Toad Lane Concerts: Concert party

Callum Bisson, Chris Wilkinson, Victoria Jones, Ashleigh Ho, Isabella Despositos & Harold Sharples

Back in the day, a Concert Party meant a group of performers that gave variety concerts, which might even involve acrobats or jugglers. The performance at St Mary's on Wednesday 24 July consisted of local musicians from talented novices to seasoned professionals (the jugglers being on holiday). This was a showcase of youth and experience from people connected to the concert series.

Chris Wilkinson is head of music & performing arts at Holy Family RC & CE College in Heywood, and has performed previously, as well as bringing his students to see the concerts. He played a charming clarinet solo before playing the piano accompaniments for one of his year 10 pupils Victoria Jones, who demonstrated excellent stage presence and a powerful voice beyond her years.

Callum Bisson, who is a former student of Holy Family, has just finished sixth form at Chetham’s School of Music and will start at the Royal Northern College of Music in September. He played an exciting and compelling Etude by Rachmaninov superbly, that promises much for the future.

The series director, Dr Joe Dawson, accompanied the rest of the concert. Two of his former pupils: Ashleigh Ho, a teaching assistant and swimming instructor sang her Grade 4 set pieces convincingly; and Isabella Despositos a Cambridge graduate who has worked at Cardinal Langley for a year and will begin a PGCE at Oxford in September, sang pieces from her Associate of the Royal Schools of Music diploma list with admirable purity of tone and breath control.

Finally, tenor Harold Sharples, who trained at the Royal Manchester College of Music at the same time as the director, sang a set of songs. Harry began his professional career at Glyndebourne and went on to sing principal tenor with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Co (G&S) and Opera 80, and thence joined Opera North for a ‘short time’ and stayed for 30 years. His seasoned professionalism and exquisite vocal line was the icing on the cake.

In the true spirit of ‘Concert Party’ (minus the jugglers), much enjoyment was had by all, with something for everyone. A microcosm of the range of weekly concerts on offer at St Mary in the Baum, this was Number 1,097 since taking over from the council in 2001.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see details of forthcoming Toad Lane Concerts, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson