Midweek Musical Delight at St Mary in the Baum!

Every Wednesday at 12:30pm, enjoy the Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts at the stunning Grade I listed St Mary in the Baum church, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ.

Admission is just £6. As a “not for profit” initiative, your entry fee and donations directly support talented musicians, the historic venue, and music resources.

For details, contact Dr. Joe Dawson: 01706 648872.

Note: There have been 1,183 concerts since taking over the council’s Music at Lunchtime in 2001. Justifying continuity in Rochdale’s year as the Greater Manchester Town of Culture.

Doors open 12noon, concert starts 12.30pm – 1.30pm.

Wednesday 6th May 2026 – Madeleine Brown piano (RNCM)

Here are the next events to whet your appetite.

• • May 13 – Students from Chetham’s School of Music
  • May 20 – Eccles Community Choir – Director Angela Rowley (soprano and adjudicator) – Piano John Stott
  • May 27 – Elliot Gresty clarinets

Previous Performance Reviews.

Wednesday 29th April 2026 -Sinead D’Abreu-Hayling soprano (Welsh Academy, WNO & RNCM) – Róisín Fleming piano (MTU Cork School of Music & RNCM)

Following her exciting debut last year, Sinead D’Abreu-Hayling was invited back. The Manchester-based lyric soprano is completing her master’s at the RNCM and has recently performed with the Croatian Opera Academy and originated a role in the contemporary opera, Prayer of a Peacock.

A versatile performer, with a bubbling personality that owns the stage, Sinead appears regularly in concerts, including as soprano soloist in Gloria and appearances at Factory International and Whitworth Art Gallery. She is also preparing for a new community opera premier in 2026, as well as performing with Flat Pack Opera Company.

Accompanying her at just a few days’ notice due to illness was Cheltenham born Aaron Le Maistre who recently graduated first-class from the RNCM, studying piano under the renowned international pianist Kathryn Stott. He has performed numerous recitals and concertos and recently premiered his own composition, ‘The Manchester Concerto’, with RNCM colleagues.

As with Sinead’s broad tastes in song, Aaron has many strings to his bow… literally. He has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, principal viola of the CBSO Youth Orchestra, led both the Gloucestershire Youth and Gloucestershire Youth Chamber Orchestras, and now plays violin with the Jersey Symphony Orchestra. He is also currently MD of ‘Kevin! The Musical’, which heads to the Edinburgh Fringe in August.

Fortunately, he found time to step in today and collaborate in a sensational impromptu duo with Sinead.

On a theme of love and romance, they began with three sophisticated German lieder by Richard Strauss. Then three song settings by black composers, Beside The Sea by Florence Price; a setting of Desdemona’s The Willow Song by Samuel Coleridge Taylor and Tis Sunset In The Garden William Grant Still. They met the great technical and emotional challenges of these works with aplomb and intelligence. Then came operatic excerpts from Mozart and the heart-rending O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini. Three relaxed jazz standards Autumn Leaves, Moon River and Fly Me To The Moon allowed the audience to come down to earth gently.

There is a lot of controversy about ‘cross-over’ where performers mix styles – but here was simply great music of vastly different flavours, all well played and sung, bursting with promise for the musical future.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Wednesday 22nd April 2026 -Lohanna Leung clarinet (RNCM) and ChiChi Li piano (RNCM)

An admirable clarinet and piano duo

Johanna Shu Ting Leung is a fine clarinettist who has appeared at these concerts since her student days at the RNCM, where she gained her master’s. From early success with the 66th Hong Kong School Music Festival solo clarinet competition she has performed internationally in Reykjavik, Keflavik, Berlin, England and Hong Kong. Luckily for us she is active in Northwest England and has given solo and chamber music performances in various venues and been invited to several high-profile festivals and performances and has participated in masterclasses with world class musicians.

She directs the Saxophone Ensemble in Bolton Music Service and Stonyhurst College, teaching both saxophone and clarinet. She has delivered workshops throughout the Northwest and was selected in the Sony Music Leadership Residency Programme in 2025, which invite selected professionals to challenge and reimagine the industry.

Joanna teamed up with Chichi Li (Shiqi Li) a UK-based collaborative pianist who studied for a master’s in piano accompaniment at the RNCM under David Jones and Kathryn Stott from 2023, graduating with Distinction in 2025. She has performed in leading concert halls and cultural venues, including Wigmore Hall and participated in masterclasses with leading musicians.

