Prepared by Judith Mitchell on behalf of the Amateur Chamber Music Society. Submitted 28 March 2008.

Entered on knowledge base 2 September 2008.

Strengths

• Musicians associated with amateur chamber music range from rank amateurs through to professional instrumentalists.
• ACMS hold national music camps annually and employ around six professional musicians as tutors for these camps.
• Four professionals are employed at bimonthly tutorials run by ACMS.
• Members of ACMS donate their time to provide a monthly concert that raises money for a neighbourhood centre.
• The ACMS has a steady membership level between 200 and 300 for over 20 years. Professionals generally regard the society with some amusement but some really enjoy being with enthusiastic amateurs.
• Some scholarships are offered to young musicians who are not music degree holders to attend the annual ACMS camp.
• Amateur chamber music making has a great impact on the musical lives of those involved.  Noted atmosphere of “bon homie” when ACMS members meet at chamber music concerts (such as Musica Viva, Australia Ensemble, Australian Chamber Orchestra).
• Costs of the society are kept very low.

Weaknesses

• Distribution of information on amateur chamber music making relies on word of mouth.
• ACMS has tried contemporary Australian composers but has found the accessibility of this music difficult for amateurs.
• The society is organized on a user-pays basis.

Opportunities

• Advertising of chamber music events occurs within the ACMS as well as outside of this society.
• The model used by ACMS for its organization has spread to the UK. The ACMS were inspired to form from a similar society in the USA but has developed differently.

Threats

• ACMS rely on the generosity of a small number of educational institutions to let out their premises for tutorial days at really nominal rates. If this is to change, this could be a threat to the tutorials.