Rochdale Youth Orchestra: end of an era after 52 years
Date published: 28 August 2019
Rochdale Youth Orchestra and Norden School Choir
After more than 50 years of providing musical opportunities like no other, the iconic Rochdale Youth Orchestra has closed as of July 2019.
In recent years, the orchestra has seen a reduction in player numbers due to students leaving for college and university and the increased provision of other music services.
It was therefore, with great regret, that the management committee and staff made the decision to close the orchestra.
Rochdale Youth Orchestra is proud of its place in the development of youth music in the borough, complementing the Rochdale Music Service, with thousands of young people participating over the years.
Paula Williams, treasurer, said: “Over the last two years, we have seen a reduction in player numbers due to students leaving for college and university. We do not receive referrals of pupils from local schools as they are referred directly to Rochdale Music Service.
“As a small independent charity with teachers who lived out of the area, we felt it was unlikely we would be able to increase the player numbers in the future.
She continued: “The committee has decided that it is now the time to move on.
“We would like to thank the local community, our teachers and our committee members for their support over the last four years. Particular thanks must go to Oulder Hill Community School for providing rehearsal rooms and storage facilities for the instruments for many years.
“We wish our students and parents well for the future.”
Rochdale Youth Orchestra (RYO) was formed over 50 years ago in 1967 by Ken Millington, pianist, teacher and music adviser to Rochdale Borough Council. He was given a specific brief by the then-mayor, Cyril Smith, to establish a youth orchestra funded by the local authority.
Speaking of Ken, former member John Clough, who was a member of the youth orchestra, between 1969 and 1974, said: “Ken had a real passion for introducing young people to classical music. The orchestra comprised people of all backgrounds and was inclusive.
“Ken was very ambitious and had us playing works which would challenge a professional orchestra. Amongst these were Holst’s The Planets and Brigg Fair by Delius.
“Despite the technical complexities, Ken always made us feel that we were having fun.”
The orchestra's mission was to provide young musicians in Rochdale, regardless of where they attended school, the opportunity to experience and perform classical music, coached by orchestrally trained teachers.
Rehearsals initially took place at Castlemere School, Tweedale Street, later moving to Fieldhouse School. There were soon enough young people to form two orchestras – a senior orchestra directed by Ken and a junior one conducted by Joanna Siswick.
Such was the success that demand for places continued to grow and a third orchestra was formed making senior, intermediate and junior ensembles, the latter conducted by Sue Verity.
At its peak, Rochdale Youth Orchestra numbered around 200 young people and its reputation encouraged eminent musicians to become presidents of the orchestra including Sir Malcolm Arnold.
Sir Malcolm attended concerts regularly and was delighted to hear the Orchestra perform some of his works including ‘Little Suite in D’ and the ‘Peterloo Overture’.
Rochdale’s own Lisa Stansfield also made appearances at concerts as president, much to the delight of the children and audience.
As mayor of Rochdale in 2010, Keith Swift dedicated his charity to the young musicians of Rochdale and became president of RYO in 2011.
When funding from the local authority was eventually withdrawn, RYO became a registered charity and sponsorship from the John Wallwork motor dealership, agreed by Rochdale-born manager Malcolm Journeaux following an approach by the orchestra's Peter Hey, was vital in securing the orchestra's continued existence.
Friends of the orchestra and parents of the children were invited to become patrons, making regular contributions to the running of the orchestras.
Subsequent sources of income also came from local advertisers and sponsors including Rochdale Childer, chaired by Maureen Cooper MBE, the Gracie Fields Theatre, Rochdale Educational Trust, Rochdale Online, Rochdale Rotary Club, the Highfield Hospital and John Lawson Wild Accountants.
Fieldhouse School became unavailable to the RYO and it moved to Hopwood Hall College Rochdale Campus. These facilities were also withdrawn after several years but, following publicity in the local press, the orchestra was offered a new home for rehearsals and storage of instruments at the Gracie Fields Theatre, Oulder Hill School.
They were welcomed as members of the community and performed at least one concert there each year.
The RYO was always run by a management committee of dedicated, enthusiastic and unpaid parents supported by experienced professionals including Ken Davies of Springhill Hospice and Dr Joe Dawson, who was involved in the RYO from being a founder-member, a sixth form violinist before going the RMCM.
On returning to the town as a head of music, he became chairman for a time in the 1970s.
RYO has also prided itself on its high-quality musical directors such as John Binns, Mark Widdup, Richard Lord, and, more recently, Michael Dow, who is now guest conductor of leading orchestras in the north west, including the Rochdale-based Northern Baroque Orchestra.
Well-qualified and enthusiastic staff, including students from the Royal Northern College of Music, have supported the conductors, guiding the children in each section of the orchestra in the art of orchestral playing.
Sue Verity became Musical Director of RYO at the start of the millennium. The age range of children was six to 18 in this now-single orchestra. The repertoire expanded to include both classical music and popular pieces that were familiar to the children such as music from the film scores of Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean and music by Abba.
Sue’s contribution to Rochdale music, and RYO in particular, was recognised by her award of “Rochdale Woman of the Year” in 2009.
After Sue retired in 2015, Jeremy Salter was appointed the youth orchestra’s musical director.
The orchestra performed at least three concerts every year during its history, such as traditional Christmas concerts which involved audience participation and concerts with special themes, such as film music.
‘Last Night of the Proms’ with ‘Land of Hope and Glory’, ‘Rule Britannia’ and ‘Jerusalem’, were always popular with the audiences.
- www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/17594/rochdale-youth-orchestra-christmas-spectacular
- www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/11388/rochdale-youth-orchestra-summer-concert
RYO has always tried to take music around the borough performing at the Gracie Fields Theatre, St Mary in the Baum Church, Whitworth Civic Hall, Rochdale Town Hall and outdoor concerts at Queen’s Park, Heywood.
Rochdale Youth Orchestra has also flown the flag for Rochdale, performing in Holland, Vienna, Disneyland Paris and Prague. In 2007 a youth orchestra from Prague made a return visit and performed at Rochdale Parish Church and Manchester Cathedral.
Front: Bailey Waddington, Isabelle Henderson
Front: Moet Griffiths and Tim Hudson
At each concert a guest group or individual was invited to perform with the orchestra – choirs, choral speaking groups and dancers from local schools including Healey School Handbells and Sue's steel band from Shawclough School. Rochdale Retirement Choir and Bury Choral Society were also welcome guests.
At one concert, Meg Johnson and Charles Foster, actors from Emmerdale who were grandparents of one of the children in RYO, performed ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’.
Youth talent was also encouraged and memorable high points have included Harry Nowakowski Fox playing the Grieg Piano Concerto aged 13-years, David Daniels playing the Saint-Saens Piano Concerto at the age of 17 and young organist David Scott-Thomas performing with RYO on the magnificent JJ Binns organ in Rochdale Town Hall.
In recent years, the RYO Jazz Ensemble evolved from the orchestra. This was led by Chris Jolly, a former woodwind and percussion member of RYO and by now a music teacher himself, who arranged music for the group.
Many other former members have gone on to pursue musical careers or are involved with professional or amateur orchestras.
The stellar work of RYO is summarised most accurately by music correspondent Dr Joe Dawson, who said: “The RYO was an almost unique educational venture that enabled thousands of youngsters to play and explore music over the years, some of whom went on to make it their career, but many more will have memories of exciting concert experiences.”
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