Following graduation, she continued to provide accompaniment support for the RNCM and also the University of Sheffield, where she serves as an assessment collaborative pianist for chamber music modules and as accompanist for final recitals. See <chichilipiano.com>.

This was a truly well-matched duo recital that demanded and got equal skills and musicianship from each with the added dimensions of rapport and mutual understanding.

Sonata in Re for Clarinet and Piano by Nina Rota was an excellent vehicle for them. The composer, who died in 1979, is well known for his film scores such as the Godfather movies. Here his movements flowed beautifully with tremendous variety of tone from both players conveying some unwritten tales.

The Sonata for Clarinet and Piano Opus 120 No.2 by Brahms has all the thrilling and challenging power you might expect from one of his last works, all of which was splendidly delivered by the duo.

They finished off with a delightful arrangement of Chopin’s Etude Op.10 No.3.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Wednesday 15th April 2026 -Lucy Farrimond soprano and piano (RNCM)

A rare treat to see an accomplished, self-accompanied classical singer.

Lucy Farrimond is a British lyric soprano who first appeared at St Mary in the Baum as an RNCM student in 2020 and is clearly fulfilling the considerable promise she showed then. It is great that Rochdale’s generous audiences at Toad Lane Concerts are helping such talent to hone their performing skills. What is more, her latest album was to be presented the following day in Manchester.

At just 21, Lucy made her BBC Proms solo debut with Haydn’s The Creation at the Royal Albert Hall with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and she has featured on BBC and ITV and on BBC Radio.

It takes a special singer to dare to be self-accompanied. Issues arise: assuming you are competent in both sets of skills, (which Lucy clearly was), on the one hand you can dispense with an unsympathetic or incompetent pianist, but you could miss the shared interpretation and combined nuances of two individual musicians. You can keep control of your personal interpretation yet focus on the score could limit your rapport with the audience … and so on. Lucy coped with these issues remarkably well.

Her determination to develop this as her USP (unique selling point) is reminiscent of the late, great, twentieth century singer, pianist and composer Professor Michael Head FRAM who gave his first public recital as a self-accompanied singer at Wigmore Hall in 1929. For over fifty years he was a pillar of the profession as an examiner, festival adjudicator and recitalist.

In Lucy we had a gifted performer with a captivating manner; she introduced and delivered her varied programme with charm and panache. Twentieth century British traditional songs and settings by Britten, plus songs by Quilter, Vaughan Williams and Coates were all beautifully executed.

A well-earned breather allowed her full use of her pianistic skills with Wagner’s Album – Leaf. The high spot of her interpretation, Sure On This Shining Night by Samuel Barber was an American ‘interloper’ that required all her skill and technique in both voice and piano. She finished gently with the perennial standards, We’ll Gather Lilacs by Novello and the evergreen, I’ll Walk Beside You.

Like Head, Lucy is also a composer. having studied composition at Chetham’s and the RNCM. In 2016, she won First Prize in Chetham’s Biennial Carol Competition which was premiered at Manchester Cathedral and later broadcast on the BBC. Her works span orchestral, chamber, brass band and choral repertoire. Her choral work ‘HER VOICE’, commissioned by Voices of Women in 2023, was performed at EMPOWER (Manchester, 2024).

Originally from Standish, Wigan, Lucy is passionate about promoting and representing music in the North of England and is a proud trustee of Wigan Music Society. As with Michael Head in the last century, Lucy’s self-accompanied recitals could be an accessible way of keeping our rich heritage repertoire alive and enjoyed in this one.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Wednesday 8th April 2026 – Harmony Choir conductor Freda Farnworth (London Guildhall School of Music) – accompanist Graham Chamberlain.

The 1,180th lunchtime recital since taking over from the council in 2001 was ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’. This key word from their Mary Poppins medley said it all.

The latest science states that singing in choirs is good for your health and wellbeing. It is also rather good for your audience. Here is a bunch of men and women who practise together for hours to bring good music to life to entertain us.

Local mixed voice choir, HARMONY was formerly known as Rochdale Retirement Choir as part of Rochdale Music Service. They have been independent for quite a few years now, meeting every week (in school term time) at St Aidan’s church on Monday between 1.00 and 3.00 pm. They welcome anyone who has an interest in singing.

