Light Orchestra set for public debut

Rochdale Light Orchestra conductor Graham Marshall.

The Rochdale Light Orchestra will be going public for the first time when St. Martin’s Church, Castleton, opens its doors to an audience including the Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale, Councillor Robin Parker and Ann Jones, for a free concert on Monday 15 December at 7.30pm.

The varied programme of light music will range from Sousa’s Liberty Bell march (Monty Python’s Flying Circus music) to a march entitled Butterworth’s New Beginning, originally written by the orchestra’s conductor Graham Marshall and played at the service at which the present Vicar of St. Martin’s was collated and inducted in 2005.

Other items in the programme will include the Tik-Tak Polka by Strauss, music by Delius and Debussy, as well as an arrangement of Gershwin songs, Gershwin on Strike.

There will also be solo items by Lesley Reading, (flute), Neville Barker (clarinet), Paul and Joe Parker (trumpets), Martin Hagan (violin) and Liverpool-based concert pianist and organist, John Peace, along with contributions from TANTARA, the Rochdale Taiko Drumming Band.

Everyone is welcome to the concert.

The entrance to the church is from Vicarage Road North, just off the A664 some 100 yards in the Middleton direction from the traffic lights in the centre of Castleton village. There is free kerbside parking outside.

A retiring collection will be taken in aid of the Orchestra and St. Martin’s Church.

The Rochdale Light Orchestra was founded in April by a small group of enthusiasts for rehearsing and performing light-hearted music.

Rehearsals take place in the community rooms of St. Martin’s Church, Castleton, on Mondays from 7.30 to 9.30pm. New members will always be welcome, and membership is open to anyone who plays an orchestral instrument (preferably of at least Grade 5 competence), including keyboards, guitars, percussion and other instruments that often add colour and effect to light music. Contact Graham via the orchestra’s website, www.rochdalelightorchestra.org, or by phone on 01706 642139.