Toad Lane Concerts: Oldham Community Choir

Oldham Community Choir

Singing is good for general health and well-being. Singing in a choir brings further benefits of sociability and conviviality, etc. Singing in a choir at a concert adds fun and the satisfaction of entertaining others. Oldham Community Choir proved to be a splendid example of that in their annual visit to the Toad Lane Concerts at St Mary in the Baum on Wednesday 23 October.

The mixed voice choir was formed in 1985. Ten years later Edward Rigg, took over as director. He is also president of Rochdale Phoenix Opera Society and runs the Littleborough Coach House monthly concerts. Today he accompanied at the piano.

Conductor Jonathan Gibson is a freelance graduate horn player from the Royal Northern College of Music, he is also currently musical director of Rochdale Phoenix Opera Society, the ladies’ choir More than Melody, and others. His often-humorous introductions helped the flow of the varied programme of mixed-voice choral arrangements.

Some enchanted evening from South Pacific was followed by more conventional choral Hallelujahs from Martin Shaw and the reflective Cantique de Jean Racine by Faure. Having firmly established themselves as a choral group they launched into popular songs and extracts from the shows.

Two numbers from Miss Saigon were followed by You Raise Me Up (as made famous by Westlife) and some vintage Doris Day with Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps. More Boublil-Schonberg followed with a delightful medley from Les Misérables.

As conductor-come-compere Jonathan introduced the finale songs, ‘Let us take the Chattanooga Choo Choo to the traditional Spiritual ‘Oh, when the Saints.’ The audience applause showed that they were right on track for a return ticket!

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