Summer 2019Northern Baroque Orchestra

Performing music from a time rich in creativity and extravagance, Rochdale’s very own chamberorchestra is a hidden jewel to many and has been for many a year.

The Northern Baroque Orchestra (NBO) was founded in 1985 by the late Linda Williams, violinist and head of string teaching with Rochdale Music Service, who had the idea of forming a small orchestra with her friends and fellow professionals.

The orchestra was composed mainly of strings with a few woodwind and brass when required.

At first, the NBO accompanied choirs in the area, the Festival 80 choir conducted by the late Roy Lunn and accompanied by Ian Niven on harpsichord – two local musicians.

Their repertoire was based on the Baroque era of classical music – approximately 1600 to 1750. The period saw composers like Bach, Corelli, Vivaldi and Handel pioneer new musical styles, with instruments being grouped together in a way which formed the early version of the modern orchestra.

Sue Verity, a colleague and friend of Linda’s, played in string quartets with her in the 1980s and is the only remaining member of the original orchestra.

Linda sadly died at quite a young age and the string trophy at the Rochdale Festival of Music, Speech and Dance is dedicated to her memory.

The Northern Baroque Orchestra has continued Linda’s vision over the past 34 years, performing at venues around Lancashire and Yorkshire. Essentially a string ensemble, the orchestra also welcomes guest woodwind or brass players when augmentation is required.

The group is constantly changing, though it has members who have been involved for years. Some members travel from all around the North West to play with NBO as it is quite a unique organisation.

Concerto soloists come from within the ranks of the orchestra, or specially-invited friends or colleagues. Young soloists from the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham’s School of Music have also had the opportunity to play with the ensemble. Occasionally brass is included in the repertoire.

Distinguished past soloists include Alfred Pollard (oboe), Martin Wallington (viola), Stina Bisingaliev (flute), Yuri and Dmitri Torchinsky (who played Bach’s Double Violin Concerto together), and Donald Clarke and the late Martin Miller (who played Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante together).

Seeing a string orchestra playing with precision and unison is majestic and sounds amazing, capturing the senses for young and old alike.

The Northern Baroque Orchestra performs two regular concerts a year at the churches of St Aidan and St Edmund and has two regular conductors, Michael Dow and Paul Witkiewitz, although they also welcome guest conductors.

Over the years, the Northern Baroque Orchestra has forged close links with a range of conductors, recently welcoming back Paul Witkiewicz for their Spring concert at St Edmund’s Church in March.

The choice of music is mainly from the baroque era (approximately 1600 to 1750) and the early classical era (1750 to 1820) but also includes music which is more familiar to their audience – more recently Pachelbel Canon and the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba as well as Grieg’s Holberg Suite.

Northern Baroque’s summer concert includes a first performance by Colin Bayliss. Written for the orchestra to celebrate his own 70th birthday, ‘Satirico e Concerto Grosso’ is a whimsical piece that has surprises but written in Baroque style.

The programme will include also include Grieg’s ‘Holberg Suite’, ‘Air in D Major’, Bach, ‘Abdelazar’ by Purcell and ‘Summer’ from ‘The Seasons, Vivaldi.

The concert will be held at St Aidan’s Church, Manchester Road, Rochdale on Saturday 13 July at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Eventbrite.

For further information, contact Sue Verity: 01706 631942 - 07801 077063 -