Dear Music Lover,

Lurline is coming of age. What started as a dream many years ago, has become a beautiful reality, enriching the lives of many in the suburbs of Sydney. As a proud patron of the orchestra, I would like to share with you some of the joys and concerns regarding Lurline's progress:

What have they achieved so far?

• Growing audiences in Randwick, Turramurra and Windsor. In August, they will add Sutherland, and reach out by performing in the Mental Health Unit of Concord Hospital.
• A commitment to new Australian works with three world premieres in the first two concerts. This includes my humble Violin Concerto, which was well received. A DVD and CD is being produced. It will be on the program again in 2011 due to popular demand.
• The Lurline Youth Chamber Orchestra has been rehearsing in Randwick since February and has been embraced by the local community. It is a unique opportunity for budding performers to work in a chamber orchestra environment.
• Making concerts accessible: very generous discounts to retirement villages, schools, families with many children, and to subcribers.

What is planned for 2011?

• 1. Blacktown welcomes the performance series. This is a unique opportunity to commence a relationship with audiences from this culturally diverse area. In addition to the four subscription concerts, Lurline will support Music Education in Catholic Schools in Sydney's biggest Catholic education area (22 secondary and 54 primary schools), through educational school performances.
• 2. Camden Haven Music Festival has invited the orchestra to be the resident chamber orchestra from 6‑15 May, 2011.
• 3. The Music Conservatorium in Noumea (New Caledonia) has expressed interest in hosting Lurline.
• 4. Touring through South Eastern NSW, playing in towns like Batehaven, Merimbula, Cooma and Jindabyne (pending funding from ArtsNSW).
• 5. A Lurline Recital Series featuring Lurline's wonderful musicians is being planned.

All this has been achieved by a handful of dedicated volunteers, headed by Maria and Angela Lindsay and Thomas Schattovits. They have been working tirelessly for two years to keep the dream alive. Funding is extremely hard to obtain, they are operating on a shoestring budget.

They need your help now.

We must raise a minimum of $10,000 per month in July, August and September to be able to complete the 2010 concert series. Click here to make a donation

$30,000 is needed to cover a shortfall in expected funding and box office revenue. Currently, Lurline's wonderful musicians only get paid 1/3 of the published call rate, which makes it extremely difficult to retain the high calibre of musicianship that the orchestra stands for. We are hoping to pay them back when the donations come in.

What kind of help can you give?

• Donate $50, $100 or $1,000 now to reach the target of $10,000 for July.
• Ask your friends to donate. Private donors are the lifeblood of our financial support plan.
• Invite friends to the concert series 4-8 August. Why not give a friend a subscription? Subscriptions are still available for the remaining two concerts.
• Offer your goods or services for the auction at our 14 October Fundraising Gala Dinner.
• Take part as a volunteer: we need people with expertise in marketing, public relations, website design, accounting and bookkeeping, general administration.

For any of these options, please contact Thomas on 0427 012 549, mail@lurlineco.com.au, or via PO Box 3198, ST PAULS NSW 2031.

Yours in music

Dr Tommy Tycho AM MBE

PS: I warmly invite you to Lurline's third subscription concerts, Soulful and Brilliant, performed from the 4 - 8 August in Sutherland, Windsor, Randwick and Turramurra, with Angela Lindsay performing two viola solos. You will also hear the world premiere of the arrangement for String Orchestra of George Onslow's String Quintet No 5, and the Australian Premiere of an arrangement of two Rachmaninov Preludes.