Our Strategic Aims
Strategic Development Plan
CPC Constitution.
We few, we happy few.
CPC Privacy Policy
CPC Child Protection Policy
CPC Equality Policy

Our Strategic Aims
Strategic Development Plan
CPC Constitution.
We few, we happy few.
CPC Privacy Policy
CPC Child Protection Policy
CPC Equality Policy

Our Strategic Aims
Strategic Development Plan
CPC Constitution.
We few, we happy few.
CPC Privacy Policy
CPC Child Protection Policy
CPC Equality Policy

Our Strategic Aims
Strategic Development Plan
CPC Constitution.
We few, we happy few.
CPC Privacy Policy
CPC Child Protection Policy
CPC Equality Policy

Our Strategic Aims
Strategic Development Plan
CPC Constitution.
We few, we happy few.
CPC Privacy Policy
CPC Child Protection Policy
CPC Equality Policy

Choir Strategic Development Plan 2003-2004

Mission statement
The purpose of the choir is the study and practice of music in order to maintain a high standard of singing performance; to give members and audiences at concerts enjoyment of a broad range and, where possible, creative approach to music.

I. To develop a larger broader range of audience and raise the profile of the choir within the Chesterfield community and more widely in the Midlands.

IV. Increased involvement of younger people with the choir, as singers, musicians and audience members, as they are our potential members and audience in the future.

V. To increase the choir's income through:
- increased membership
- increased fundraising
- increased sponsorship
- increased audience size
and so enable it to perform more frequently with orchestral musicians and maintain the use of high quality professional soloists and musicians in concert performances.

By increasing the choir's income, the choir will seek opportunities to fund a professionally recorded CD/tape of its performance in order to:
- promote the choir more widely
- provide an additional income stream
- advertise the choir on the radio.

1. Name.
The Society shall be called ‘Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir’.

2. Objects
The object of the Society shall be to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of choral music in all its aspects by the presentation of public concerts and recitals.

3. Membership.
3.1 Membership of the Society shall be open to all persons. No individual shall be refused membership on the grounds of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, race, religious beliefs or financial standing.

3.2 The Society may have the following classes of membership:

Singing
Non-Singing
Life
Honorary
Friends

Members may hold more than one class of membership at the same time.

3.2.1 Singing membership will be subject to the discretion of the Musical Director, but refusal may be only on the grounds of inability to meet the musical demands of rehearsals and concerts.

3.2.2 The Committee may appoint to the Society a Musical Director, Deputy Musical Director, Accompanist and Deputy Accompanist who shall become non-singing members of the Society;

3.2.2.1 other non-singing members may be admitted at the discretion of the Committee for the purpose of furthering the interests of the Society.

3.2.3 Life members may be elected by the Society at the Annual General Meeting in recognition of exceptional service given to the choir in either a singing or support capacity.

3.2.4 An Honorary President and Vice-presidents may be elected by the Society at a General Meeting.

3.2.5 Individuals may become Friends of the Society by payment of the appropriate fee.

4. Voting Rights
4.1 All Singing and Life members have a right to vote at General Meetings and other ballots of members. Those Non-singing members specified in Section 3.2.2 have the same voting rights. All other classes of membership have no voting rights.

4.2 Any member with voting rights has only one vote, regardless of the number of classes of membership with voting rights held by the same individual.

4.3 All votes at general meetings, committee meetings and ballots will be decided on the basis of a simple majority. Where the number of votes cast produces a tied result the Chairman of the Meeting will have the casting vote.

5. Management.
5.1 Structure of Committee:

5.1.1 Management of the Society shall be vested in a committee comprising no more than twelve voting members, to include the following five posts :

Chairman
Secretary
Treasurer
Musical Director
Choir representative.

5.1.2 The remaining seven posts will be designated according to the management needs of the Society for the ensuing year. Six members of the Committee shall form a quorum. The Committee may elect one of its members as Deputy Chairman.

5.2 Election of Committee:

5.2.1 Each Committee post, save for that of Musical Director, shall fall for election at the Annual General Meeting each year. Retiring members shall be eligible for re-election, however the same member shall not hold the position of:

(a) Chairman for more than five consecutive years;
(b) Choir Representative for more than two consecutive years.