Conductor Freda Farnworth is herself a distinguished soprano soloist. Educated at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester and a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, Freda is a well-established singer, teacher, producer and conductor and clearly has brought on her choristers well.

The able accompanist today was retired teacher Graham Chamberlain, who was born in Essex but has lived for many years in Rochdale. He is an active committee member of the Oldham Rochdale and Tameside Organists’ Association. Among his other interests, he enjoys singing and is a keen Rochdale Football supporter.

Their varied programme began with a set of charming light music arrangements: I Got Rhythm by Gershwin, Tea for Two by Caesar, and Let’s do it by Porter. This was an upbeat start before turning to the more serious and reflective motets by Stanford, which were very moving.

Then to the cinema and the West End for a jolly Mary Poppins Medley by Sherman & Sherman arranged by Huff. Just in case the excitement became too much Wiegenlied by Brahms and The Long Day Closes by Sullivan calmed our spirits before the hilarious Ill Wind by Flanders and Swan, which made irreverent puns to Mozart’s Horn Concerto. Finally, Prayer (Hansel and Gretel) by Humperdinck    brought us calmly to a peaceful close.

The audience included Emma Wild with colleagues and members from Rochdale Carers, who all thoroughly enjoyed it.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

March 2026 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the March 2026 concert reviews

February 2026 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the February 2026 concert reviews

January 2026 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the January 2026 concert reviews

December 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the December 2025 concert reviews

November 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the November 2025 concert reviews

October 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the October 2025 concert reviews

September 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the September 2025 concert reviews

August 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the August 2025 concert reviews

July 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the July 2025 concert reviews

June 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the June 2025 concert reviews

May 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the May 2025 concert reviews

April 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the April 2025 concert reviews

March 2025 Concert Reviews.

Click HERE to see the March 2025 concert reviews

ORTOA Celebrity Recitals at Rochdale Town Hall.

ORTOA (Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside Organists’ Association) was established in 1908. Latterly it has been made up of organists and music aficionados to support music in the area.

The organ in the town hall is renowned internationally. The committee consists of volunteers who, with the council officials, develop concerts by leading exponents to make the most of it.

Jonathan Scott is one of the leading organists of his generation and has charge of the Bridgewater Hall instrument amongst other accolades. He is the Honorary President of ORTOA and he also arranges concerts in his own right. More information at www.jonathanscott.co.uk

Admission £10 (concessions £8) concerts last one hour. Card or cash at the door or visit www.rochdaletownhall.co.uk/events or iao.org.uk/ortoa

ORTOA 2026 – Events

Tuesday 19 May 2026, 1 pm – Alexander Woodrow (Leeds Minster)

Alexander Woodrow was appointed Organist & Director of Music at Leeds Minster in 2020. He leads a busy professional life as a choral director, church musician, organ recitalist, and teacher. He is Director of Music for two chamber choirs and Accompanist to the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir.

Alex has held positions at Guildford and St Albans Cathedrals, Hexham Abbey, and from 2012 to 2016 was the youngest cathedral organist in the country, as the Organist & Director of Music at Bradford Cathedral.

Alex read Music as Organ Scholar at Magdalene College, Cambridge. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists at the age of 19, winning first prizes in all categories, including the Limpus Prize. He is also a Fellow of Trinity College London, and a recipient of the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. Alex has regularly broadcast as both conductor and organist on BBC Radio and Television with the Choir of Bradford Cathedral, Solihull School Chapel Choir, and the Choir of Leeds Minster. He has been Organist to five programmes of BBC Songs of Praise and directed the music for the BBC1 Easter Sunday Eucharist from Leeds Minster in 2022.

For more information about Alex, please visit www.alexanderwoodrow.co.uk

His forthcoming programme for Rochdale’s magnificent JJ Binns instrument is well chosen, with works by William Walton, Percy Whitlock, Philip Moore, Mendelssohn, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Alfred Hollins and Saint-Saëns.

Come and see a Master at work.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Previous ORTOA Performance Reviews.

ORTOA tour of Middleton – Saturday 14th March 2026

In a week when there was much media attention to pipe organs becoming an endangered species, organists were at large in the borough – Middleton to be precise.

ORTOA (Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside Organists’ Association) has been supporting organ music in the area since 1908. They promote concerts, particularly the Rochdale Town Hall organ, where they even managed to present a recital in between ‘tiers’ during Covid when the rest of the country was silent! But they have also promoted others throughout their patch, particularly when the town hall was closed for restoration.

