Music and Collectors Fayres at Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre

Holmes Chapel Music Society

Holmes Chapel Music Society was formed in 1972 with the aim of bringing the highest standard of musical performance to this area of Cheshire.  Concerts by professional musicians, many internationally renowned are held on certain Saturdays at 8pm between September and April each year.  The acoustics of the Small Hall at Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre are particularly suitable for chamber music.  Concerts regularly attract audiences of up to 300.  The atmosphere is friendly and informal and performers are encouraged to introduce the music and meet the audience after the performance.  You can enjoy coffee and a chat with friends during the generous interval or pre order your drinks from the licensed bar.  New members are always welcome and the society offer season tickets and concessionary rates for senior citizens and students.  For tickets or information on anything connected with the society please contact Mrs Jane Perrins 01477 537769 or ask at the Leisure Centre.

For more information browse the Holmes Chapel Music Society website.

The dates of forthcoming Music Society performances are as follows:

• 29th September 2012 - Danny Driver (Piano) - This concert is dedicated to Bas
  Danny Driver won BBC Radio 2 Young Musician of the Year in 2001.  He is a highly accomplished pianist and appears regularly at the Wigmore Hall and other international venues.  He gave an outstanding performance at the BBC Proms in 2011.
• 20th October 2012 - Navarra String Quartet - Making Music Concert Promoters' Network Artists
  Navarra String Quartet was formed in 2002 at the Royal Northern College of Music.  Latterly they were postgraduate students of the Alban Berg Quartet in Cologne and are now Quartet-in-Association at the RNCM.  In 2008, the Navarra String Quartet won the Outstanding Young Artist Award at the MIDEM Classique Awards in Cannes.  This is a welcome return – they last came in 2007.
• 17th November 2012 - Huw Wiggin (Saxophone) with James Sherlock (Piano) - This concert is sponsored by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust
  Huw Wiggin studied at Chethams and RNCM.  He received the highest mark ever to be awarded by the RNCM to a woodwind specialist in his final recital.  Huw’s recent achievements, amongst many others, include winning the Philip and Dorothy Green Award run by Making Music, winning the prize for ‘Highest placed Woodwind or Brass Player’ at the Haverhill Sinfonia Young Soloist Competition and winning the concerto competition at the Royal College of Music.
• 1st December 2012 - Chetham's Showcase - talented young soloists in recital
  With 290 students, age 8–18, Chetham’s is the largest Music School in the UK, and is the only Music School based in the North of England.  It is one of the North West’s best assets in terms of its international appeal - students from around the globe study at the School and currently come from as far afield as China, Malaysia, Germany, Japan and Korea. 
• 2nd February 2013 - Castalian String Quartet
  Winner of the 2011 Royal Overseas League Elias Fawcett Award for an outstanding chamber music ensemble, the Castalian String Quartet was formed in London in 2010 by multi-award winning graduates of the Royal Northern College of Music, Royal Academy of Music and Eastman School of Music, USA.  They are rapidly gaining a reputation at festivals and concert halls in the UK and abroad for their “phenomenal impact on audiences”.
• 2nd March 2013 - Kungsbacka Piano Trio - This concert is supported by HCMS 100 Club
  Formed in 1997, the Trio has gained an enviable reputation as one of the most outstanding ensembles of its generation.  All three are very busy as separate musicians.  Malin Broman (violin) is leader of the Swedish Radio Orchestra and the cellist Jesper Svedberg is leader of the cello section.  The pianist Simon Crawford-Phillips is a busy concert pianist and has a Piano Duo with Phillip Moore.  The Duo played with the Hallé in February 2012.  On 3rd March (the day after this concert) they give a recital at the Wigmore Hall.
• 6th April 2013 - Trio Melzi plus Two - This concert is supported by HCMS Members' Donations
  Sarah Beth Briggs (piano) rose to international attention when she became the joint winner of the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg in 1988.  She has performed with many of Britain’s major orchestras, and at most of its most prestigious venues, as well as giving numerous concerts in Europe and the USA.  She is joined by the very talented Richard Howarth (Violin), for his annual visit to Holmes Chapel, and Hannah Roberts (Cello) to form the Trio Melzi.  Celebrating Sarah Beth Briggs’ 40th birthday season the trio are joined by the familiar faces of Sarah Whittingham (Violin) and Richard Williamson (Viola) to complete the line-up for this Quintet concert.
• 27th April 2013 - Natalie Clein (Cello) with Alasdair Beatson (Piano) - This concert is sponsored by a Member of the Society
  Natalie Clein studied at the Royal College of Music where she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Scholarship.  She came to prominence after winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition in 1994.  She was the first British winner of the Eurovision Competition for Young Musicians in Warsaw. Pianist Alasdair Beatson is firmly established as a compelling and distinctive musician, equally adept in solo and chamber repertoire.  His recent CD of Mendelssohn piano music received praise for “highly sensitive playing of rare insight” from the Classic FM Magazine and was awarded the “Outstanding” accolade by International Record Review.

Holmes Chapel Singers   

Holmes Chapel Singers was formed as part of the Holmes Chapel Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (HCAODS) in 1985.  This society was founded in 1965 to provide music and drama in Holmes Chapel.

Initially the society produced musical shows, plays and pantomimes in the Victoria Hall. It gradually became too costly and difficult to put on musical shows in a village setting but singing members still wanted to perform and this led to the formation of the choral section, the Holmes Chapel Singers, whilst the drama side continued for some years as the Holmes Chapel Players.

The singers are made up of local people drawn from a large area around Holmes Chapel and perform a wide variety of music both traditional and modern, well know and less familiar works. Over the years, the choir has increased in numbers from 40 to over 70 regular singing members and has increased both in ability and confidence. No auditions are required, the whole idea of the Singers is that the more experienced help those with less and that everyone enjoys themselves.

New members are welcomed warmly. Visit the Holmes Chapel Singers Website for more details.

• Saturday 30th June 2012 - An evening of French Music featuring Gloria

Antiques and Collectors Fairs

Antique and Collectors Fair at Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre

• Sunday 24th June 2012
• Sunday 19th August 2012
• Sunday 28th October 2012

A quality fair with 100 stands selling a wide range of Antiques & Collectables, including china, glass, furniture, old postcards, stamps, cigarette cards & tea cards, jewellery, militaria, antique silver & gold, watches & clocks, coins, advertising items, vintage textiles, books, pictures & prints, ephemera, Victoriana and lots more  – something for every collector!

Admission: £1.50 Adults, £1.00 Concessions and Children are admitted free.
Open to the public: 10am to 4pm

To find out more, call: 01938 580438 or the visit the V & A Fairs Wesbite

Venue: Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre, Selkirk Drive, Holmes Chapel, CW4 7DZ