Dore to Door internet edition

Local organisations - Summer 2002

Dore Male Voice Choir - Encouraging Art

Dore Male Voice Choir

The Dore Male Voice Choir’s Summer Season has started. At present they are rehearsing for the tour to Cyprus. This visit is by invitation after a very successful tour two years ago. The Choir will be performing three concerts in a week in the Paphos area. Two of the concerts, for Cyprus Charities, and sponsored by the Hellenic Bank, are to be in the Odeon, an open air Roman amphitheatre in the centre of the Paphos archeological conservation site.

The third concert is to be held in the Kyriaki Church; a church with a history going back to 45AD. Recent Orthodox legend has it that St.Paul was scourged in Paphos and a pillar at the church has been accredited with the event. For this reason the church is usually referred to as "St.Paul’s Pillar Church". It is a marvelous experience to have the opportunity to perform in such rare and prestigious venues. With twenty six pieces to memorise the Choir is indeed busy rehearsing.

On Saturday 29th June the Choir are giving a special Charity Concert at Ranmoor Church for the Macmillan Horizons Appeal (a £1.25 million appeal for the provision of a Sheffield Macmillan Palliative Cancer Care Unit within the grounds of the Northern General Hospital). The Choir is to be joined in the concert by the Sheffield Youth Orchestra.

It will be a great opportunity to support the Charity and hear both the Choir and the Orchestra in arguably Sheffield's finest venue for visual surroundings and acoustics. Contact the Concert Secretary, Tom Ogley on 236 4367 or me on 236 5043 for tickets and information.

David Heslop

Encouraging Art

The Sheffield Society for the Encouragement of Art was founded in 1936. Originally called the Sheffield Art Collections Fund, its purpose was to provide funding to the Sheffield Galleries for the acquisition of works of art and this role continues in a modest way. The name of the Society was changed to its present form in 1945, when activities, in addition to raising money, were arranged. Public lectures were the first of these activities, which continue to this day, being free of charge to all comers. All the lectures are given by leading experts in their fields of fine and decorative arts; from the British Museum, the V & A, and other major art galleries, museums, universities and institutions. This autumn lectures will be given by curators from Sir John Soane’s Museum, on British architects. One at 2.30pm on 25th September, at Ranmoor Parish Centre, will explore the Museum’s outstanding collection of Robert Adam drawings. Visits are also made to exhibitions outside Sheffield, and this year will include five days in Paris, taking in exhibitions on a modern art theme. Also a visit to the Priory of the Order of St.John of Jerusalem in Clerkenwell, London; and Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire on 4th July. Visits to theatres have sometimes been arranged, in conjunction with these outings. The Society held its first exhibition in 1950. Though the Society no longer has a collection of its own pictures, exhibitions are still arranged, mainly at the Firth Hall of the University of Sheffield, at the previews of which music or a demonstration is provided, together with light refreshment. The next will be between 18th & 21st October.

In 1967, the Society held its first soiree at the Mappin Art Gallery, when 200 members and guests enjoyed poetry readings, chamber music, an exhibition and supper. Further soirees have been held over the years at Encliffe Hall, Bolsover Castle, Oakes in Norton, Renishaw Hall, Wentworth Castle and Wortley Hall; the next soiree will be held at Brodsworth Hall on 15th June with entertainment from ‘Dore Chimes’ - see spring issue. Lunches and dinners are arranged periodically, usually associated with an address; the last lunch, at Hassop Hall, included a talk by Dr Trevor Brighton on the history of the house.

The Society’s AGMs are held in June or July, after which members are given the opportunity to present a short paper on one of their enthusiasms, or to exhibit and talk about a picture or collection. As the opportunity arises the Society has engaged in many other activities, a sketch club, fashion show, sponsorship of a postcard, concerts, and competitions. Each year the Society publishes the Sheffield Art Review, which contains articles, principally biographies of important local artists. A newsletter is published quarterly.

Membership is open to anyone sympathetic to the Society’s charitable objectives. The annual subscription is currently £12 or £16 for a joint membership; corporate membership is available at £24. Further information on the Society and the above events can be obtained from Hedley Oldfield, 43, Newfield Crescent, S17 3DE. Tel 236 0941.