Members also enjoy periodic ‘organ crawls’ where significant instruments are explored, scrutinised and played during a Saturday outing.

The latest of these ‘crawls’ was around Middleton, where the Parish Church (St Leonard’s, Grade 1 listed) has a truly notable historical presence high above the town since its ancient foundation in 1412. It also has a tremendous musical heritage, including an organ, which members relished trying out (1920 Rushworth & Dreaper; rebuilt 1965 by Pendlebury Organ Company, 3 manuals plus pedal with 30 speaking stops). Leon MacLeod proved be a genial encyclopaedic guide to the historic building and its fascinating contents; resident organist David Brocklehurst also advised and demonstrated.

A short stroll through the Jubilee Park led to the Long Street Methodist Church complex – church, school and lecture hall set around a garden (1899-1901) – a fine Arts and Crafts masterpiece by renowned local architect Edgar Wood (1860-1935), hosted by Christine Grime. The organ needs some renovation and care but is an interesting reminder of the variety of instruments suited to their surroundings (original Peter Conacher & Co, Huddersfield, overhauled 2002, 3 manual and pedal with 23 speaking stops).

Following a tasty repast next door at the Old Boar’s Head Pub (1622) the intrepid organists rounded off their crawl at the more recent St Michael & All Angels, Tonge, which was financed mainly by local brewery JW Lees, begun in 1901 and completed in 1931.

Members were delighted with their Middleton tour; as one of them said, ‘It brings to life the richness of heritage around us that we drive through day by day, wearing blinkers.’

New members are always welcome, contact Barrie Brailsford on 01706 343163.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Concert at Rochdale Town Hall Saturday 28 February 2026 – Ronny Krippner (Ripon Cathedral)

Dr Ronny Krippner was appointed Director of Music at Ripon Cathedral in 2022. Born in Bavaria in 1980 he studied organ in Regensburg while at the same time working as Assistant Choirmaster of the ‘Regensburg Cathedral Sparrows’, the Cathedral’s famous boys’ choir.

He took his master’s at Exeter University UK whilst singing in the Cathedral Choir as a Choral Scholar. In 2005 he became Organ Scholar at Bristol Cathedral, Organist at Clifton College and a member of staff at Bristol Grammar school. After a period at Newport Cathedral, Ronny held several such posts in London.

Ronny has made organ improvisation a specialism, for which he has won many accolades; he was Specialist Tutor for Organ Improvisation at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and in 2019 gained a PhD with a thesis on the subject from Birmingham City University. Ronny has recorded several CDs with organ and choir music and performed on television and radio in Germany and the UK.

So, Rochdale’s magnificent JJ Binns instrument was in good hands (and feet). In his pithy and helpful introductions Ronny described it as ‘absolutely amazing.’

Guilmant’s Finale from Sonata No 1 was a splendid opening, quickly establishing both player and the composer’s late Romantic style ideal for the instrument.

Mozart’s only surviving piece for organ, Piece for a Musical Clock K594 was mainly sombre and reflective as it was a funereal piece, yet Mozart’s playfulness and Classical charm surfaced for moments such as with references to his comic opera Cosi fan tutte.

Stanford’s Fantasia and Toccata in D minor, brought us back to the late Romantic sound world as with pieces from Widor’s Symphonie Gothique Op 70.

Finally, Ronny’s own improvisations provided a tantalising glimpse of the art of the organist. Not only must they adapt quickly to each individual instrument’s foibles but be quick witted enough to extend or provide seamless musical accompaniments to the needs of the church service or occasion. He showed himself to be a master of this with his Thema and Variations on Handel’s March from Scipione, and Prelude, Adagio and Fugue on the tune MELITA (Hommage à JS Bach).

This programme proved to be a perfect match for player, instrument, venue …and audience, as the sustained applause that called him back to the stage demonstrated.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Concert at Rochdale Town Hall Saturday 31 January 2026 – Peter Kwater

Peter Kwater was born in Blackburn and became seriously interested in music at the age of 16, and went on to study Organ, Piano and Harpsichord at the RNCM with Ronald Frost and Gillian Weir.
Following graduation and two years as Organ Scholar at Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Peter established his own teaching practice, combined with solo performing and accompaniment work, for which he is in great demand.

