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LATEST NEWS:
Concerts this year are on:
Saturday 7th July at Rochdale Town Hall.
Saturday 1st December at the Gracie Fields Theatre
Rehearsals in the summer term are every week except for half term -
We shall also be playing at Half Acre House, Roch Valley Way for the residents at a summer garden party on Saturday afternoon 23rd June
Concert review:
Saturday evening 24th March 2012 saw a new venue for Rochdale Youth Orchestra’s ‘Springtime Spectacular’ concert – the ‘Riverside’ at Whitworth.
The evening was well coordinated by Councillor William Hobhouse who made sure that all ran smoothly. Guest performers were Healey Primary School choir and dance group.
Rochdale Youth Orchestra with musical director Sue Verity and leader Moet Griffiths began the evening’s entertainment with a variety of pieces including a selection of music with a football theme – ‘Match of the Day’, the Liverpool F. C. anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and the England rugby song ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot.’
Healey Choir, with musical director Judith Whitworth at the keyboard and head teacher Mrs.Susan Taylor conducting, entertained the audience with songs from their repertoire at the recent Music Festival concluding with ‘Streets of London’ - a popular choice with the audience who sang along with them.
Healey dance group with choreographers Christine Ainley and Susan Bray put on a delightful dance display with an Olympic theme using hoops for the five circles and an authentic looking Olympic torch.
Chris Jolly directed RYO’s Jazz Ensemble in a selection of pieces which he had arranged himself especially for the group
The finale involved all of the children performing three songs on a theme of colour – ‘Yellow Bird’, ‘Yellow Submarine’ and ‘True Colours.’
The RYO Jazz Ensemble will be performing in a fund-raising event at the Howarth Suite at Rochdale Club on Friday 18th May – ‘An Evening of Jazz and Swing’ - with Jonathan Swift. Tickets £12.50 including hot buffet are available until 16th May from Touchstones or for further details contact Sue Verity – 01706 631942 or email: sueverity@sky.com
Rochdale Youth Orchestra’s ‘Christmas Spectacular’ concert at the Gracie Fields Theatre on Saturday evening 10th December was held in front of one of their largest ever audiences. The Mayor and Mayoress attended and MC was Councillor James Gartside who ensured that all ran smoothly.
In addition to festive music from the Orchestra with musical director Sue Verity and RYO Jazz ensemble directed by Chris Jolly, Norden Community Primary School choir delighted the audience with their performance of Christmas songs.
Ben Whitehead, tuba player with RYO, is also a member of Norden school choir and he sang a moving rendition of ‘O Holy Night’ which brought in huge applause.
Singers and dancers from Norden School joined the Orchestra in a wonderful performance of ‘Walking in the Air’ from ‘The Snowman’. Thanks must go to their musical director Kate Mellors with music and dance co-ordinators Amy Hamilton-Lane and Fiona White for all their hard work.
Emily Hobhouse, talented violinist with RYO, celebrated her 15th birthday that evening and sacrificed partying to be with the Orchestra and also to perform Debussy’s Claire de Lune on the piano. This is a very challenging piece which Emily took in her stride and demonstrated what a competent pianist she is too.
Mrs Maureen Cooper MBE presented a cheque of £1000 to Sue for Rochdale Youth Orchestra on behalf of Rochdale Childer. Rochdale Youth Orchestra had performed along with Rochdale Music Service in Rochdale Town Hall at a special anniversary concert in September in memory of Sir Cyril Smith who was a staunch supporter of youth music in Rochdale. Sir Cyril was instrumental in forming Rochdale Youth Orchestra 50 years ago and it was Childer’s wish that the donations received following his death should be used to further promote music for young people in the town.
The concert culminated in all children filling the stage to perform a selection of Christmas music including carols for the audience to participate in and a rousing rendition of ‘So Here it is Merry Christmas’ by Slade.
Future concerts erts this season are on Saturday March 24th 2012 at Riverside, Whitworth Civic Centre and on Saturday July 7th 2012 at Rochdale Town Hall
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP THE ORCHESTRA BY BECOMING A PATRON?
Please contact Sue on 01706 631942 or email sueverity@sky.com
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SIR CYRIL SMITH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
On Saturday 10th September, Rochdale folk were treated to a ‘live’ Last Night of the Proms at Rochdale Town Hall whilst others were only able to watch the televised version in their homes from the Royal Albert Hall.
