Dear members,
The board wishes all our music-loving members a happy new year.
It will be easier to get in touch with us in the new year as we extend our phone hours to Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Today there are only phone hours on Mondays. See the new opening hours and also our new phone number under ”contact us”
There is a special reason why we have a new phone number. It's part of a fairly big change in the co-operation between the Danish Broadcasting Corporation and DR - changes that shouldn't bother our members. The story is that DR is currently ensuring that there are no ties between the institution and external partners that could give rise to criticism.
This also applies to the relationship with the Association of Friends.
We could have paid our way out of it by DR selling us services but adding a ”profit” to the bill. That's how the public rules work. It would have added quite a lot to our expenses. That's why good forces in both DR and Venneforeningen have put their heads together to find a better solution. Which we are sure to have now.
DR simply takes over the organisation of the open dress rehearsals and working rehearsals and then sells the tickets to Venneforeningen, often with right of first refusal. The price of the tickets will be the same as before, and DR ”takes over” Milena Nielsen to do the work, just as she will be responsible for CD sales in connection with the concerts in the future on DR's behalf.
But Milena will also continue to work for the Friends and serve the members. Our members-only website will continue to feature offers, practical information, work reviews and stories that aim to bring the choir and orchestra in close contact with members.
The presidents of the Danish National Vocal Ensemble and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra have been banned from sitting as permanent members of our board of directors in connection with the new notes, which they otherwise do according to our statutes. But here too, we can draw on their expertise on an ad hoc basis.
The board will work to ensure that 2019 will be a good year for the members of the organisation.