Peter has been choral director and accompanist with many local Northern choirs, such as St Helens Choral Society, as well as a teacher and accompanist for Wigan Music Service. He was Organist and Director of Music at St Bartholomew’s Rainhill, for 35 years and since January 2024 Director of Music at St George the Martyr, Preston, with its historic 1860’s Fr Willis organ!

He wittily referred to his programme as, ‘A Full English’ as he chose such composers, many of whom lived and worked through the ‘civic’ period of entertainment through organs just like the Rochdale instrument. It was also thoughtfully varied – an eclectic mix – and admirably suited to show off the town hall instrument’s characteristics. His wife Carol was the registrant and aided his page turning with their synchronized electronic tablets – a first for the town hall’s JJ Binns instrument.

He opened with Pean – A song of triumph by Soorjo Alexander William Langobard Oliphant Chuckerbutty, (London-born of Indian parentage) a.k.a. simply Oliphant Chuckerbutty or Wilson Oliphant – worth putting on any programme, for the name alone! A triumphal opener indeed, written by a composer who was a significant expert on church, theatre and cinema organ music and playing.

Continuing this theme, after an impressive display of full power, Peter explored solo orchestral colours and sweeter sounds in two characteristic pieces, Fountain melody and Chanson d’Espoir by John Arthur Meale (b. Slaithwaite 1880-1932) who combined his ecclesiastical work at London’s Westminster Central Hall with over 600 civic performances including Saturday Popular Concerts – not unlike today.

Another contrast came with modern styles in Processional by Grayson Ives (Oxford organ scholar and an original Kings Singers member); followed by a delightful Canzona in Bb by the blind from birth musician, William Wolstenholme (b. Blackburn,1865-1931).

Two more attractive pieces by Nicholas Choveaux (b. Bromley 1909-1995) led to the resounding Triumphal March – by another renowned blind organist, Yorkshire composer Alfred Hollins (nicknamed ‘Alfred the Great’ by WT Best). Beginning and ending in triumph a carefully planned and well executed demonstration of civic organ music on one of the best surviving instruments in the country.

A charming little encore by William Russell, with its Early Romantic clarity, refreshed and enriched the palate to complete a rich and varied ‘Full English’.

The event was tinged with sadness with the news that Manchester-born Nigel Ogden, renowned organist and presenter of BBC Radio 2’s popular series ‘The Organist Entertains’ for over 38 years, passed away suddenly on the morning of last Tuesday 27th January, aged 71. He would have loved it.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Concert at Rochdale Town Hall Wednesday 17 December 2025 – Jonathan Scott Christmas Organ Concert

This was not just any Christmas concert. This was a Jonathan Scott organ spectacular especially for the season … and there was no room at the inn.

In what has become an annual tradition, once more the Great Hall was packed out, having been sold out several weeks previously. If you missed it, you could view it on their Scott Brother Duo YouTube channel, which attracts 100 million views.

Over one hundred years ago this magnificent instrument by James Jepson Binns (donated by Alderman Sir Samuel Turner JP) made its debut on the visit of their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary, 9th July 1913. Paying tribute to it, Jonathan commented that it was an outstanding instrument in an equally outstanding building.

Trained at Chetham’s and the RNCM, USA and the Netherlands, Jonathan is now Associate Artist of the Bridgewater Hall and a top-class organ virtuoso. He also has a busy international concert schedule with his pianist brother, Tom (who filmed today’s show and also appeared as a six-foot Christmas tree).

Jonathan is one of those rare performers who has consummate ability and a popular touch able to engage readily with an audience. He skillfully introduced and guided us through the varied orchestral sounds and combinations at his disposal. He has played the Binns instrument many times. He affectionately remembered as a young student paying 50p per hour to practise and later notably made a definitive video recording of playing it just before the pandemic.

We started straight in with the first of Jonathan’s skillful arrangements of well-known orchestral pieces by Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saens, and his own Prelude and Fugue on Good King Wenceslas. Then his adaptations of JS Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, and Humperdinck’s Evening Prayer from Hansel and Gretel, Adam’s O Holy Night, and finally Jonathan’s own Christmas Rhapsody.

They treated us to the bonus of a Musical Christmas Crackers game, trimmed down from last year where Jonathan played a well-known classical work which acts as an accompaniment or counterpoint to a carol – audience members had to name both. The hilarity and fun belied the considerable skill of the organist to combine these themes convincingly.

For organ and music lovers, there could not have been a better Christmas gift.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Concert Saturday at 3 pm October 11^th – 2025 Brereton Memorial Concert featuring Darius Battiwalla.

