Centre Stage – our fundraising appeal

We’re launching a fundraising campaign to help with the costs of our new bespoke staging, which we use to stage our concerts at Todmorden Town Hall.

Orchestra Chairman, John Moorhouse, says:

“The new lightweight staging extension is a boon for our growing community orchestra and will enable us to delight our loyal audiences with top rank music for years to come.”

We are very grateful to have received support from Todmorden Town Council and Todmorden Choral Society and our members have helped us to raise money through playing carols at Gordon Riggs and Morrisons and our Christmas Raffle. Cellist Heather Rostron raised the bar even further raising over £500 running the Brussels Marathon.

Now we need your help. We’re hoping to raise the remaining £2000 in 2018 so that we can continue to perform ambitious concerts and bring top soloists to Todmorden.

If you are able to help us with a donation, please contact Jennifer Moorhouse at secretary@todmordenorchestra.org.uk or call 01706 817333. A big thank you to everyone for their support.

We’re looking to boost our numbers

Violin and viola players wanted

Would you like to play in our friendly orchestra with a growing reputation for ambitious, high-quality concerts? We’re looking for violin and viola players and we’d love to hear from you if you play to approx Grade 7/8 standard.

Email Jennifer Moorhouse  at secretary@todmordenorchestra.org.uk to find out more or to arrange to come along to a rehearsal and see whether we’d be a good fit for you.

We meet on Tuesday evenings 7.30-9.30pm in Todmorden Central Methodist Church and perform in 5-6 concerts a year with an exciting programme already planned through to 2019.

Welcome to our 2017-2018 season

 

Our upcoming 2017 – 2018 season includes a variety of orchestral delights – and an exciting new venture.

In November we welcome young up-and-coming violinist Michael Foyle to perform the Dvorak violin concerto. Brahms’ Tragic Overture begins the concert, and Tchaikovsky’s great Symphony No.6, the Pathétique, is the final work.

In January, we’re delighted to offer something new – an evening in Vienna to mark a new year. With favourites by the waltz kings – the Strauss family and others, Leopold Mozart’s Toy Symphony for our younger audience members, and much more, this new venture promises to enrapture.

In March, we’ll celebrate the arrival of spring in a concert beginning with Berlioz and ending with Dvorak’s tuneful Symphony No.8. In between local clarinettist Rachael Gibbon will perform Spohr’s captivating first clarinet concerto.

In June, our last concert of the season sees us at the cinema, with an evening of film music. From The Great Escape to The Pink Panther and including Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Mary Poppins on the way, this will be an evening of nostalgia and fun.

More information about our concerts calendar in 2017-2018

Image: Court Ball at the Hofburg by Wilhelm Gause

Fanfare for Daniel

We’re delighted that the youngest member of our orchestra, Daniel Gordon age 15, has been successful in gaining a place in the Hallé Youth Orchestra starting in September 2017.

Trumpet player Daniel joined us in September 2016 and has been mentored by our Principal Trumpet, Lawrence Killian over the course of the last year, making fantastic progress throughout our 2016/2017 concert season. Lawrence says:

“I’m delighted that Dan has attained the standard required to successfully secure a seat in the Halle Youth Orchestra. He has listened well and taken on board some high-level orchestral trumpet techniques with ease. He has gained in confidence and he can be truly proud of his achievements. Many congratulations to him.”

Hallé Youth Orchestra membership is for outstanding young musicians aged 13 to 19 years. Daniel will take part in rehearsals and concerts during term-time and in other training activities including residential courses and tours. The orchestra perform at least three times a year in the Bridgewater Hall including a ‘side-by-side’ event with the Hallé.

Daniel plays in Todmorden Orchestra alongside his parents – Karen on oboe and Alasdair on trombone. They are all thrilled at the news and are grateful to conductor Nick Concannon Hodges, Lawrence and the rest of the orchestra for their support.

Watch a short film about Hallé Youth Orchestra below:

Todmorden Citizenship Award

We’re delighted to report that our long-serving Chair and Secretary John and Jennifer Moorhouse (violinist and cellist respectively) have been awarded a Citizenship Award by Todmorden Town Council.

Nominations for the awards are made by members of the community to recognise people or organisations who have shown exceptional service to the town and great community spirit. John and Jennifer were nominated for their amazing contribution to the orchestra and the community of Todmorden.

John and Jennifer were presented with the award by the outgoing mayor of Todmorden Tony Greenwood in a presentation at the annual mayor’s day in May.

Have a peek behind the scenes at our Open Rehearsal on 31 January

Are you intrigued by what goes on behind the scenes as an orchestra rehearses for a concert?

Come and join the orchestra and our conductor, Nick Concannon Hodges, on Tuesday 31 January at 7:30pm to get a unique insight into how we shape and prepare a piece of music for performance.

We will be rehearsing Sibelius’s Symphony No 1 ahead of our concert on 11 March 2017.

We also look forward to welcoming any string players who would like to take part in this rehearsal.

Todmorden Orchestra Open Rehearsal
When: Tuesday 31 January, 7:30pm-9:30pm (with tea and coffee in the break)
Where: Todmorden Central Methodist Church, OL14 5AW
Free admission

 

 

Come along to an open rehearsal on 4 October

Are you interested in what goes on behind the scenes as an orchestra prepares for a concert?

We’re throwing open our doors on Tuesday 4 October so you can listen in on our rehearsal as we rehearse Berlioz’s groundbreaking Symphonie Fantastique, ahead of our concert on 12 November.

We’ll also be welcoming any string players who’d like to come along and play alongside our string section that evening. And you’ll be able to find out more information about how to join us on a more regular basis.

Where and when?

Tuesday 4 October at 7.30pm
Todmorden Central Methodist Church, Union Street OL14 5AW

Welcome to our new season

Our 2016-17 season has some real treats in store for our audiences. In November the incomparable Les Neish will perform Vaughan Williams’ Tuba Concerto – quite possibly a first for many, and surprisingly tuneful. In the same concert we will perform Berlioz’s groundbreaking Symphonie Fantastique, which demands a larger than usual orchestra and includes two harps and two sets of timpani.

The Spring concert begins and ends with Sibelius (Karelia Suite and Symphony No 1) and in the middle is An Orkney Wedding With Sunrise by the late Peter Maxwell-Davies. This is Scottish music at its best – and most authentic – ending as it does with the entry of a piper in full Highland dress.

To end the season, the orchestra, together with Todmorden Choral Society, will present A Night At the Opera. We will be joined by two top class soloists in a wonderful mix of arias, choruses and orchestra items from operas by Verdi, Puccini, Mozart, Bernstein and Wagner.