Rochdale Light Orchestra prepare for first public performance

St. Martin's Church, venue for Rochdale Light Orchestra's first public concert.

Rochdale Light Orchestra is preparing to go public for the first time on Monday 15 December with a programme of 'Melodies For You' to be given in St.Martin’s Church, Castleton, at 7.30pm in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale.

The programme will include light music favourites like Sousa’s Liberty Bell March (Monty Python’s music) and Strauss’s Tik Tak Polka, along with a selection of Gershwin’s songs and works by Gounod, Debussy Delius and Leroy Anderson, who was born 100 years ago this year.

There will be music with definite Rochdale associations to begin and end the concert. The first item on the programme is one of Conductor Graham Marshall's works originally written works for organ, which will be played in an orchestrated version.

This is the March 'Butterworth’s New Beginning' written for the service of Induction of The Revd. Ian Butterworth as Vicar of St. Martin's, Castleton Moor in July 2005. Revd. Butterworth, who is still the vicar at the church, had previously been Priest-in-Charge of St. Martin’s, so the occasion could indeed be dubbed a ’new beginning’.

Mr Marshall had previously written a Mayoral Procession for the Civic Service held in St. Aidan’s, Sudden, to mark the beginning of the year of office of Jean Hornby as Mayor of Rochdale.

He has now scored this for the Light Orchestra to play at the end of their first Concert, and hopes it will prove to be a fitting conclusion.

The Orchestra is always on the lookout for new members. Since its foundation in April of this year, the number of player members has increased, but there is still room for more, particularly in the string section.

Any string player, preferably of at least Grade 5 competence, will be more than welcome to join the Orchestra.

Rehearsals are on Mondays at 7.30 to 9.30pm in St. Martin’s Church Hall.