A message from the Artistic Director, Neil Jenkins

Please click on any photo above for a larger image.

AIMS continued very successfully at Eastbourne College in 2011, and we are very pleased that we can be back in this lovely campus once again in 2012, and also enjoy the facilities in its brand new Music Department: the Birley Centre. There will be an introductory meeting in the Auditorium of this new building at 3pm on the first day, in order to explain the changes to the rooms and daily timetable that the opening of this new facility has incurred. There will also be an explanation of the printed AIMS daily timetable, & personal timetable, for the benefit of new students, who often find it difficult to quickly get the hang of them!

The school, the bursar, the staff and the Headmaster continue to make us feel welcome in 2011. The fact that all of our teaching and performance venues are closely integrated makes for a very warm atmosphere during the week. Students have told us repeatedly that they like being in the middle of town, with easy access to Banks, shops and ice-cream parlours! Several have been known to jog along the seafront in the early morning, and brave ones (including some House-pianists apparently!) go swimming in the sea.

The prices of the rooms have gone up a little in this new brochure, as you would expect in the present financial climate; but we are only passing on to you the increase that the college has asked of us. For those wishing to be Non-Resident there are many hotels, guest houses and self-contained flats in the surrounding roads, some of which are prepared to do special rates for AIMS. See List of hotels.

Mini-AIMS takes place at its usual time in April, from 12th – 15th, and is the time when singers audition for solo roles in the staged and non-staged Opera excerpts, and for solos in the choral concerts. Mini-AIMS is being held, once again, in Burgess Hill School for Girls, where there is always ample parking and easy access to the British Rail route between London Victoria and the South Coast. The details and Booking Form are on the back cover.

N.B. On 15th April it will be possible to combine an audition for solos in Main AIMS with attendance at the day's workshops – when the repertoire can be any 2 pieces of your choice.

At AIMS 2011 many students took photos of the classes, concerts and activities, and these have been put onto the website at www.aims.uk.com/gallery. There are also some recordings of past concerts available for sale from the AIMS office: the 2011 performance of Honegger’s King David (CD price £10), and the 2010 Oratorios (on CD) & staged Opera scenes (on DVD) also at £10 each. AIMS 2011 was pleased to have its tuition and concerts featured in the Channel 4 TV programme “Hidden Talent”, which is due to be aired early in 2012.

Three quotes from recent ‘feedback’ letters seem to encapsulate all that Penny and I are hoping to achieve at AIMS on your behalf:

“...The standard was so high this year - but one of the most special things about AIMS is the mix of people. Some of the most moving performances I saw over the week in classes were from people who were relative beginners and just sang with such sincerity. We all have so much to learn from each other...”

“...The whole week had such a lovely atmosphere, which seemed to rub off on everyone...”

“...Thank you for running this wonderful course, which brings so much pleasure to so many, and is the highlight of the year for several, providing challenges and impetus, to keep us working hard on singing and improving during the year!...”