The Brereton Memorial Fund (breretonfund.org.uk) was founded in memory of Philip and Gwen Brereton who died in December 2000. Throughout their lives they were volunteers for ORTOA, the Royal College of Organists and the Incorporated Association of Organists, where they organised the Annual Congress.

Darius Battiwalla took up the post of Leeds City Organist in 2017, programming the very successful Town Hall recital series and giving regular solo concerts. He is currently overseeing the renewal of the Leeds Town Hall organ. Recent performances include the recitals at the Cathedrals of Coventry, Lincoln, Ripon, and St Albans, as well as appearances with Collegium Vocale Gent in Ghent and Amsterdam, and the annual recital for the Royal College of Organists conferment of diplomas. In 2024 he was part of the premiere of a new work for four organs by James Wood commemorating the Great Storm of 1674, to be performed simultaneously by organists across Europe. He has recently released a CD, recorded by audiophile label Base2 Music, including the Whitlock Sonata and works by Fela Sowande and Percy Grainger. He has appeared as soloist with the Halle and London Philharmonic Orchestras, and is a regular orchestral organist and pianist for the BBC Philharmonic and Halle orchestras. As a pianist, he gives regular chamber concerts with members of the Manchester orchestras, and on the harpsichord he has played continuo with many UK orchestras and performed and broadcast harpsichord concertos: most recently soloist in Frank Martin’s Harpsichord Concerto for the Northern Ballet Theatre.

Darius teaches improvisation at the Royal Academy of Music and is teaching on this year’s Royal College of Organists summer course.

He promises a tantalising Programme:

• • Guilmant: Sonata 1 in D minor
  • Bach: Pastorale
  • Fela Sowande: Kyrie
  • Mendelssohn: “Prelude & Fugue” in E minor
  • Hollins: 3 pieces: Intermezzo; A Song of Sunshine; A Trumpet Minuet
  • Chaminade: Pierrette (Air de ballet)
  • Bizet: Farandole from l’Arlesienne

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Tuesday 16 September 2025 at 2 pm -Alex Fishburn.

Alex Fishburn who remembered with affection playing here ten years previously, as a teenager. His enthusiasm was clear in his performance and introductions, which resulted in him saluting the instrument. It was great to see the promise of youth coming to fruition in his masterful playing.

From 2003 Alex was a chorister at Durham Cathedral, studying the piano and, in his final year, organ. He continued at Chetham’s School of Music before studying at the Royal College of Music. He has held many positions including Sub-Organist of Liverpool Cathedral.

Now a freelance musician, he combines his work at Henry Willis & Sons with concerts and accompaniment work around the North-West.

Outside of music, Alex’s interests include change-ringing, history and architecture.

He suited his programme to Rochdale’s renowned instrument well – Elgar’s mighty Sonata in G (Opus 28) received poor reviews at its first airing but in the Great Hall’s splendour the JJ Binns’ ‘mighty beast’ revealed its true glory. A majestic Allegro Maestoso got everyone’s attention, followed by a more relaxed and tuneful Allegretto. The Andante Espressivo had broad sweeping melodies so typical of the later Elgar whilst the Presto was brisk and jaunty.

Robert Schumann’s Four Sketches for Pedal-Piano (Op. 58) were interesting adaptations for organ of music for the unusual pedal-piano that explored colourful registrations.

Two wonderful numbers by Alexandre Guillmant followed from his Opus 15, the attractive Interlude in F and March on a Theme by Handel, making full use of the orchestral colours of our civic instrument.

Pierre Cholley’s Rumba sur les Grands Jeux was a riotous foot-tapper and its vigorous development of the countermelody steamed close to the fairground. Great fun.

An extra treat, dedicated to an old friend, the late David Birch, an ORTOA committee member, A Song of Sunshine by Hollins proved a poignant encore.

Given his association with the instrument and ORTOA, not to mention his fine playing, Alex was a highly appropriate performer to round off a successful mini season of Tuesdays at One!

Keep an eye on future times and days when the town hall and ORTOA find the best fit amongst so many other fantastic events at the town hall.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Wednesday 23 July 2025 at 2 pm -Jonathan Scott Summer Organ Spectacular.

If anyone deserves the title of superstar in the world of organ music, it is Jonathan Scott. As shown in the picture, the hall was packed at 2 pm on a Wednesday afternoon in July.

