A FULL house of subscribers for its classical season was a highlight of Ilkley Concert Club's year.

The club's annual meeting was told that 11 concerts were held during the year up to last May - two completing the 1998-99 season, six from the 1999-2000 season and three children's concerts.

A total of 469 season tickets were sold, and with subscribers continuing to inform the booking secretary when they could not attend it allowed the club to sell a further 200 tickets for individual concerts.

The musical content was varied, encompassing the Elizabethan period to contemporary composers, with many works played which had not been heard in Ilkley before.

The three Sunday afternoon 'Funday' concerts were well attended and, despite a loss being made, the committee felt these were an important part of the club's activities.

The year also saw an important change in the club's finances - funds had been placed in a long-term investment, but could still be accessed if the money were needed urgently.

In his report, David Pyett, the chairman, spoke of the changes to the Tax Reclaim position. The Budget gave registered charities (like the concert club) a great opportunity.

Old covenanting arrangements had been swept away with the aim of making giving to charity as easy as possible. Mr Pyett explained that Gift Aid had replaced Deeds of Covenant, and the main difference was that there was now no commitment for future giving.

There was no set amount and it could be cancelled. In future, any amount donated by a taxpayer to the concert club could be called Gift Aid and Mr Pyett asked all taxpaying patrons to fill in the new Gift Aid form which would be sent out with the 2000-2001 brochure.

After the annual meetings, a recital was given by the BT Scottish Ensemble, followed by a retiring collection which raised £400 for the Musicians' Benevolent Fund.

Mr Pyett announced that the forthcoming season would see: Pascal Roge (piano); Sorrell String Quartet, Florilegium ( (flute, recorder, oboe, violin, cello, harpsichord), Schidlof String Quarter and Jeremy Menuhin (piano), Erard (flute, clarinet, harp, string quartet), Peter Hill and Ben Frith (pianos), Julian Warburton and Simon Limbrick (percussion), Philippe Graffin (violin) and Pascal Devoyan (piano), Northern Sinfonia Chamber Ensemble (ten players).

Officers elected were: Mr D Pyett, chairman; Mr R Walker,vice-chairman; Mr R varley, treasurer; Miss R Metcalfe, secretary. Committee: Mr J Farthing, Mr A Hudson, Mrs P Robinson, Mrs J Rundle, Mrs J Sutcliffe and Mr S Woodhouse.

l A special feature on the club's forthcoming season will appear in next week's Ilkley Gazette.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.