Winter Concert, Saturday 25th February 2023

Our winter concert was on Saturday 25th February and featured a variety of classical favourites, along with Meditation On Children Who Suffer In Wars by Clive Pollard.

Ralph Dawson and Lindsey Aitkenhead were the soloists in Mozarts's Sinfonia Concertante.

We raised over £500 for the charity War Child.

Venue: All Saints Ecclesall church, Ringinglow Road, Sheffield S11 7PP

Programme:

• Pollard: Meditation On Children Who Suffer In War
• Wagner: Overture Mastersingers
• Bizet: L’Arlesienne Suite no.1
• Piazzolla: Libertango
• Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante (soloists Ralph Dawson and Lindsey Aikenhead)
• Mahler symphony 2 (best bits!): brass ensemble

Summer Concert 2019, 6th July

A full house at St Lukes Church enjoyed our summer concert on Saturday 6th July, featuring Grieg’s ever-popular piano concerto with soloist Kaoru Bingham, performances of the winners of the Janet Altman Composing Competition, and classics by Liszt, Brahms and Lili Boulanger.

Kaoru’s stunning performance was met with rapturous applause, and audience and players alike considered it to be one of the best solo performances the orchestra has ever been privileged to have been involved in.

The winning pieces of the second Janet Altman Composing Competition were enthusiastically received; Symphonic Dances by Robin Hughes, and Anemio by Saskia Huxham who herself performed the piano part of her work.

Brahms’s popular Academic Festival Overture began the concert. Lili Boulanger’s powerful work D’un Soir Triste began the second half, and the concert finished with Liszt’s symphonic poem Les Préludes.

Classical Gospel collaboration 

The orchestra performed a joint concert with a local gospel choir including specially-composed music for orchestra and choir by JoAnne Sibanda.

Click the button for details of this fantastic event:

The Janet Altman Composing Competition 

The winners were announced at the orchestra’s rehearsal on Monday 25th February. The shortlisted entrants and guests were invited to Millhouses Methodist Church to hear all the compositions performed by the orchestra, after which David Hayes, widower of Janet Altman, read out the winners:

• The Senior Category winner is Robin Hughes with Symphonic Dances
• The Junior Category winner is Saskia Huxham with Anemoi

Both received £250 and a performance of their compositions at the orchestra’s summer concert 2019.

The runners-up were, for the Seniors

 - Thomas Baycroft with Noetherian

and for the Juniors

 - Anna Fenton-Smith with Dream Engines

Both received £100.

The other shortlisted composers were Wilfred Dingle: Trees

and Kate Thickett: Canard

Four more junior composers entered and these were Joseph Bachelor: Appolonius, Patrick Shields: Embers, Reuben Tozer-Loft: Blood Moon, Lizzie Dawson: A Short Story

There were two other adult composers, Allison Roper: Echoes of Commemoration and Ray Kohn: The Last Nigun.

All entries were excellent and the judges considered it a difficult decision on selecting all the prize winners. The orchestra looks forward to rehearsing and performing the two winning entries at the summer 2019 concert.

David Hayes, whose late wife Janet Altman founded the competition:

Janet Altman (1955-2012) was a member of the Endcliffe Orchestra for many years. She played principle flute and was also a member of the organising committee. She worked as a translator and spent some years in Brussels and Rome, and for the last ten years of her life at Leeds University’s Centre for Translation Studies. She died of a brain tumour in 2012. She provided funding for the Endcliffe Orchestra to purchase a set of pedal timpani and to run a composing competition. The success of the first Janet Altman Composing Competition led to the decision to run the event again, and into the future.

Winter Concert 2019

Our Winter Concert was on Saturday 26th January 2019 at Ecclesall Parish Church, Sheffield.

The main feature was Rodrigo’s Guitar Concerto performed by one of Britain’s finest classical guitarists, Forbes Henderson. It was a privilege to have such a fine musician perform with us; his connection with the orchestra is that his late father, also Forbes Henderson, was a long-time member of the Endcliffe Orchestra.

Forbes performed the concerto brilliantly, and the orchestra played sufficiently quietly where required but without losing clarity – always a difficult accomplishment for an amateur orchestra but very successfully achieved.

We performed a new specially-commissioned orchestral arrangement of the 1st movement of Brahms’s Piano Trio No.3 by respected Sheffield musician George Morton. George’s very successful arrangement almost turns a Brahms chamber work into a new Brahms symphony. The recap of the second subject, in particular, is orchestrated by George in a fine sound on full orchestra but without losing the detail and subtlety that Brahms himself would demonstrate.