Trained at Chetham’s and the RNCM, USA and the Netherlands, Jonathan, now Associated Artist at the Bridgewater Hall also gave a live organ solo BBC Prom last year at The Royal Albert Hall.

What is more, Jonathan is one of the best players to present a programme that makes the most of Rochdale’s JJ Binns instrument, as he knows it so well and he is a skillful arranger choosing appropriately from a wide repertoire. He is one of those rare performers who has consummate ability and a popular touch able to engage readily with an audience. He skillfully introduced and guided us through the varied sounds and combinations at his disposal.

We began with Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March no. 4 using all of the instrument’s orchestral qualities. Followed by Handel’s Passacaglia from Suite No. 7, with the original harpsichord music adapted to great effect. Then the Italian countryside was gloriously painted, complete with a convincing storm, in Vivaldi’s Summer concerto from the Four Seasons. In contrast, we had the calm of Saint-Seans’ beautiful aria from Samson and Delilah.

Mendelssohn’s Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Holst’s Jupiter from the Planets again revelled in orchestral colour, epitomizing the town hall organ’s capacity to bring the sounds of the concert hall or opera house to the people.

More Handel, from his Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne also gave Jonathan the opportunity to point out the stained-glass portraits of British Royalty that surround the Great Hall, commenting that we had an outstanding instrument in an equally outstanding building.

The magnificent Widor Toccata crowned it all, incidentally, the only piece that wasn’t arranged by Jonathan.

An exquisite rendering of Puccini’s aria O mio babbino caro was a well-deserved encore that made a summer spectacular in so many ways.

You can see him again on 17 December 2025 for his Christmas offering. Book now to be sure of a place!

Jonathan is also the Honorary President of ORTOA (Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside Organists’ Association founded 1908) who continue their mission to promote organ music and the town hall instrument next on Tuesday 16 September at 1 pm Alex Fishburn (Liverpool Cathedral).

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

Tuesday 15 July 2025 at 1 pm –  LEE LONGDEN Cinema Organist.

Rochdale’s internationally renowned Binns organ at the town hall was the star of the show in this delightful showbiz concert.

Lee Longden, a classically trained organist, pianist and conductor, branched out into jazz and popular music, and enjoyed a professional career as a performing musician and Musical Director. His work took him to many parts of the world, performing on land and at sea, in concert halls, theatres and cabaret and broadcasting on radio and television.

Lee returned to his first love today as a concert theatre organist after recovering from an illness. His engaging and enjoyable programmes are widely appreciated for their accessibility, variety and quality. Today was no exception.

He was delighted to have been invited to demonstrate Rochdale’s renowned civic organ’s great versatility. He said that he ‘believed the Binns turns its hand to anything’!

Although it does not have the bells and whistles or sound effects of a mighty Wurlitzer, nor does it rise through the floor, Lee used his considerable theatre and cinema skills to orchestrate imaginatively and make the most of the amazing instrumental colours and terrific bass stops. The musical choices and introductions were equally witty.

It was a case of no business like show business as famous Studio marches instantly propelled us into the world of cinema. Shirley Bassey’s Greatest Hits (entitled Shirley is Forever, as in Diamonds, get it?) had great rhythmic vitality and stirring bass and, A Walk in the Black Forest, and a Bossa Nova Selection had everyone’s feet tapping involuntarily. A Celebration of Sammy Davis Jr demonstrated superb vocal phrasing worthy of the legendary singer.

If the showbiz style was Reginald Dixon, then Lonely Ballerina was pure Mantovani and his exotic singing strings; twentieth century light music in glorious technicolour. Hollywood Blockbusters themes came thick and fast: A Bridge too Far, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Odd Couple, Born Free, Titanic, Harry Potter, the Magnificent 7, reliving those iconic cinematographic thrills. All we needed was the popcorn and interval choc ice.

This feast of movie magic came from the same musician and instrument just as capable of the gravitas of sacred or serious music of JS Bach or Widor’s Toccata – no wonder organists want to come and play Rochdale’s JJ Binns organ, a beacon of Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture 2025/6.

The sustained spontaneous applause from a delighted audience proved that this was an hour to remember – when the majestic giant clicked its heels.

With thanks to Dr. Joe Dawson for permission to publish his article.

May 2025 ORTOA Concert Reviews.

250520 ORTOA Review Keith Hearnshaw