The Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) is a not-for-profit institution founded in 1910, dedicated to promoting international friendship pursuant to its royal charter, an ethos which binds its global membership.
 Garden of Over-Seas House, the home of The Royal Over-Seas League since 1910 | |
| Formation | 1910 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit members' organisation |
| Legal status | Incorporated by Royal Charter |
| Purpose | The support of international understanding and friendship through social, musical, artistic and welfare activities. |
| Headquarters | Overseas House, Park Place London, SW1 |
Secretary General | Dr Annette Prandzioch |
Patron | Charles III |
Vice-Patron | Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy |
President | Christopher Geidt, Baron Geidt |
Chairman | Helen Prince |
Key people | Evelyn Wrench (1882–1966), founder |
| Website | http://www.rosl.org.uk |
ROSL has a Grade I listed clubhouse in the heart of St James's, London, and a programme of events including a public affairs series which focusses on geopolitical issues, concerts, art exhibitions, and fine food and wine occasions.
The extensive heritage Clubhouse includes a dining room, over 80 bedrooms, events spaces and a beautiful garden overlooking Green Park where members enjoy al fresco dining in the summer.
ROSL promotes young musicians and artists, through a widespread arts programme including ROSL's Annual Music Competition which is over 70 years old.
The ROSL Foundation, its associated charity, supports music, arts and heritage.
Leadership
editROSL’s Patron is King Charles III. Vice-Patron HRH Princess Alexandra KG GCVO, the President is The Rt Hon The Lord Geidt GCB GCVO OBE QSO PC, the Director General since 2020 is Dr Annette Prandzioch, and its Chairman, Helen Prince.
Facilities and activities
editThe clubhouse has 83 bedrooms, many with views across the Royal Park or across the skyline of Westminster. Members and their guests enjoy a varied choice of dining, from relaxed and informal in the Duke of York Bar and Garden, through to afternoon tea in the Drawing Room, to fine dining menus and wines served in the 1910 Dining Room.
The art deco dining room was refurbished in 2022. It has a chef team and collaborations with celebrity chefs Irini Tzortzoglou and Cyrus Todiwala.
Members and commercial event planners are welcome to host both corporate and private events and celebrations within any of the nine event spaces. Six Park Place is the ROSL commercial venue.
The league publishes a quarterly journal called Overseas,[1] which comprises contemporary features written by renowned journalists, members' articles and information about forthcoming events and the arts programme.
Membership allows access to various events, including the Public Affairs Series, which is an introduction of intellectual content, discussing geopolitical issues with keynote speakers. Recent speakers include Robert Hardman, Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Sir John Sawers, Lord Andrew Roberts, Lord Frost, Baroness Catherine Ashton, and Lord Robertson.
ROSL enjoys connections with talented classical music performers such as Joseph Cajella.
Membership
editThe ROSL has 11,000 members worldwide. Membership fees are based on proximity to the London clubhouse, or age (under 30s enjoy a reduced rate of membership).[2] To become part of the organisation requires a proposer.
Annual Music competition
editROSL organises a worldwide annual competition for musicians aged under 30. There are two ensemble awards and four solo awards; solo winners then compete for the competition gold medal and first prize.[3] The competition celebrates over 70 years of success in supporting and promoting young talented musicians, past winners include; Jacqueline du Pré, Melvyn Tan, Piers Lane, Juliette Bausor, Jonathan Lemalu and the Fibonacci Quartet.
ROSL offers many performance opportunities to prize-winners after the competition at major venues such as Wigmore Hall.[4] The organisation has established relationships with many UK festivals and promoters including Brighton, Buxton, Cambridge Summer Music, and North Norfolk.
ROSL’s award-winning series of chamber music concerts in Edinburgh is a fixture of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[5]
These programmes offer this group of young extraordinary talent an artistic “home” with experienced mentorship and advice, networking, promotional support and concert opportunities around the world.
ROSL Foundation
editThe ROSL Foundation[6] (Charity no. 306095) was established on 1 January 1960 to mark the ROSL’s Golden Jubilee and to extend ROSL’s work of ‘furthering and encouraging good relations, friendship, mutual knowledge and understanding amongst the peoples of the Commonwealth’.
By the 1990’s the focus was on support for ROSL Annual Music Competition. This was partly due to the accumulation of generous legacies since the 1960’s which, at the donor’s request, had been restricted to music awards and, later, the fact that the ROSL Centenary Appeal in 2010 was also restricted to support for ROSL ARTS music. Today, the ROSL Foundation continues to support ROSL's arts programme and the stewardship of ROSL's Grade-I listed heritage clubhouse.
Alexander Downer is the Chairman of Trustees.
Arms
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Matthews, Gemma. "Overseas Magazine". Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL). Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ Matthews, Gemma. "Frequently Asked Questions". Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL). Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- ^ ROSL (2014). "Royal Over-Seas League 71st Annual Music Competition". Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 June 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
- ^ "Wigmore Hall". Wigmore Hall. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ Street, 180 High; Edinburgh; Eh1 1qs; Kingdom +44131 226 0026, United. "Home". Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "How to get involved with ROSL ARTS". Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL). Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "Royal Over-Seas League". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 31 August 2024.