History of The SLRO - The 1990s
The End... Or a New Beginning?
Leo Byrne announced at the first meeting of the 1992 season that he was closing down the Orchestra as he and Catherine were over-burdened, with their employment and domestic responsibilities and with the difficulty of arriving in time for the rehearsals at the Music Salon from Hoylake. This was a great shock to members. Not only had our conductor resigned but we had lost at one fell swoop, Catherine on the timps, Matthew as Leader, (Agnes having died a couple of years earlier); their daughter, Jane, oboe; daughter Anne who played violin; son Nicholas (cello); son Jonathan (violin); and Katie (clarinet) as well as access to the City Music Library tickets, all the sheet music and the timps! (N.B. Bertha Genin had died by this time).
Nothing daunted, Phyllis McIlroy (viola) and a longstanding player in Eugene Genin's orchestras was determined to keep the orchestra going. She sounded out one of the Ormskirk Orchestra's conductors, Roger Tindley, and spoke to their Music Librarian, Mrs. Yates, about the possible loan of some of their music. Eileen Tregunna (cello) who had contacts in the LIRE as she had been an External Assessor for their B.Ed Finals course, called a meeting on October 20th 1992, having obtained a list of current members from Catherine Byrne. Dr Ian Sharp, Senior Lecturer in Music and the Institute's organist represented the College authorities and has been closely associated with, and strongly supportive of, the orchestra ever since. It was decided that sufficient members were in favour of continuing and Eileen Tregunna liaised with the College about the administrative arrangements. She was amazed to find that the SLSO had use of the Music Salon gratis and equally astounded and grateful, to be told that the College authorities were happy for this situation to continue!
On 27th October 1992, a Committee was elected to run the renamed South Liverpool Rehearsal Orchestra (SLRO). Eileen Tegunna was elected first Chairman; Ian Sheppard (French horn) Hon. Treasurer; Dr. Alastair Finch (violin) Hon. Secretary; Norman Payne (violin) Music Librarian; Joan Wilson (violin) Publicity Secretary. Bryan Oldfield, Leader of the Second Violins, brought along the written constitution of the Oxton & Claughton Orchestral Society of which he was Chairman. This was adapted to fit the requirements of the SLRO and adopted at a subsequent meeting. It is available for members to consult at any time (the Hon. Secretary has a copy at rehearsals). In addition to establishing the structure, it provides the Orchestra with proper legal status; a requirement to hold an AGM; the annual election of a committee and the production of audited accounts. At the Committee Meeting in December 1992 it was agreed: that Norman Payne would ask Geoff Pellegrini to lead the SLRO (with great modesty and enormous competence, he has done so ever since, rarely missing a rehearsal); to send a Letter of Thanks to the Byrnes and that the Treasurer open an account with Giro Bank in the Orchestra's name.
In order that the Orchestra continued to meet, a conductor was needed at very short notice. Ken Andrews (clarinet) said he would formally invite Roger Tindley (previously St. Helen's LEA Music Adviser) who agreed to take over the baton. Mrs Yates kindly loaned music to the fledgling Orchestra pending the SLRO being able to organise the purchase of Liverpool City Music Library tickets. Roger's responsibilities as a Music Examiner for Trinity College led to periodic absences which resulted in Robert Hull, Ken Johnson, George Lloyd, Paul Morris, Ian Sharp and Darren Wood being asked to conduct on various occasions. When Roger went to the Antipodes for several months in the course of his work, Eileen asked the College's Music Department for help. Ian Sharp and Jonathan Powles (an Australian member of staff) took over the baton.
In 1995, Dr. Ian Sharp was allocated timetable time by Stephen Pratt, Head of Music, to conduct the Orchestra. He has conducted the SLRO ever since with great good humour, diplomacy and tolerance. Despite moving out of the Music Department into an administrative post within the institution and his elevation to his appointment, in 2001 as Foundation Dean, he continues to do so. In May 2001, Phil Newton (previously Head of Peripatetic Strings with Knowsley LEA, leader of the second violins and occasional trumpeter) was elected as Committee Member without Portfolio on Geoff Pellegrini's resignation from the Committee and he kindly agreed to be the Orchestra's Associate Conductor.
In October 1993, sadly Eileen Tregunna resigned from the position she had filled so capably as Chairman. Teresa Weston (viola and who had retired from her post as LIRE's Senior Lecturer in Mathematics) was elected in her place and fulfilled this role admirably until sadly ill-health also forced her resignation in 1997, during which season she had been soloist in the Summer Concert, playing part of the Schumann Piano Concerto in A Minor. Marge Chandler (flute) was then elected as Chairperson and acted in that capacity until she went to work in Edinburgh. Des O'Hare (double bass) kindly took over the role, being elected at the May 1998 AGM, and is still in post.
Having laid the financial foundations of the SLRO, Ian Sheppard as the first Hon. Treasurer, had to move out of the district in connection with his new job. Fortunately, he eventually moved back to Liverpool and has rejoined the SLRO playing either French horn or oboe, as needed!
In May 1994, Guy Soulsby (violin) was elected to the post and has patiently fulfilled this role ever since: collecting termly and weekly subs; paying the fees for the City Library's music tickets and the conductors; organising concert expenses; ensuring the Orchestra remains solvent and producing an annual balance sheet. This latter is audited by Margaret Dee (originally an excellent cellist with the SLRO but medical problems forced her successful translation to the timps and percussion section) who has also served as Membership Secretary, a new role initiated in 1996.
Peter Drury (double bass) took over from Norman Payne (violin) as Music Librarian in 1998. Norman's contribution to the Orchestra cannot be overstated as he managed to keep all sections happy and playing by his excellent choice of music, based on his own extensive knowledge of the orchestral repertoire. Norman also provides the programme notes for the annual concert.
Due to pressure of work, Dr. Alastair Finch retired as Hon. Secretary at the AGM in 1994 when Joan Wilson (violin) was elected. Peter and Denise Dobson took over briefly from her at the 1997 AGM but were unable to officiate before they left the Orchestra. Helen Chatterton (bassoon) kindly stepped into the breach at short notice until mid 2001 when family commitments made her attendance impossible. Joan Wilson then agreed to resume the post temporarily.
The first tangible musical cooperation between LIHE and the SLRO was the playing of the Schumann's Concertstuk Op.92 for piano and orchestra which Norman Payne, the Music Librarian was keen to have the Orchestra play. David Walters who lectures in the Music Department was the soloist under Roger Tindley's baton. Playing from a full score, David was flanked on either side by page turners as only one or two bars fitted on to some pages. Quite a feat of reading!