Dear Friends of Orchestral Music

It seems like déjà vu that we write at the end of 2021 with the 4th wave of Covid hanging over us. Moving forwards all planning remains in limbo and the arts is in need of our help more than ever.

We thank you for your 2021 membership renewals, which played a vital role in our being able to assist some of our educational portfolios to continue through the year with data for their online lessons and bursary awards to assist worthy disadvantaged students who otherwise would not have been able to study. We were able to contribute towards the programmes of the Beau Soleil and Hugo Lambrechts Music Centres, the South African National Youth Orchestra and the youth projects of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.  We were also able to support the South African Strings Symposium with bursaries for students to attend. The Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival and Franschhoek Chamber Music Workshop have held their funding over until their events are allowed to resume.

Through additional fundraising we were also able to donate directly to the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and Fine Music Radio – now the only full-time classical music radio station in the country.  Our 2021 donation means that FMR are able to broadcast the National Youth Music Competition – which features some of South Africa’s most talented youth, performing with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. The competition took place on the 11th December and our broadcast will take place on 23rdJanuary 2022 on fmr.co.za / 101.3 and Dstv838 – enabling people across South Africa and beyond to hear this exceptional competition.

However, as supporters of classical music there have been some highlights for 2021 – we were able to enjoy the CPO Cyber Symphonies which presented a stunning spectrum of local talent – with which Cape Town is blessed – in a broad concert repertoire filmed to a very high standard. This brightened our lives and the CPO has been able to reach audiences further afield in SA and internationally. For those able to venture out- the CPO opened up some of their recording sessions to a small but appreciative audience, and we were also able to offer you discounted tickets to the Cape Town Concert Series recitals at the Baxter which showcased some of South Africa’s finest musicians.

 We need your help to give more to our projects in 2022.

2022 membership renewals are open. We are keeping our fees the same – just R200 per person. Membership form and details are on our fomct.com website, and banking details are also below.  We are looking for opportunities to bring member benefits that comply with the Lockdown regulations while keeping our members and their family and friends safe.  We will continue with our collaboration with the Cape Town Concert Series and we hope to be able to present our special soirees at Bowmans again.

While we strive to make this happen, we ask our members to:

  • Renew for 2022 and, if possible, add a donation as many of those who have renewed thus far have done;
  • To make payments easier, we have established a new Debit Order option, and attach our Appeal to help us meet our education  and music appreciation fund-raising targets;
  • We attach our new brochure in English and Afrikaans and ask that you feel free to send this to any interested parties who want to learn more about FOM.

We hope it won’t be too long before we can meet again at a FOM Event and we thank you for helping to build the future of music in Cape Town.

Roderick Stevens
Chairman
Friends of Orchestral Music

 

BANK DETAILS:  
Please use the following reference when making EFT payments:  Subs + Surname

Please email proof of payment to: mrusso@mweb.co.za
EFT Details:
Standard Bank, Rondebosch, Branch: 025009
Account Name: Friends of Orchestral Music
Account No: 071 03 1146.   SWIFT Code: SBZAZAJJ