Month of music at Toad Lane concerts
ANOTHER bumper month of music – piano, brass quartet, flute, strings and harpsichord, plus primary school performers
March 6: pianist John Sabar was born into a musical family and grew up between England and Southeast Asia. He achieved DIPABRSM in the sixth form.
Then, after graduating from the University of York with First-class Honours he received a scholarship to study at the RNCM, gaining a Master’s under John Gough.
Now a freelance performer and teacher of piano he played a delightful, varied selection of Mendelssohn, Bach-busoni, Mozart, Grovlez, and including Beethoven’s timeless ‘Moonlight’ Sonata and some full-blown virtuosic Liszt.
March 13: The Rosamund Brass Quartet. Fourth year RNCM students Seb Williman (cornet and trumpet), Adam Hofland-ward (cornet), Georgia Woodhead (horn) and Alex Barron (euphonium) are also key players from bands such as Grimethorpe, Fairey’s, Carlton Main, Grimethorpe, the Rothwell Temperance, Hepworth, National Youth Brass Band, and The Halle Orchestra.
This all-star line-up played pieces by Denis Wright, Adam Gorb, Grieg, Sullivan, plus Tiger Street Rag, A Simple Reel, and Joseph Horovitz’s Variation on a theme of Paganini. A worthy encore, A closer walk with thee, closed a stylish concert in trad jazz style.
March 20: The Telemann Baroque Ensemble. Alastair Roberts on flute, Elaine da Costa and Sarah Snape on violins, Roger Bisby on cello, and Peter Collier at the harpsichord. Superb playing of Telemann’s Don Quichotte suite, Jean-baptiste Quentin le Jeune’s flute Sonata, and Flute concertos by Loeillet and F Mancini. As usual, players and audience alike revelled in the glorious Baroque sounds in the generous acoustic of St Mary in the Baum.
March 27: Tonacliffe Primary School appeared for the second year. Nearly 50 primary school children joined the concert list of distinguished visiting performers, as Toad Lane Concerts resounded to the joyful sound.
Instrumentalists and singers were led from the keyboard by wellknown local professional soprano, teacher and conductor, Freda Farnworth. Varied, attractive songs were interspersed with numbers from the Recorder Club and Woodwind Group. In conclusion we had Spring Chicken, complete with actions, reminding the seniors in the audience of doing the Funky Chicken back in the day. All agreed that amongst the magnificent heritage of St Mary’s, the all-singing, alldancing Spring Chickens ruled the roost. Their supporting families and audience were cock-a-hoop.
●●THE Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Grade 1 listed St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.