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Salford Choral Society is a Registered
Charity, No. 510583
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The Internet
Development Service of Making Music
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about the Society
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the choir
Salford Choral Society was originally founded in 1947 at the instigation of
Salford Council officials as the cultural life of the area blossomed after the
war. It has grown to become a leading choir in the North West and now comprises some 100
enthusiastic singers from all areas of Greater Manchester. An independent
society run by its members, the choir takes every opportunity to play an
active part in the local community, and participated in the Salford Charter
Festival, the Centenary Celebrations of the Manchester Ship Canal,
and the Chapel Street Mayfest.
As well as performing four main concerts a year and a Christmas Concert,
the Society is able to promote special events, drawing in other large local
choirs where appropriate. These have included:
- Wagner's Mastersingers (Act 3) with
international opera stars at the Free Trade Hall in 1993
- Berlioz Grande Messe des Morts
at The Bridgewater Hall in 1998 with three other choirs
- Verdi Requiem at the
Bridgewater Hall in 2003 again with a choir of over 300
The Society published a history of the choir's
first 50 years 'Wednesday Night is Choral Night' and has also released a CD
entitled 'Salford Sings'.
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Salford's 50th Anniversary
Concert at the Bridgewater Hall, 1998.
Berlioz Grande Messe des Morts with
Blackburn Music Society, Bolton Choral Union and Nelson Arion Male Voice
Choir
'Anyone who believes the great northern choral
tradition is dead should have been at the Bridgewater Hall last weekend ...
Salford et al would have made them eat their words .'
(Sunday Telegraph, 22 November 1998)
Rehearsing for
Messiah at The Lowry, 2000
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membership information
If you are
interested in joining us, call our Membership Secretary, Sheila Dingwall
on 0161 283 0622 or email her at sheiladingwall@tiscali.co.uk
OR call Sue Wheeler 01942 670142, email: sue-wheeler@lineone.net. Just
give us a few details about your singing experience and you can arrange to
come along and join in a rehearsal. If you decide you like us,
auditions are informal - you don't
have to sing a set piece!
We rehearse on Wednesday evenings from 7.30 - 9.30pm at St
Philip's Church just off Chapel Street (A6) not far from Salford University or Salford Cathedral. We
are fortunate to enjoy the excellent acoustics of this listed building, built
in 1825, which is becoming a centre for arts in this regenerated area. Rehearsals
take place from the first Wednesday in September to just before Christmas,
and from the first Wednesday in January until mid-July.
Click here for more
information about St Philip's Church
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St Philip's Church
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about our Conductor ...
'Heir to the noble line of northern
choral conductors' (Sunday Telegraph)
James Eastham's career has
encompassed horn playing with major British orchestras, piano recitals,
lecturing, examining all over the world and conducting. There have also
been opportunities for film work, TV and radio. His teaching career has
included appointments at the Royal College of Music, Liverpool University
and the RNCM, while his orchestral posts included the BBC Scottish
Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic as horn player. The two strands of his
career were united in a dual appointment as Director of Music for the Rhodesian College of Music and Conductor of
Salisbury City Orchestra. The Society has benefited greatly from his
professional expertise and in particular his detailed knowledge of the
repertoire and his wide experience of conducting both orchestras and
choirs. He was Musical Director of Blackburn Music Society for many years
and has been Conductor of Salford Choral Society for over 25 years.
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Dr James Eastham
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our Accompanist ...
Roderick
Barrand is a graduate of Manchester
University and the
Royal Northern College of Music where he is now a staff accompanist. Roddy
has been Salford Choral Society's
accompanist since 1985.
As well as his work with students, he coaches singers well known on the
operatic stage and performs with other instrumentalists. In addition to his
appearance on the concert platform he performs on TV, radio and in the
recording studio, and works at the International Chamber Music Festival of
Entrecasteaux and the International Summer Academy of Belgium.
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Roderick Barrand
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and our Assistant Conductor
Valerie Eastham
studied music in Rhodesia
and London before returning to Rhodesia to join the staff of the College of Music
in Salisbury.
Current teaching activities include the RNCM's
Junior College, and her private piano practice. Valerie takes rehearsals
and keeps us up to scratch when James is unable to take rehearsals for any
reason. She also conducts the Christmas Concert.
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Valerie Eastham
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