This special Anniversary Concert was sponsored by Rochdale Childer in memory of Sir Cyril from monies donated following his death, and some of the generous donations will go to the performers as a continuation of his support of Youth Music. Sir Cyril, who died a year ago, founded Rochdale Childer to assist needy children in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale. He also was co-founder of Rochdale Youth Orchestra along with Ken Millington, its first musical director.
Rochdale Childer’s President, Mrs. Maureen Cooper MBE, organised the concert and invited Rochdale Youth Orchestra and Rochdale Music Service to come along on the evening to perform individual items and then join in with the finale of proms music including Jerusalem, Radetsky March, and Land of Hope and Glory. Local well-known singer Freda Farnworth stepped in at the last minute to lead the audience in a rousing performance of Rule Britannia as Isobel Webster, leader of Rochdale Youth Orchestra, had unfortunately developed tonsillitis and was unable to sing.
The audience was treated to a selection of popular music from the various groups – Rochdale Youth Orchestra with Musical Director Sue Verity, Rochdale Schools Concert Orchestra with Musical Director Ian Nelson, Rochdale Borough Wind Band with Musical Director Richard Charles and Rochdale Youth Orchestra Jazz Ensemble led by Chris Jolly.
Sir Cyril’s brother family were guests of honour at the concert including his brother Norman. Norman thanked the audience and the musicians for coming along and making this a wonderful night to remember as a fitting anniversary tribute to his brother.
SUMMER CONCERT - SUNDAY 10TH JULY - GRACIE FIELDS THEATRE
The Gracie Fields Theatre was the venue for Rochdale Youth Orchestra’s summer concert on Sunday 10th July.
Group performances included Rochdale Junior Youth Orchestra with musical director Sue Verity, Rochdale Senior Orchestra with conductor David Scott, Rochdale Jazz ensemble with conductor Chris Jolly and guest performers from Rochdale Music Service Rochdale Schools Concert Orchestra with musical director Ian Nelson.
Other performances were from clarinet duet Anna Pearson and Lydia Bruton-Jones, RYO’s string quartet and RSCO’s trombone quartet.
Special guest was Rochdale Youth Orchestra’s president Keith Swift who entertained the audience with two songs - ‘Come Fly with Me’ and ‘The Impossible Dream.’ Keith, as Mayor of Rochdale in 2009 to 2010, raised funds through his charity for the Youth Orchestra and Music Service and was instrumental in bringing the groups together for performances such as this.
MC for the evening was Cllr Jim Gartside, deputy mayor of Rochdale, who did a splendid job in ensuring that all ran smoothly.
The evening culminated in a Last Night of the Proms theme where all the performers filled the stage and audience joined in with singing, clapping and waving flags.
The soloist in ‘Rule Britannia’ was Isobel Webster, leader of Rochdale Youth Orchestra. Other rousing numbers included ‘Radetsky March’, ‘Jerusalem’ and ‘Land of Hope and Glory.’
Rochdale Childer are sponsoring an anniversary concert in memory of Sir Cyril Smith at Rochdale Town Hall on Saturday 10th September at 7pm. The proceeds of this concert will benefit the young musicians of Rochdale.
The theme for the evening will be largely based on this concert with groups from the Youth Orchestra and Music Service taking part and will include the Last Night of the Proms music for audience participation.
Tickets (adults £5 and children £1) will be available from Touchstones from 10th August.
Mayor's Charity:
Councillor Keith Swift and Sue Etchells raised funds for Rochdale Youth Orchestra during their year of office. They came along to our rehearsal on Saturday morning 3rd July to present a cheque to us for £5,863! Councillor Swift said how delighted he was to have raised this amount of money for such a worthy cause. We are very grateful to Keith for the money he raised and will put it to good use.
Rochdale Youth Orchestra is an independent organisation with charitable status and was founded over 40 years ago. Thousands of young musicians have passed through since then, many of whom have gone on to make a career in music.
Rochdale Youth Orchestra perform 3 concerts each year at the Gracie Fields Theatre and aim to offer a wide range of orchestral repertoire, from well-known classical works by the great composers to modern music from the films and shows. They are always pleased to welcome new members - teachers comment on how much individual playing improves as a result of their involvement with Rochdale Youth Orchestra.
As members, the children have the opportunity to make new friends – there is a short break at each rehearsal to allow them to get together. We also arrange other social activities and regular end-of-term outings such as ten pin bowling.
Rochdale Youth Orchestra would be delighted to hear from any past RYO members and find out what they are doing now – perhaps some have children themselves who would like to join.
For further details, please contact Sue on Rochdale 631942.