NEWSLETTER
December 26, 2011
Dear Amigos,
Barry Shaw has asked me to write this end-of-year AAMSL Newsletter and relieve him of the task to communicate with you and inform you of his illness.
Our President was diagnosed with secondary bone cancer on his spine originating from a tumour in his lung. He has been undergoing radiology therapy on his back and is scheduled for lung chemo-therapy as soon as the initial treatment has taken effect.
Barry is in specialists’ hands at Gambelas Hospital in Faro where he is being made as comfortable as possible and was in fact given a holiday reprieve which enables him to spend Christmas in the house of a friend in Vilamoura. In-hospital treatment will recommence after the holidays and so I would like to ask you to join me in wishing him strength, fortitude and patience, and his team of oncology professionals the best possible discernment in the choice of treatment towards a successful containment of his malady.
***
Looking back to the 21st Annual General Meeting in November in which our dapper, albeit already ailing President, reported on another successful year as far as AAMSL concert-making was concerned; he also courageously broached the subject of the not so very successful CCSL gallery business, a problem that, of course, has the potential of affecting our very much appreciated venue. Marie Huber finds herself adversely involved in the general and global economic turmoil, and so the assembled AAMSL membership was invited to brainstorm with a view to preventing in the best of all possible ways a closure of the gallery in the near future.
Several ideas have come forward as a result, and while these are being explored, may I urge you to give this daunting problem some more thought. Who can think of a potential solution, be it a restructuring or, indeed, a purchase of CCSL ?
As is by now tradition, the AGM went out in a celebratory tenor, including the presentation of, and piano recital by, AAMSL’s new sponsoree, Ana Beatriz Ferreira, followed by an excellent supper, on the invitation of Marie Huber and her CCSL Team.
Ana Beatriz Ferreira is a 20-year old pianist from Lisbon, who came to us not only recommended by our old friend, music professor and cherished artist, Anne Kaasa, but also by the fact that she had already gained a place In order to accompany a learner driver he / she must hold a current and valid driving ed licence (for a minimum of two years). at London Royal College of Music. This was deemed to qualify her as recipient of our (AAMSL) and the Carp Foundation’s (MCM) financial aid, a prerequisite and absolute necessity for this young artist. (This aid will help defray the RCM 3-year study fees, albeit only partially, as living costs in London are substantial. I am happy to report that two generous Amigos have meanwhile also individually contributed to her tuition fund. Thank you very much, Michael and Helen.) Beatriz presented herself on November 18th, 2011, with a captivating recital of music by Mozart and Liszt, as a result of which the decision to offer her our purse was amply borne out and by which she also endeared herself completely to the assembled members.
It will be exciting to follow the progress of this charming, passionate and very determined young woman. Stay tuned.
Looking forward to the next concerts of the 2011/12 membership year, it seems that there are only raisins to report (for your diaries):
February 22nd and 25th, 2012 brings the abovementioned “old” friend, Anne Kaasa
March 21st and 24th, 2012, special friend, Paul Crossley, will uplift our spirits
April 11th and 14th, 2012 is an introduction of Mariana Shirinyan – eagerly awaited
May 22nd and 26th, 2012 gives us a chance to meet the “Gaudi Quartet”
June 13th and 16th, 2012 will close the season with Javier Perianes on piano.
Enjoy !
And the rest is
silence – yes, let there be some reflective silence during which we all in our own individual and cherished ways go about wishing Barry as good a way as possible towards recovery and return to AAMSL. We miss him.
When some of you meet up for the Christmas concerts on December 28th and January 4th, 2011 please encourage each other to give some reflective and silent thought to wishing Barry a good recovery and return to AAMSL.
All that remains for me now is to say: Barry,
we miss you and we shall in our own individual and proven ways try to contribute positively to the defeat of your trials and tribulations. Get well soon!