just for our readers' attention
Natasha,
Here’s a clipping from The Saturday The Age from 14 June 1975 - it’s our first ad for our first concert. I was a sprightly 38 year-old at the time, and I don’t think I could have imagined that 44 years later we would still be going - albeit at a different venue and with no musicians from the original line-up, save for your humble conductor.
Since that evening, we have played at many different venues (with many wonderful years under the stained-glass ceiling in the Great Hall at National Gallery of Victoria), and with dozens of soloists as well as regular ensemble members. Some have gone on to bigger and better things, while others are sadly no longer with us.
Like me, many in our audience have become a little older and greyer - yet I’m pleased to also see new people at every concert. And I’m grateful to all, young or old, for coming along and enjoying beautiful music with us. You are our purpose - and without you we would simply not exist.
Many thanks also to those of you who already generously answered yesterday's call for financial support. If you haven't yet done so, please consider supporting us with a tax deductible donation via the Australian Cultural Fund - we receive no government or corporate funding. https://australianculturalfund.org.au/…/45th-concert-season/
We still have three excellent concerts to share with you this year (the next of which is only a few weeks away), and we also continue to add previous performances to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/melbournemusicians
Regards,
Frank Pam
Musical Director/ Conductor
The Melbourne Musicians