Town’s oldest choir is still in tune 90 years on
WHAT is thought to be the oldest music- making group in Macclesfield is celebrating its 90th anniversary.
Macclesfield Oriana Choir was founded in 1930 by organist JL Riley, although it was originally known as the JL Riley Festival Choir.
It has kept going ever since - even through World War II - and will mark the milestone with events including a celebratory dinner.
The meal will be held at Macclesfield Masonic Hall on Saturday, February 1, and a week later there will also be an anniversary concert at Macclesfield Methodist Church.
The choir has more than 60 members, many of them have long-standing associations because of their love of music and shared comradeship. Among them is Keith Yearsley, 86, who has been conductor for more than 60 years.
He said: “I can’t think of any other music groups formed before us and we are very proud of that history.
“We do all sorts but we have a classical tradition.
“I’ve been conductor for 62 years, it is the love of music - you don’t lose that.
“It’s seeing the pleasure you give the audience and the pleasure members get from performing.
”It is exhilarating and it can be emotionally draining.
“I’d like to think we are still going as strong as ever.”
Under Mr Riley’s guidance the choir won the Festival of Britain in 1951 and the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 1954 before he left because of ill health.
At this point Keith took over as conductor and the group became more performance-based rather than entering competitions, changing its name in 1966.
He said: “A feature of the choir’s history has always been the loyalty and long service of many of its members, ensuring a continuity of tradition, and standards.
“There is a lovely family feel to the Macclesfield Oriana Choir.
“We have several couples, who are both choir members, siblings, mothers and daughters.
“Hundreds of people from Macclesfield and its surrounds have been members and each will have their own particular memories of the music that they performed together.“
The celebratory concert is on Saturday, February 8, from 7.30pm and it will consist of excerpts from the works of ten of the world’s most famous composers.
Tickets are available from Cherry Blossom Bakery, on Church Street, or call 01625 424215. They are £12 in advance, £14 on the door.
Another concert will be held on June 6 but details have yet to be finalised.