OUR HISTORY...
The BBC Scottish Symphony Club exists independently to help promote and support one of the UK’s finest orchestras.
In February 1980 the BBC decided to reduce the number of its orchestras, and one scheduled to go was our own BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. On 1 June, the Musicians' Union called a strike, and they and the BBC SSO got a great deal of support from the public and leading figures in the musical world. A group of like minded people got together and formed the Club to generate support for our Orchestra. This was done by letter and personal contacts, the result of which helped, with others, to save the Orchestra and secure its future.
The Club continued to grow, and by the winter of 1981 could boast a membership of nearly 600 throughout the United Kingdom.
To help promote the Orchestra a Club stall was organised to sell a special range of merchandise produced with the Orchestra logo. This included mugs, pens, pencils, free bookmatches (smoking was still allowed in public places) and Club ties. It was taken round the Orchestra concerts all over the UK, to the Continent and to Club events to raise money. Many other items followed; sweat shirts, whisky glasses, records, cassette tapes, and CDs of the Orchestra’s commercial recordings.
From the start, the Club organised Social Evenings where members of the Orchestra gave of their time to perform for us. These were held in various venues throughout Glasgow - the Musicians Union, the Art Club, the staff canteen at Strathclyde University, Glasgow University, in churches, and many other locations, until the BBC kindly agreed to the Club using Studio One in Broadcasting House, Glasgow for our social evenings, thus giving us a regular home until the Orchestra moved to its new home in the City Halls. Since then, we have been using St Bride’s Church, in Hyndland. From September 2009, courtesy of the BBC SSO, we have also had the use of the Recital Room in the City Halls, Glasgow.
Through the kindness of the Hotel owner, a number of very successful and enjoyable musical weekend breaks were arranged in Onich, and trips to the BBC Proms in London were organised. The funds raised were put to good use for the Orchestra; blue dresses for the ladies, music folders, programme covers, on-stage lighting, sponsorship of a CD, a book shelf for their Green Room, Christmas decorations, and most recently, we have commissioned the eminent Scottish composer Edward McGuire (a club member) to write an ‘Encore’ for the Orchestra to play when on tour.
From the beginning the Club has produced a regular Newsletter. Since 1980 we have supported one of Europe's finest orchestras as it spreads the name of Scotland with distinction throughout the world.
With your ongoing support we will continue to do so.
Malcolm G Flemington, Chairman
Next event:
26th January 2010
CONDUCTING MASTERCLASS
with
Donald Runnicles
Details will be sent with invite
