News
BMG Federation Vice Presidency Post
F
rances Taylor’s appointment
as Vice-President was agreed
by the AGM held in March. The
post became vacant following
Dorothy Oram’s decision to retire
because she was no longer able
to carry out an active role and felt
someone younger and more able
to attend events should be in the
post. Dorothy had become very
familiar with fretted instruments
during 47 years of marriage to
Ron Oram, plectrum banjoist
with Aston Banjo Club. Because
it was so important to Ron,
Dorothy was involved in the many
social activities of the Club and
after Ron’s death Dorothy didn’t
want to lose association with the
BMG Federation. She was VicePresident for 19 years from 1995
to 2014.
From information in Federation
minute books and festival programmes, here is a list
of post-holders; the custom for many years was to
appoint multiple Vice-Presidents.
1949 – 50 Emile Grimshaw jnr, Philip Bone, Dr Boris
Perott, Bernard Sheaff, Miss F Leathwick
1951 – 54 Emile Grimshaw jnr, Harry Davis, Dr Boris
Perott, Fred Musselbrook, Miss F Leathwick
1955 Emile Grimshaw jnr, Harry Davis, Dr Boris
Perott, Fred Musselbrook, Miss F Leathwick,
Kath Marsh, W Turland Hill
1958 Emile Grimshaw jnr, Cyril Broad, Dr Boris
Perott, Fred Musselbrook, Miss F Leathwick,
Kath Marsh
1970 – 1980 Wout Steenhuis
1995 – 2014 Dorothy Oram
2014 – Frances Taylor
If any members can fill in details for the missing years,
please contact Sandra Woodruff 0117 9672286 or
[email protected]
Here is Frances Taylor’s acceptance speech:
“Almost from the very first moments when,
in my late teens, I fell in love with the
mandolin, I became consumed with the
desire to promote the performance of the
mandolin. This meant I first had to search
for music, much of which was hidden or lost,
and eventually it led me to become a music
detective or musicologist. But even before
16
my nocturnal scholarly
studies at university, I had
sought every opportunity to
put on recitals of mandolin
music, despite the fact I
had hardly any repertoire.
As my knowledge improved
I found myself travelling
throughout the country
visiting music clubs,
churches, art galleries,
restaurants and any other
art space that would have
me. Eventually I had a
lucky break or two. First
I started playing at the
Royal Opera House and
then I got the chance to
study in Italy with Ugo
Orlandi. But that was just
the beginning. Over the
past thirteen years I have
worked hard to take the
mandolin into schools and lend instruments
to children who otherwise wouldn’t have
the opportunity. I have a thriving private
practice of pupils and I travel everywhere to
run workshops, courses and be involved with
mandolin projects. Quite simply my life is
devoted to promoting the performance and
education of the mandolin and other plucked
instruments. The two things about which I
am so passionate are also the objectives of
the BMG Federation. So it is a privilege and
a huge honour that I have been asked to be
Vice-President of our British BMG Federation.
As I continue my life’s work I look forward
with tremendous excitement to supporting
and encouraging our shared goals and future
achievements.”
Frances Taylor
at Edinburgh Fringe Festival Music from The Mandolin Lesson
Italian baroque mandolin music with harpsichord
interspersed with readings from Frances Taylor’s
evocative memoir, The Mandolin Lesson (available from
www.troubador.co.uk and all good bookshops) – an
inspirational story about the pleasures and pitfalls of
commuting to Italy to study the mandolin.
Date: August 7th Time: 12.30pm
Venue: St Andrew’s and St George’s West
Address: 13 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2PA
Telephone: 0131 2253847