It was standing room only at Grayshott's newly refurbished Fox & Pelican for Grayshott Concerts AGM and Review of 2008/09 on Wednesday 27th January. Almost 50 'Friends of Grayshott Concerts', the members of the village's successful classical music community group, gathered to approve their Accounts which brought almost £57,000 into the village last year.

Treasurer, Vivien Harrison, showed how £35,700 had been spent on "world-class classical performances" financed by ticket sales of £24,800, supported by £12,400 in grants and business sponsorship including £2,350 donated by 'Friends'. Almost £20,000, mainly from external grants, had been invested in portable staging equipment to enhance performances. The group helped raise over £3,500 for local good causes during the year while adding a small buffer of £600 to reserves.

In his Review of 2008/09, Secretary, Peter Harrison, emphasised the achievement of bringing top-flight performers to Grayshott to perform major works on a scale which few venues for miles around could equal or surpass.

He highlighted the performances of Karl Jenkins' 'Stabat Mater' and of Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' by violin virtuoso Chloe Hanslip which "at a stroke" opened the door to almost every top artist in the world. As a result, Karl Jenkins, the world's most successful living composer, had agreed to be the groups Patron and "the great pianist, Howard Shelley" with over 150 acclaimed CDs, had performed at St Luke's and would be returning in September to perform Beethoven's 'Emperor' Piano Concerto No.5. In addition, star violinist Tasmin Little had been booked to perform the Beethoven Violin Concerto, over a year ahead, in March 2011.

Mr Harrison stressed that the record year of achievement was not a matter of the committee "blatantly blowing its own trumpet". But it was, he said, an accolade to those present and to all 'Friends', audiences and supporters, without whom, none of the events would have taken place at all - let alone sold out weeks, sometimes months, in advance.

He ended by thanking, Friends, Funders, Sponsors Applegarth and Huntington House, and made special mention of "all the hardworking helpers who made it all work on the day". Finally, he reminded everyone of the 'stupendous' programme ahead this year detailed in the January Newsletter, commencing with the first full performance of Handel's 'Messiah' in Grayshott.

See the links to the AGM Review and Full Accounts below - more information and tickets are available on 01428 606666.

Grayshott Concerts AGM on Wednesday 27 January 2010

Grayshott Concerts Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2009