Guest players on four Wagner Tubas and a Bass Trumpet gave Wagner’s Gotterdammerung extract the full treatment, and the instruments were explained to the audience prior to the performance.

Many comments were made to members that the orchestra appears to have reached a new standard of playing. The concert was thoroughly enjoyed by players and audience alike.

Mendelssohn: Overture The Hebrides

Brahms: Piano Trio No.3 1st movement

Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez

Wagner: Siegfried’s Death & Funeral music from Götterdämmerung

Mussorgsky: Night on a Bald Mountain

Brahms: Variations on a theme of Haydn

£350 was raised for Target Ovarian Cancer

Endcliffe Orchestra Reunion Event

On the 15th July the orchestra held a reunion event at the magnificent home of Endcliffe Orchestra founder Margaret Staniforth. Approximately sixty former and current members attended on what was a stunning summer’s day, with musical contributions performed to compliment the cake and prosecco.

The event was intended as a belated celebration of the orchestra’s fortieth year, founded as it was by Margaret in 1977. Plans were made in 2017 to mark the achievement but the orchestra’s performance of the Somme 100 project meant a summer reunion had to be delayed until 2018 – but it was well worth the wait and a truly magical day was had by all.

Thanks to Margaret for allowing us into the grounds of her home, and to everyone from the orchestra who made the event possible. It was great to see so many former members and to witness the passion and enthusiasm held towards the orchestra. See you at the 80th anniversary in 2057!

Summer Concert 2018

Our Summer Concert was on Saturday 7th July 2018 at St Lukes Church, Lodge Moor, Sheffield

The concert featured the world premier of Matthew Leese’s Easy Piano Concerto with the composer at the piano. The piece was superbly performed by the orchestra and well-received by the audience. Matthew would like to express his gratitude to Martin, Ralph and the orchestra for their enthusiasm towards the piece and their hard work in performing it so well. He performed the 40-minute concerto from memory, and soloist and orchestra gelled brilliantly to give the best possible presentation of this new work to the world.

Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphosis and Debussy’s Prelude were two tough pieces and the orchestra performed them exceptionally well with great passion, and special thanks go to our guest players in the percussion and harp sections. Conductor Martin Lightowler believed he may have asked too much of the orchestra with the Hindemith…..but the orchestra decided otherwise!

Concert Programme:

Weber: Overture Der Freischütz 

Debussy: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune

Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber

Butterworth: The Banks of Green Willow

Leese: Piano Concerto (premier)

Piazzolla: Libertango

Thanks to John for managing the concert, Richard for ticket sales, the volunteers who provided front of house support, and special appreciation for the unsung heroes who moved the percussion instruments to the venue in the morning and back to Millhouses after the concert.

Winter Concert, January 27th 2018

Good Day Sunshine!

Sun Kissed Classics to chase away the Winter Blues!

The orchestra performed a great selection of music from the Baroque period to the 20th Century for an audience of approximately 230 at Ecclesall Parish Church, on Saturday January 27th 2018.

Orchestra trumpet players Alex Shields and Neil Bermel were the soloists in Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Trumpets, and a beefed-up percussion section gave a fine flourish to Berlioz’s March to the Scaffold and Gershwin’s Cuban Overture.

We were honoured to have the company of Endcliffe Orchestra founder Margaret Staniforth who was introduced to the room by Martin Lightowler prior to the second half of the concert.

The orchestra would like to thank local amateur musician John Kilpatrick for providing us with one of his home-built harpsichords for the Vivaldi.

And thanks to orchestra double-bass player John Goepel for being such an effective Concert Manager – you do it so well!

Margaret commented afterwards:

Dear Martin,

Just a quick note to thank you for such a pleasant evening last night. it was great being part of the audience.

I was SO impressed by the vitality of the orchestra, and have to admit to feeling a little self satisfied that the idea I had way back in March 1977 had developed into such an obviously successful project over the ensuing years. Gratifying too that there are so many and ever increasing band of ADULTS enjoying classical music! WELL DONE! The programme was incredibly ambitious. difficult even but what a great fist you all made of it! I felt very proud of you all. I see that the summer programme is equally ambitious! 

Many thanks once again

Margaret

And from Andrew Mart who stood in as contrabassoonist:

I admit i had goosebumps in the slow movt of the Karelia – the string playing was fantastic and rich…. Great orchestra, it was a pleasure to play for it.

