About Hereford Concert Society
Going back into history...
Herefordshire Community Council (HCC)'s involvement in the arranging of music recitals in Hereford goes back to 1943 when it's Music Drama and Arts Committee acted on the advice of Miss Mary Long (who later became the County Music Organiser). She told the Committee that there was "a great demand for good music in Hereford" and suggested that the Committee should "endeavour to arrange monthly recitals to meet this demand and to bring good music within the reach of everyone".
And that, put simply, is how Hereford Concert Society was conceived. In the early days it was called Hereford Music Club; then somewhere along the line the name changed to Hereford Concert Club and thence to Hereford Concert Society. Some of the early seasons drew the most amazing people to Hereford, including the New London Orchestra, Benno Moiseiwitsch, Isobel Baillie, Jan Smeterlin, Louis Kentner, Clifford Curzon, Pierre Bernac and - astonishingly - Francis Poulenc who presented a piano recital of his own music.
Our President...
...since February 1993 has been the world-renowned oboist and conductor
Nicholas Daniel who takes a great interest in our progress and has himself pointed young artists in our direction. He takes part in many of our seasons bringing with him fellow players such as Julius Drake, The Haffner Wind Ensemble of London - of which he is a founder member - and Maggie Cole to name but a very few. It's true to say that he uses Hereford Concert Society to some extent as an experimental platform for many different types of ensemble and we are delighted that he does so.
Nicholas is married to the clarinettist Joy Farrell - who has also played for us many times - and has two young sons. He lives with his family in Bedfordshire.
Our Patron
Julian Lloyd Webber is well-known for his interest in and enthusiasm for the teaching of music in schools, as those of you who read his regular Thursday column in The Daily Telegraph will know.
Widely regarded as one of the most creative musicians of his generation, Julian Lloyd Webber has collaborated with an extraordinary array of musicians from Yehudi Menuhin, Lorin Maazel, Neville Marriner and Georg Solti to Stephane Grappelli, Elton John and Cleo Laine.
In our 2004/5 season Julian gave a recital for Hereford Concert Society preceded by a workshop for aspiring young local cellists which culminated in a stage performance by them, at the end of his recital, of a work specially written by Julian.
Our Committee
Mrs Pamela White - Chairman
Mrs Ann Edwards - Artist Administration & Grants Officer
Mrs Philomena Kearne - Administration Officer
Mr Simon Scott - Treasurer
Miss Linda Arnold
Miss R. Katharine Wedgbury
Dr Iain Watt
Isobel Baillie
Sir Charles Groves, first President of HCS
Dr Roy Massey MBE
Chairman 1974-2000
Pierre Bernac
Joy Farrell