Friends of Brecknock Sinfonia

The Friends of Brecknock Sinfonia was established in 2009 initiated by Hilary and Mike Scott Archer. Hilary’s great catering skills in providing fund-raising lunches every Thursday for six years for many U3A members, hosting evening chamber concerts in their house in Gas Lane, Brecon and supporting the provision of refreshments for members after concerts were instrumental in maintaining the orchestra. The friends continue to support the orchestra by raising funds, generating awareness and interest, and providing an active social network for its audiences. Without their support the orchestra would cease to exist.

Change to Subscription Arrangements

Please note the following change to the account for subscriptions which follows from the amalgamation of the orchestra and Friends into a registered charity.

The following is an extract from a message from Kaye Bennett:
Friends who have a standing order arrangement for their subscription which is being paid into the Friends of Brecknock Sinfonia account, should now instruct their bank, by phone, letter, or “online” to put a stop on that payment, and make a new arrangement for a standing order to be set up in the name of Brecknock Sinfonia Trust. The Friends and the old orchestra account are being amalgamated into one account – Brecknock Sinfonia Trust, sort code 30-90-02, account number 01079698.

If, however, you choose to stop your subscription altogether, please let your bank know, and inform me or Vaughan so that we can remove your name from the list of Friends.

The orchestra is very grateful for the continuing support of the Friends.

Next Musical Tea

Membership

When the Brecknock Sinfonia Trust was established in 2018, all Friends became members of the trust. There is a Friends’ Committee comprising Trustees and others, which organises events.

Membership of the Friends offers reserved seating at concerts, regular newsletters, invitations to recitals and post-concert drinks and snacks with the performers. As members of the Trust, they are invited to the Annual General Meeting. Unless they choose to remain anonymous, all Friends are acknowledged in the concert programmes.

The Membership Application Form and Gift aid declaration can be found here. If you are a UK tax payer you can declare that you wish your subscription to be eligable for Gift Aid in which case the Trust can collect the tax that you have paid on your subscription thereby enhancing its value to the Trust without extra cost to you.

Throughout the year the Friends host informal recitals, often as Musical Teas on a Sunday afternoon, at which members of the orchestra perform before tea and cakes are served. Recent offerings have included cello and harpsichord, a wind quintet, a baroque trio and a family ensemble.

The Friends also raise funds through a “100 Club”, a prize draw held at every concert.  For the price of a concert ticket subscribers have a number in each draw.

Download “100 Club” application form here

The funds raised by the Friends enable the orchestra to plan ambitious programmes and maintain the highest musical standards, while their social activities have created a strong support base and close links between the players and their audience. Without the Friends’ contributions the orchestra would cease to exist.

Musical Teas

Friends Committee

Chair – Janet Foster
Treasurer – Kaye Bennett –
Secretary – Dorcas Slaney
Susan Hankey
John Searight