enclosed.

1 August to 10 August 2004
This year ESYO went to Poland and the trip with 95 people including staff proceeded with two coaches and one van to carry the instruments.

Four concerts were held in Wroclaw, Przemysl and Krakow. Each concert was held in fantastic venues, the inside of the churches were so beautiful that it was a privilege to perform in such venues.

The concerts were part of local festivals and each concert was full and overflowing with between 600 to 800 in the audience who were fantastic. The ambience was electric and ESYO played better and better each concert.

Each player enjoyed the trip, as it was very varied with beautiful baroque cities and diverse activities and they will not forget such an experience. The outline tour itinerary is attached. More photos can be seen on the fesyo website.

 A Departure from Music

August 3rd was ESYO first departure from music. We had rehearsed for the concert at St.Elizabeth Church in the old town in Wroclaw. The afternoon was taken up with a boat trip on the river Odra. This was a relaxing river cruise and was a lovely change from the endless hours on the coach. On the cruise we passed through a lock and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery. The coffee bar was a welcome distraction.

August 4th was the eagerly waited trip to the Castle at Krasiczyn for a medieval banquet. The entertainment consisted of Archery, Sword fighting and gun fight displays. We had an adventure walking round the castle in the dark. (Health and safety would not have been impressed) We were rewarded with a spectacular firework display to welcome us to the entrance of the castle. On entering we had a guided tour of the dungeons, rather like an experience at the London dungeons. On the downside we nearly had a revolt by the vegetarians. There seemed to be a misunderstanding about the numbers, more food was quickly prepared and gratefully received!

August 6th Boat trip No.2. Yes, we had another coach trip. This was softened by the anticipation of an adventure on the river San. On arrival we discovered our crafts were glorified punts on which you could fit about 8 people. We even had some commentary and anecdotes from our punters. Oonagh managed to lose her shoes and took the rest of the tour to find their way home.

August 8th. Our final departure from music was a trip to the salt mines near Krakow. We descended down hundreds and hundreds of stairs to the mines and were given a very interesting guided tour. Highlights included a Cathedral carved out of the mines with fabulous chandeliers. We were even entertained by a Polish Band. Thankfully we did not have to climb back to the surface under our own steam, but by an exciting, if rather spooky cage!

It was a delight to have so many departures from music. The music, of course, was of a fabulous standard. As the saying goes variety is the spice of life.