When I was asked to be President, I had to admit to a slight feeling of disbelief and that surely a mistake had been made. You can never aspire to such a position and indeed I never did, besides, how can you follow in the steps of Margaret Venables? But reflecting on the invitation, and I didn't immediately say yes, reminded me of when Margaret and indeed other Festival and Adjudicator colleagues asked me to consider standing for the position of Chair. You didn't say no to Margaret, but the prospect was daunting and I had many doubts. But you all know how things turned out and I was Chair for 3 terms and I greatly enjoyed my time. There were a few tricky moments, not to mention COVID, but despite all of that we grew as an organisation and worked well together.
Margaret entered her first Music Festival at the age of seven, and continued to compete until the age of 17 years, when she entered the Royal Academy of Music to study Piano and Organ - joint first study, and second study 'cello.
She went on to teach in the West Riding of Yorkshire and entered pupils in Festivals individually as well as instrumental and choral groups. She was a member of the National Schools Council and sat on the Northern Universities Joint Matriculation Board. Alongside her work with the Girl Guide Association, both at regional and national levels; she has taken on various roles within the Federation, first within the Festivals Council and then on the Board of Trustees. She was the Chair from 2005 until 2014 and that's where I came in!
I am a Conductor and Musical Director, working with three choirs on a regular basis. I have conducted orchestras, wind bands, brass bands and a variety of ensembles. I am Musical Director for the Gary Clarke Company (Contemporary Dance) and have taught piano, brass and voice within a secondary setting, as well as being a visiting lecturer in Presence and Engagement at the University of Salford. Although my degree was in music I also undertook a subsidiary course in drama. So perhaps the planets have aligned to bring me back to a role that brings together all three disciplines. I am an honorary life member of both Altrincham Choral Society and Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir; Honorary Vice President of Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band; a life member of the Royal Philharmonic Society, Chair of the Huddersfield Mrs Sunderland Festival and a Fellow of both the Federation and the Royal Society of Arts. So, is this just another title? To those that know me, you will know just how much it means to me to have been asked.
Margaret was and still is passionate about the Federation and the good that it can do to provide performance opportunities to so many. She fiercely protected all of the membership and was able, through gentle encouragement to keep us on the right path. If I can do half of what Margaret has achieved, then I will be happy. To echo our new Chair, Rebecca Vines - let's 'be kind' to each other, and to quote my former MP Jo Cox, "we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us." I look forward to supporting the organisation and I look forward to seeing many of you as I adjudicate at some of your Festivals.
With every good wish and thanks.
Steven Roberts