Charity concert a big success

Ashton Brass Band and the Rossendale Male voice choir

A full house enjoyed the entertainment at the Rotary Club of Rochdale's annual concert at the Heywood Civic Hall.

Ashton Brass band and the Rossendale Male voice choir, under the vigorous direction of conductor Martin Evans, started with Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man with further highlights being a flugel horn solo by Clare Chalk in Chuck Mangione's Children of Sanchez. A reflective start by Clare led on to a rhythmic and increasingly exciting musical ending. Another memorable piece was Respighi's Pines of Rome.

Rossendale Choir had a very interesting programme with an international flavour including An American Trilogy, Beatles songs for choirs and an African Trilogy with the pianist converting to a bongo drum accompaniment. The singing was very pleasing to the ear and linked in well with the band

The finale was like the Last Night of the Proms with band, choir and audience enjoying old English favourites -Henry Wood's Fantasy on English Songs, Home Sweet Home and Rule Brittania with lots of flagwaving around the Hall.

Rotarian Ken Davies was an enthusiastic master of ceremonies and Trombonist Rotarian Tom Hobson co-ordinated everything.

£1,500 was raised for the Rotary's Charities: Rochdale Boroughwide User's Forum and The Alzheimer's Society.