Happy to report that the Society will be performing at the Ards Guitar Festival again this year for the first time in a while.
Author: Admin
December 2021 Newsletter
I am delighted to inform you that Paul has volunteered to convene the first meeting at the college…..Truly an historic event! No more fitting stalwart member to be in the lead on that day. You are now invited to book in for the meeting on Sunday 9th January 2022 (NOTE this meeting is now fully booked). This will be on a first come-first booked basis. We are able to accept 12 members in addition to Paul as convener. It may be necessary to ask members to step aside from subsequent meetings (from time to time) so that we can provide equity of access.
The dates of subsequent meetings are planned as follows:
6th February
6th March
3rd April
8th May
5th June
Membership Subscriptions: So far seven members have paid their 2021-22 subscriptions. I want to remind the remaining membership (except for honorary members) to please make a contribution of £10-00 to Society funds.
Best wishes for the New Year and here’s to a successful meeting on 9th January!
Robert
Dear Members,
First and foremost, I trust that you are all well, and I wish you all a Happy Christmas!
You will be interested to know that Paul, on behalf of the committee, has negotiated a return to “f2f” society meetings at the college. The current proposal is to have a meeting in the college on Sunday 9th January 2022. Unfortunately, because of the room size, we shall need to restrict the number of members attending to 12.
It will be necessary to employ a protocol, as attached, to comply with (viral) safety rules, with the intention of protecting members and other users of the college.
Please be on the lookout, in early January, for an invitation from the convener to book a slot for the meeting, notwithstanding any new restrictions that may appear with respect to the Omicron variant.
(I have to say, being a medic who has had a career in molecular pathology, that it is fascinating to know that the general public are learning about viral mutational activity, and the Greek alphabet!)
May your God go with with you,
And all the best. Robert
AGM
Members – the AGM will be held as a Zoom call this year. It will be held on Sunday 17th October at 3pm with the primary aim of selecting a new committee, which will then be in a position to negotiate with the UCM regarding possible timing of reconvening at the college in person. Please give some thought to the possibility of standing for committee membership, and if you have ideas of that nature please let Robbie know beforehand.
If you wish to take part, or cannot take part and want something to be raised at the meeting, please contact Robbie and he will send you the invitation if desired.
Bangor Mini-Fest Cancelled
Hello folks,
We are sorry to inform you that it will not be possible to proceed with the Bangor guitar weekend at the end of August (29th / 30th). The venue, Hamilton Halls, is not going to be open until September at the earliest, and the committee is not in a position to find another venue. In fact, the general view of the committee is that postponement until more suitable times ahead is the correct action at this time.
I hope everybody is well and still enjoying plenty of guitar activities, albeit in the midst of social distancing, etc. Just a reminder – there is an active society WhatsApp group, founded during lockdown. All sorts of things get discussed – fingernails, strings, performance practice, gardening, poetry….. even molecular virology! If you want to join the group, please contact the secretary. Only recognised members will be able to join.
Chairman
BBQ Cancellation
Dear Members,
We were originally scheduled to have our June meeting this Sunday, 14th June. Since we are not allowed to meet indoors as a group, and only small cohorts may meet outdoors, it is not possible to have the meeting. At this stage the barbeque is also off the list. I do not know as yet whether our Bangor weekend will be possible, but if it does go ahead we shall have to work out all the social distancing and hand hygiene logistics, etc. Valerie Hartzell will not be coming as she is in “shielding” mode and has no intention of travelling or performing on this side of an effective vaccination programme. Sorry for the gloomy news.
On a brighter note there is an active society WhatsApp group, which I believe has a had a couple of virtual meetings using Zoom. Members of the group have posted little videos of their own home performances, and there has been lots of discussion on a wide range of topics from nail care to Leo Brouwer and even on growing leeks! If you are a member and are not signed on to the group and wish to do so please get in touch.
I have attached a little article about the society below, recently published in Making Music’s magazine.
All the best for a bright and musical summer.
Dear Members and Associates,
I don’t think anybody will be surprised to learn that we are going to have to cancel our forthcoming meetings on account of this virus proliferation.
The committee has agreed the following:
Sunday 5th April: Portstewart meeting – cancelled
Sunday 3rd May (originally planned for Sunday 10th May): AGM – cancelled. Until we can rearrange the AGM, the committee has agreed to continue in a caretaker capacity.
Sunday 14th June: Regular meeting – to be decided later, but unlikely to go ahead
Sunday 28th June or Sunday 4th July: Barbecue – to be decided later, but unlikely to go ahead
Also – Wednesday 1st April: Ards Guitar festival – cancelled; ensemble rehearsals – cancelled.
At this stage we intend to proceed with the Bangor guitar weekend at the end of August, so if you have not done so, please contact Keith or any other member of the committee, to register your interest.
Best wishes to you and yours. Keep well and keep playing your guitar!
Bangor Mini-Fest
Hi Folks
This year the CGSNI are supporting a weekend guitar festival in Bangor, Co. Down over the late August Bank Holiday weekend, 29th and 30th August (please see the flier below). The artists will be American guitarist Valerie Hartzell, Sean Woods and Brian Keenan. Please let me know you would be interested in attending this event.
Keith
(on behalf of the Committee).
Derry Guitar Weekend Photos
Hi folks – here are a few photos from the Derry guitar weekend just passed. More can be viewed on our Facebook page.
For anyone visiting the North Coast this Summer, there are a couple of events of note coming up:
Music at Mussenden Temple
Our member Damien O’Connor will be performing on Sunday 18th August 12noon to 2pm. Link
Portstewart
Keith and Robbie will be performing at Warke’s Deli on the Promenade, Portstewart on Saturday 27th July 4pm till 5pm.
Guitar weekend in Derry
The programme is shown below. If you wish to come it’s not too late; please contact secretary.cgsni (at) gmail.com!
CGSNI DERRY MEETING
Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin
37 Great James Street
L/Derry BT48 7DF
Sean Woods and Isabel Martinez
Sat 24th Aug
9am Access to Building
10 – 10.15am Welcome and housekeeping
10.15- 11am Technical workshops Sean/Isabel
11am Tea/Coffee
11.15- 12noon Technical workshop Sean/Isabel
12noon- 1 pm Cluster Groups Split into three groups and with Sean and Isabel circulating between the groups
1pm – 2 pm Lunch Break
2pm – 4pm Ensemble (Sean)
4.15pm Members recital
5 pm Close
7.30 Concert performance by Isabel Martinez in the DDCF Church, Northland Road.
—
Sunday 25th Aug
9am Access to Building
10am Sean/Isabel Masterclasses (2 x 30min)
11am Tea/Coffee
11.15-12.15 Masterclasses (2 x 30min)
12.15-1pm Cluster Groups
1pm Lunch Break
2pm – 4pm Ensemble (see below)
4.15pm Members recital
5 pm Close and disperse
—
There are two pieces for the Ensemble:
- Faure Pavane (transcribed by Ed Mitchell)
- “The Tree on the Moor” Gary Ryan (written for the 2012 City of Derry Guitar Festival)