Concert Programme:

Mendelssohn – Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Vivaldi – Concerto for two trumpets

(Soloists: Alex Shields and Neil Bermel)

Brahms – 3 Hungarian Dances

Delius – Walk to the Paradise Gardens

Berlioz – March to the Scaffold from Symphonie Fantastique

interval

Ravel – Bolero

Sibelius – Karelia Suite

Gershwin – Cuban Overture

Somme 100 Film performance

The orchestra performed Laura Rossi’s score for the 1916 film The Battle of the Somme as part of an arts-council project to commemorate that tragic event.

This wonderful event deserves it's own page -

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Summer Concert 2017

Our summer concert was on Saturday 1st July at 7:30pm, at St Lukes Church, Lodge Moor, Sheffield

‘Back in the USSR’ – a concert of music from Russia and the Soviet Union. The concert also celebrated the Endcliffe Orchestra’s 40th year.

Borodin – In The Steppes of Central Asia

Ewald – movements from Symphony for Brass (2 & 3)

Arutunian – Trumpet Concerto

Tchaikovsky – 5th Symphony

Renowned professional trumpet player Anthony Thompson was the soloist in Arutunian’s brilliant concerto. Anthony’s playing displayed an impressive rich tone and the trickier passages were performed flawlessly. He built up a great rapport with the audience and capped off his performance with a short virtuoso solo number. The orchestra greatly warmed to Anthony’s musicianship and personality and we are delighted that he performed a concerto with us.

The second half featured Tchaikovsky’s legendary fifth symphony. The orchestra performed this epic piece with gusto and carried off the symphony to great effect, made all the more powerful in the intimate setting of St Lukes Church. The audience of approximately 200 responded very positively to the performance. Orchestra members found it very rewarding and satisfying to have been a part of. Tchaikovsky’s fifth is exhausting to play due to its sheer energy and intensity – but very enjoyable as well!

It was a hugely memorable concert and illustrated the improved standard of playing that the orchestra has achieved over the last several years.

A collection for Parkinson’s UK raised £295.

Thanks to John Goepel for taking over as concert manager, and everyone else who did their bit to help run the event. Thanks also to the front-of-house volunteers – Steve, Jake, Fiona & Charlotte – for welcoming everyone and running the merchandise stall. Our 40th anniversary commemorative mugs were a big hit, and Anthony sold (and autographed) a number of his own CDs.



Some great pictures were taken:

Endcliffe Orchestra at Classical Sheffield Festival 2017

Classical Sheffield is an arts council sponsored event, begun in 2016, where amateur and professional groups perform in different venues throughout Sheffield over three days. This year it was from Friday 17th – Sunday 19th March. The Halle Orchestra performed in Sheffield during the weekend and dozens of amateur performances were made across the city.

The Endcliffe Orchestra performed a short concert in the Winter Gardens at 1pm, Sunday 19th March. We played the two winning entries of the first Janet Altman Composing Competition and Matthew Leese’s now-recorded Happy Melancholy:

Harry Castle: In the Beginning 

Claire Arthur: Contours 

Matthew Leese: Happy Melancholy

Claire and Matthew gave brief introductions to their pieces, in front of a substantial audience not only of family and friends of orchestra members but a pleasing number of passers-by, including many children, and people affiliated to the University of Sheffield who were the main organisers of the festival.

The acoustics of the Winter Gardens were particularly well suited to Contours and Happy Melancholy. All the pieces were enthusiastically-received by the audience and many positive comments were made to orchestra members afterwards about the sound, the performance and the atmosphere of the event.

Summer Concert 2016

Our Summer Concert was on Saturday 2nd July at St Luke’s Church, Lodge Moor, Sheffield.

Orchestra viola player Lindsay Aitkenhead was the soloist in Berlioz’s Harold in Italy

The orchestra and soloist played very well in what were some challenging pieces.

The audience of approximately 170 gave very positive feedback on the performance and everyone had an enjoyable evening. As ever, thanks to everyone involved in organising the event.

Winter Concert 2016

The orchestra performed Dvorak’s ever-popular New World Symphony, works by Verdi and Grieg and gave the premiere of Happy Melancholy

Programme:

• Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 in E minor ‘From the New World’
• Verdi: Overture to ‘Force of Destiny’
• Grieg: Symphonic Dances
• Leese: Happy Melancholy (Premiere)

The concert was attended by approximately 230 people, and a charity collection for Save The Children raised over £300.