Noticeboard

Notices and information for ECO members and parents only

ECO DUTY ROTA SUMMER 2010

please arrange your own swaps where necessary, or contact us via the website.

Date	10am - 12pm ECO Parent	10am - 12pm ECO Committee	12pm - 1.15pm EYO Parent	EYO Committee
11.9.10	to be confirmed	to be confirmed	to be confirmed	to be confirmed

ECO-RF Visit 2010

Exeter Children's Orchestra, working together with Russian City Breaks, are taking a group of 105 children and adults to Yaroslavl, Exeter's twin town in Russia, in August 2010. Our visit will form part of Yaroslavl's Millienium Celebration. We will be staying at the Park Hotel, hosted by Yaroslavl's Municipal Council. As well as a number of concerts we're hoping to sneak in plenty of relaxation time, and some sightseeing too.

Yaroslavl is an ancient city built on the confluence of two rivers, one of which is Russia's greatest waterway, the Volga. It is one of the beautiful old towns which form a circle around Moscow, known as the Golden Ring. The city centre has many fine historic buildings, notably the churches with their characteristic onion domes, inside which are some of the finest mediaeval wall paintings in Russia. At its heart is the ancient Kremlin whose huge white walls and towers enclose an old monastery and a little gold-domed cathedral.

Our visit in August will be the orchestra's third, although the first two were by the Chamber Orchestra; this is the first time it has been open to all ECO players. Our first trip was in the summer of 1990 (in an August heatwave) when Russia was still a communist state. President Gorbachev's reforms were opening the country to the West for the first time, and a visit by young people from England was a rare and very significant event for the ordinary people of Yaroslavl. Our second visit, only seven years later in March and April 1997, was to a very different country, not just politically but also visually - we landed at Moscow Airport in a blizzard, and wherever we went the landscape was still carpeted in deep Russian winter snow. During both visits we gave concerts to large, enthusiastic audiences, and we enjoyed sightseeing trips around Yaroslavl and other Golden Ring cities.

This year's trip is being organised by Ron Delve, who has plenty of invaluable experience of taking groups to Russia, and we are indebted to him for all his hard work.

Please read on below.

ECO Friends' Newsletter

FRIENDS OF EXETER CHILDREN’S ORCHESTRA!

Welcome to the summer edition of the Newsletter 2010.

Firstly, thank you all so much for supporting the Christmas concert 2009 by sending donations and buying raffle tickets. The Treasurer was very pleased to report that raffle receipts topped the £1100 mark, which must be something of a record! Your contributions really do make a difference to the children at ECO.

If you feel able to support us again at the 40th Anniversary Concert by attending, buying raffle tickets, sending a donation or simply by wishing ECO well, we would be delighted to hear from you.

ECO members have been very busy with concerts, exams and individual performances since our last newsletter.

Committee members have been exceptionally busy too, and we are currently finalising details for our 40th Anniversary Concert ON FRIDAY 14TH May AT THE CORN EXCHANGE IN EXETER, and for our trip to Russia in August.

For 40 years ECO has offered fantastic opportunities for children aged 7 to 18 to participate in quality musical experiences, under the guidance of inspirational tutors and, most notably Richard Bowyer, who has been ECO’s longest serving Musical Director.

HAPPY 40TH ANNIVERSARY ECO!

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK FOR THE FUTURE!

Please read on below for more details

Orchestra Merchandise Available!

As part of our fundraising efforts we have a number of ECO products available to buy. You can purchase these at any rehearsal - just ask a committee member - or at our concerts.

	ECO pens - made of sustainably grown wood	£1.50
	ECO bags - ideal for keeping all your orchestra things together!	£5.00
	ECO colour change mugs - just add hot water for an amazing transformation!	£7.50
	ECO hoodies - great quality Fruit of the Loom hoodies with our new logo on the front and the ECO web address on the back. Available in age 9-11, 12-13, 14-15 and Adult. Modelled by the beautiful Meg!	£12.00

Spanish holiday discount

ECO members and friends - two former orchestra families have converted an Andalucian farming complex into splendid holiday cottages with a pool. They are offering a generous 15% discount on their normal booking prices to ECO members and friends who make a donation to the orchestra. Their website has full details of the accommodation available and looks very tempting indeed. If you are interested in making a booking, pick up the flier available at weekly rehearsals, which has the details of how to claim your discount. "Terms and conditions apply". Many thanks to John, Carol, Terry and Stephanie for thinking of supporting the orchestra in this way!