workshops and weekends

[andrew burnside]

After the formal part of our SGM on 22 January, several members said they were interested in an “away day” or working weekend to develop individual technique and EMGO ensemble. Details of Wiston Lodge in May were mentioned – see Thread on this on Forum or look up LGMA site for details.

But the main idea was that EMGO might organise an event for itself – something that would give scope for playing more than half a dozen tunes once or twice each week and would offer a means of raising the bar in our performance.

Maybe members would like to comment further on this – especially if they have ideas on places that might accommodate this sort of activity or times of the year that might best suit them

I should mention that Sangstream have taken to having a weekend session every year. In 2008 - late February, I think - they took over the SYHA at New Lanark. This provided good sleeping accommodation plus exclusive use of common rooms for eating and singing. All for a reasonable per capita price.

This year they are meeting in March at Comrie Croft. I think the accommodation charge this year is about £30 per person. This will give access from 3 p.m. on Friday until 2p.m. on Sunday. Their numbers are, of course, larger than EMGO’s, so the per capita cost might be higher for us – unless guests were invited along (to eat and go walkies) or EMGO funds were used to subsidise. The February/March timing is popular because Youth Hostels and equivalents are closed for normal business then.