A brief history of Lampeter Music Club
In 1980 and 1981, under the inspiration of Professor Brian Morris, the recently-appointed Principal of St David’s University College, a series of recitals by professional artists was given in the College under the general title of “Lampeter Music”. The success of this venture led to the decision to put the organization on a regular basis, and in January 1982 Lampeter Music Club was formally inaugurated. Its first President was the late Sir Geraint Evans; on his resignation through ill health in 1992 the Club invited Lord Morris of Castle Morris to succeed him, in recognition of his encouragement and support during his time as Principal of the College. Lord Morris died in 2001, and since then the celebrated harpist Elinor Bennett has been the Club’s President.
Since 1982 the Club has operated continuously, and now puts on an annual subscription season of six concerts between October and March, with occasional additional concerts. Most of these concerts take place on the premises of the University of Wales, Lampeter (as the College has now become), either in the Arts Hall, which seats upwards of 200, in the Old Dining Hall, which can accommodate up to 120, or (for organ recitals) in St David’s University Chapel, seating about 150. The University generously allows the Club to use its halls without charge. Some concerts have also been held in St Peter’s Church.
The Club has also organized other events of musical interest, such as lecture-recitals and visits to concerts or opera performances in other places. The membership is drawn from a wide area in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, with some members living as much as 30 miles away. In the last season there were 68 members; attendance at the concerts usually ranges between 60 and 100. Students of the University are admitted at a concessionary rate.
It has always been the Club’s policy, within its financial limits, to engage artists of high quality, keeping a balance between promising young artists and established performers. Artists who have given recitals in Lampeter include: Marisa Robles (harp), David Campbell (clarinet), Madeleine Mitchell (violin), Margaret Fingerhut (piano), Wynford Evans (tenor), Emma Selway (soprano), the Endellion, Coull, Vanbrugh and Maggini String Quartets, Palladian Ensemble, Fine Arts Brass Ensemble, the Cambridge Scholars. Catrin Finch was, as a child, inspired to learn the harp when her grandmother brought her to Marisa Robles’ concert, and she too has played for the Club. For our Millennium Concert in October 2001 we commissioned a new work by John Metcalf: ‘Mapping Wales’, which received its first performance at that concert by Elinor Bennett and the Maggini Quartet.
The Club adopted a new Constitution at its AGM in December 1995, and has been registered as a Charity since January 1996. Its affairs are administered by a Committee of between six and ten members, who also constitute the Board of Trustees. The membership of the Committee is more or less equally divided between past or present members of the University staff and other local residents; there is also provision for representatives of the student body.
In November 1999 the Club acted as hosts for the Young Musician of Dyfed Competition – the first time that it had been held in Ceredigion. Some of the finalists in that competition gave a concert in Lampeter during the summer; and this practice has continued in most years since. The Club regularly provides sponsorship to this annual competition. Workshops or short recitals by some of the visiting artists have also taken place in local primary and secondary schools. A local organization for disabled people has also been invited to avail itself of opportunities for party bookings at our concerts. We hope to increase such outreach opportunities in the future.
In general, our aim is to make further progress towards the objects stated in our Constitution: “to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects by the presentation of public concerts and recitals and by the organization of other events of musical interest”.
I. M. Barton
(Feb 2009)
A message from Brian Morris on the Club's 20th anniversary
Wales is so universally known as “gwlad y gan”, or “gwlad beirdd a chantorion”, a land of poets, singers and musicians, that it came as a surprise to me, when I was appointed Principal of St David’s University College (as it then was) to find the place virtually silent. There was no orchestra, no instrumental ensemble, no choir other than the chapel choir, and no music society.
Through the unbelievable generosity of an “anonymous benefactor” we were able to organise a few recitals by professional musicians in 1980 and 1981, and this was the start of what has since developed into the highly successful “Lampeter Music Club”. The “anonymous benefactor” was, of course, me. But it can now be revealed that the benefaction was no great act of philanthropic munificence. It was more like a tax rearrangement. I had just been made a Director of the British Library, a post carrying a modest salary. I refused to accept it, because I regarded the job as public service, but the Library were obliged to pay it. So, by the cunning ingenuity of the Registrar, the late Ken Ford (who became the Club’s first Treasurer), we somehow obtained permission from the Inland Revenue to divert it to a better use. It was all great fun.
I have watched the Club flourish and develop over nearly twenty years with enormous pleasure. Sir Geraint Evans was a wonderful President, and the value of the service so freely given by Ian Barton, George Lilley, Kistiah Ramaya, Dorothy Wilson and the late Dr John Williams (to name but a few) cannot be overestimated.
And now there is a new milestone. The Millennium commission of a work by John Metcalf marks the Club's coming of age. The première on 17 October will be a great occasion. Deo volente, weather permitting, and with a following wind I hope to be there to hear it. And to thank all those who, over the years, have made Lampeter a place full of “sounds and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not”.
Brian Morris
Cymdeithas Cerdd Llambed / Lampeter Music Club. Elusen Gorfrestredig / Registered Charity No: 1051509