5.2.2 All nominees for Committee posts must be supported by two paid up voting members of the Society.

5.3 Committee Meetings:

5.3.1 The Committee will meet formally at least three times every year to consider the strategic direction, general & risk management and overall administration of the Society. Dates of these meetings will be made available to members in advance. Minutes of such meetings will be made available to members within four weeks. Members who wish to raise issues for consideration at such meetings should make these known to any member of the Committee at least two weeks before the date of the next meeting.

5.3.2 The Committee may make arrangements for other ad-hoc meetings as it sees fit.

5.4 Powers of the Committee: In furtherance of the objects but not otherwise the Committee may exercise the following powers:

5.4.1 Power to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions provided that in raising funds the Committee shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law;

5.4.2 Power to buy, take on lease or in exchange any property necessary for the achievement of the objects and to maintain and equip it for use;

5.4.3 Power subject to any consents required by law to sell, lease or dispose of all or any part of the property of the Charity;

5.4.4 Power subject to any consents required by law to borrow money and to charge all or any part of the property of the Charity with repayment of the money so borrowed;

5.4.5 Power to employ such staff (who shall not be members of the Executive Committee) as are necessary for the proper pursuit of the objects and to make all reasonable and necessary provision for the payment of pensions and superannuation for staff and their dependants;

5.4.6 Power to co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and advice with them;

5.4.7 Power to establish or support any charitable trusts, associations, or institutions formed for all or any of the objects;

5.4.8 Power to appoint and constitute such advisory committees as the Committee may think fit;

5.4.9 Power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects;

5.4.10 Power to consider and develop plans for the effective promotion and development of the Society. Such plans must be presented to members for their agreement before they may be implemented.

5.4.11 In case any question or matter should arise in connection with the Society, which is not already dealt with in this Constitution & Rules and upon which immediate action is required before an appropriately constituted General Meeting can be convened, the Committee shall have full power to make such orders as they think fit and the decision arrived at shall be final and conclusive. Any such order to be ratified by a General Meeting in due course.

5.4.12 Committee members shall be bound by any decision of the Committee.

6. Subscriptions.
6.1 Subscriptions will apply only to Singing members, Life members who are also singing members and Friends. In the event of failure to pay the agreed subscription by 1 April of that financial year, membership shall lapse.

6.1.1 Singing members. The Society may provide for a range of subscriptions that allows for the differing financial situations of singing members. Those on unemployment or other state supported benefits may be offered membership at no cost or a rate commensurate with their ability to pay. Decisions to offer a reduced subscription to individual members will be taken by the Committee. The normal rates of subscription shall be as agreed by the Annual General Meeting, by recommendation from the Committee.

6.1.2 Life members who are also singing members will be required to pay the appropriate singing member’s subscription.

6.1.3 Friends. The Friends fee, status and entitlements will be determined annually by the Society at the Annual General meeting, by recommendation from the Committee.

7. Annual General Meeting.
7.1 Members shall be summoned to an Annual General Meeting not later than 31st October, on twenty-one day’s notice from the Committee. The purpose is for receiving reports from the Committee, receiving and adopting the financial account, appointment of the Independent Examiner, the election of the committee for the ensuing year and any other business. Nominations, together with any proposed amendments to the Constitution and Rules of the Society and any items of business that a member wishes to be placed on the agenda for the meeting shall be notified in writing to the Secretary not less than fourteen days prior to the meeting. Each nomination, amendment or item of business to be seconded by one other voting member.

7.2 A quorum at the Annual General Meeting shall be one half of the voting membership of the Society.

8. Extra-Ordinary General Meetings.
8.1 An extra-ordinary General Meeting may be called by the Committee or by twenty voting members of the Society on twenty-one days notice being given to the voting members of the Society of the meeting and of the motions to be put to the meeting. Any request for such a meeting from members should be made to the Secretary in writing, setting out the motion or motions concerned, and signed by all twenty members.

8.2 A quorum at an Extra-ordinary General Meeting shall be one half of the voting membership of the Society.

9. Rehearsals.
All performing members will be expected to be in regular attendance at rehearsals and concerts, at the discretion of the Musical Director. The Committee may rule at any time that participation in concerts is limited to members who have attended a certain number of rehearsals.

