© Abingdon Operatic Society 2009 - 10

Email: webmaster@abingdonoperatic.co.uk

Abingdon Operatic Society Committee 2010 - 11

Chairman - John Nye (left)

Vice-Chairman - Joy Skeels

Secretary - Kerry Chaundy

Treasurer - Vaughan Billings

Minutes Secretary - Salma Craig

Committee Members - Lesley Donovan, Claire Dowdeswell, Bethan Evans, Colin Fall

Tina Hood-Liles, Phil Hughes

Contact the AOS Committee at committee@abingdonoperatic.co.uk

Katharine, Duchess of Kent is the new AOS President

Everyone involved in AOS was delighted when it was announced that Katharine, Duchess of Kent had agreed to become our new President, succeeding Margaret Long, who stood down after our last production.

Of course, it was common knowledge in the society that Katharine Kent, as she likes to be known informally, has been a regular member of our audience over the last few years. Nevertheless, for someone with all her interests and charitable commitments, it’s a real boost for everyone in AOS that she is willing to serve as our new President.  We’re all looking forward to seeing her at our shows, as well as occasional rehearsals and society functions.  Everyone was very pleased to hear that she wants to be involved - although we probably won’t be able to persuade

persuade her to join us on stage!

Katharine’s love of the arts is well known and she studied music for five years in Oxford after leaving school. She has a long term and ongoing involvement with the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and was one of the initial trustees of Youth Music when it was launched.  She also has a passionate interest in Aldeburgh Music in Suffolk and the extraordinary legacy left there by Benjamin Britten.

In recent years she has famously worked as a supply teacher in several primary schools, particularly in Hull, teaching piano and singing, as well as encouraging pupils to discover the beauties of classical music.  Never stuffy and formal, she has also listed Dido’s song ‘Thank You’ as among her favourites.

It was this experience of teaching young children to share her love of music that eventually led to her being so closely involved in the founding of Future Talent, a music charity dedicated to finding, funding and nurturing exceptionally talented young musicians in the UK, of which she remains a trustee.  The work of Future Talent is specifically aimed at young people from areas of deprivation and difficulty - the Billy Elliots of Music - who may have plenty of talent, but who lack the opportunities or guidance to fulfil their potential.

Given all the above, AOS can only thank Katharine for agreeing to make her support public and for any time that she can spare to be involved with us.