The Churchill Adventure

Day 22 – 14 February

A very fruitful (though foggy and particularly chilly) day today, variously discussing some elements of Community Music Leadership that are very dear to my heart, and currently very much on my mind.

·??????Confidence versus arrogance?

·??????Accountability to community and responsibility to?the team

·??????Insight and the ability to be fluid in approach, and flexible in delivery

One of the unanticipated features of this trip is the opportunity, or actually, the process, of honing my own theoretical model of community music leadership though repeated robust discussion with facilitators, students and academics at a variety of ages and stages of involvement in the field. As I have been invited so far to present to undergraduate and graduate students at least once (in most cases twice) in each location, I have had the opportunity to repeatedly question, and have questioned, my own rationale and thought processes around my beliefs and processes; far from just observing and interviewing to ascertain the perceptions, expectations and experiences of others. This is a real luxury, and given that I can be genuinely receptive to the challenging and questioning that comes my way, I know that I will only benefit.

?A logistical challenge that I knew would come, but one that is made no easier by that foreknowledge, is finding out about other rich and relevant environments, organisations or settings, when it is too late (or clearly impractical) to wedge them into the schedule. This happened today in the course of a wonderful conversation with a strong and effective CM leader here in York. I became aware of an organisation?just?a couple of hours away that appears to be the closest I’ve come across yet to the CSO’s community engagement model: The Manchester Camerata.??I contacted my equivalent number there and he responded immediately with the offer of a phone conversation tomorrow, and?that?I can certainly fit in.?Here’s a link to their program and profile, for your interest:?https://manchestercamerata.co.uk??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

While my instinct is to do whatever is possible to get to Manchester itself before leaving this region, at least a comprehensive phone conversation will get me connected and allow, hopefully, the establishment of a mutually beneficial relationship. I must reconcile myself to the fact that not everything is logistically possible, and the fact that I found out about this at all is due to my being here, and that that will have opened yet another door.?

That’s all for now... a good deal of cogitation and reflection before bed - and another 24 hours of opportunity for learning tomorrow.

Best,

and Aotearoa, you are very much in my thoughts as you, particularly in the North Island, continue to deal with the unrelenting brutality of this summer’s weather.

G?