10. Constitution and Rules.
10.1 Each member of the Society shall be provided with access to the current Constitution and Rules of the Society and may require from any member of the Committee sight of a copy.

10.2 Subject to the following provisions of this clause the Constitution may be altered by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the members present and voting at a general meeting. The notice of the general meeting must include notice of the resolution, setting out the terms of the alteration proposed.

10.3 No amendment may be made to clause 1, clause 2, clauses 11.7, clause 11.8 or this clause without the prior consent in writing of the Commissioners.

10.4 No amendment may be made which would have the effect of making the Charity cease to be a charity at law.

11. Finance.
11.1 The Financial Year shall commence on 1st August.

11.2 The financial accounts shall be drawn up and presented for independent examination annually, prior to their presentation to the Annual General Meeting for acceptance by the members.

11.3 One or more banking accounts shall be held in the name of the Society for the purpose of receiving and making payments.

11.4 All cheques and other written authorities for payment must be signed by two authorized signatories, which may be drawn from the duly elected Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer of the Society. In the temporary absence of one of the aforementioned officers for a period of three months or more the Committee may allow one further Committee member to become an authorized signatory until such time as the absent officer returns.

11.5 Only funds necessary to meet the day-to-day running costs of the Society should be retained as cash.

11.6 The Society may receive donations, grants-in-aid or financial guarantees.

11.7 The income and property of the Society shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the Society as set forth in its Rules. No portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus or by payment of a professional fee to any member of the Society, except in payment of legitimate expenses incurred on behalf of the Society, or save as set out herein.

11.7.1 A fee may be paid to the Musical Director and/or Deputy Musical Director and/or the Accompanist of the Society as agreed by the Committee.

11.7.2 A fee may be paid to any member undertaking a professional soloist’s role in a public performance by the Society as agreed by the Committee.

11.7.3 The Committee may authorize payment for small gifts in recognition of exceptional service to the Society

11.8 On winding up or dissolution of the Society, any remianing assets shall be handed over to a charitable society or association having a similar purpose..

12. Accounts
The Committee shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1993 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that act with regard to:

12.1 The keeping of accounting records for the Charity;

12.2 The preparation of annual statements of account for the Charity;

12.3 The auditing or independent examination of the statements of account of the Charity; and

12.4 The transmission of the statements of account of the Charity to the Commission.

13. These rules were adopted by the Society on the eleventh day of July 2002 and amended on 6 October 2004..

We Few, We Happy Few, We band of brothers (and sisters)
An article published in June 2006 in the magazine 'Reflections'

It's almost like a scene from the Shakespearean film epic Henry V ! With baton poised the archers await their leader's signal to unleash a volley of arrows at the beginning of the Battle of Agincourt. Similarly, in total silence, all eyes are focused straight ahead in anticipation of the sweep of the conductor's baton to signal the beginning of a Thursday evening's musical rehearsal of the Chesterfield Philharmonic Society. In an instant, the room springs to life, dozens of voices reverberating in harmony around Chesterfield's Ashgate Croft school gymnasium.
Andrew Eyley

AS ALWAYS, members of the Chesterfield Philharmonic Choral Society are polishing their semi tones, 0rchestrating harmonies, and perfecting beat in a bid to maintain the exacting standards demanded by current musical director Steven Roberts.
Taking their present title on 27th April 1967, the Chesterfield Philharmonic is preparing to celebrate its Ruby (40th) anniversary. Their first concert was a Bach Mass in B Minor, performed as the Chesterfield Harmonic Choir and Orchestra in Chesterfield's Parish Church in October 1967.
Local historical records tell of a meeting in Grassmoor, April 1924, which marked the establishment of the Grassmoor Musical Union. Concerts were apparently performed in those early days, including a few choruses out of the Messjah being sung at the Picture Palace, but the choir's activities were short lived. There was little money for music during the 1920s and 30s, and with the Second World War it was not until 1944 that the Grassmoor Musical Union rose again like a phoenix from the ashes.
A membership fee of 2/6d was levied and members were asked to buy their own music. In 1945, the choir was re-named the Grassmoor Choral Union and, in 1949, they sang for the first time with an orchestra. Throughout the 1950s, the choir met with varying degrees of success at music festivals, winning the Rosebowl trophy, at Macclesfield, for the most artistic performance in the senior choral section.
Colin Wheatley, who had attended the choir with his parents since 1944, became conductor in 1959 and launched a new era in its history. The choir performed at the Civic Theatre for the first time and, in 1961, rehearsals were moved from Grassmoor to Chesterfield. The name was also changed to the Chesterfield and District Choral Unjon.
September 1963 saw the choir performing Mozart Requjem in Chesterfield's Parish Church, with members successfully singing in Latin for the first time. All was not well, however, as Winter concerts in the Parish Church proved too cold for many: male members of the choir found that pyjamas worn underneath dress suits provided a very acceptable form of insulation.
Choir numbers grew, especially with the influx of new Post Office personnel into the town, and seeds were sown regarding the formation of an accompanying orchestra. Then, on 27 April 1967 the choir, in combination with its new orchestra, took on the present-day title of Chesterfield Philharmonic.
Longest serving member Gwen Hallam, .who joined in May 1962, followed by husband Tony in September, says: "We have spent our whole married life singing in the choir. We met singing at college in London and have continued with the Philharmonic. It's a way of life really, with friends knowing not to arrange anything for Thursday evenings.
"There are around ninety members, ranging from late teens to eighties, who travel from as far as Pontefract, Sheffield and Hathersage to learn and perform and we're like one big family. There are many core members who have been singing together for over thirty years.
"It's a great organisation which is both serious and fun, with conductor Steven Roberts using his skills to get the best out of us. We are an amateur choir, with professional standards and finesse."
200 performances
Tony, who has sung at over 200 choir performances and has recently completed a history of the society, entitled Those Who Sing, says: "There have been so many enjoyable occasions with the choir, and so many achievements over the years, that I can't mention them all. But for me, the highlight has to be performing Elgar's Coronation Ode at the Parish Church's 75Oth anniversary concert. Several choir members, and numerous members of the audience, had tears rolling down their cheeks.
"Other notable events were the Society's appearance in Burke's Peerage Who's Who jn Music, a performance with a rather special soprano called Lesley Garrett and a concert in 1982 dedicated to the members of the South Atlantic Task Force and The Falklands Campaign.
"In 1988 the choir welcomed Oxford music graduate Philip Hanwell as Deputy Musical Director. Philip has been with the choir almost twenty years, exhibiting total commitment as accompanist and occasional rehearsal conductor.
"The choir is much more adventurous these days, performing at prestigious venues such as Ripon and Wakefield Cathedrals, the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and Sheffield's City Hall. We have even sung in five or six different languages. Much of this is down to Steven Roberts who joined us ten years ago."
Experienced Musical Director Steven Roberts, who boasts a long list of choral achievement both in Great Britain and abroad, joined .in 1996. "The Chesterfield group is extremely organised and very forward thinking, but most of all they are enthusiastic. I work with hundreds of singers each week and know that the more I give, the more I get back. I believe that we've built up a great relationship over the years, with everyone trying to perform at the highest standard. "The group allows me to be innovative and we constantly evaluate our performances. We have fun, but I will not compromise on quality and members appreciate this. If things aren't right, they will be told. "Concerts are very important, with good singers having the ability to evoke every emotion from their audience. There's no better feeling than leaving a concert to rapturous applause, knowing that all the hard work has paid off. "I have a real passion for music and I can honestly say that it's a great privilege to coach the Philharmonic", says Steven.
Since 1998, annual Choral Days (when rehearsal and performance are crammed into a single exhausting but exciting day) have become an increasingly popular feature of the Philharmonic calendar, with singers travelling from all over the UK to participate in these musical feasts. Charity concerts, including two at Chatsworth, have also been part of the choir programme.
One member, Nerissa (23), joined just over a year ago and declares: "Singing in the beautiful surroundings of Chatsworth's Painted Hall, with the music cascading down the staircase like a waterfall of sound, was absolutely divine. It's an experience I will never forget"
September 2006 marks the opening of the 40th concert season, and on 27th April 2007 the Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir celebrates the Ruby Anniversaryof its inauguration.

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