Christmas Concert – December 2024 – All Hallows’ Church

South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by Dr Rob Howard. Featuring Dr Robert Howard (piano) and the South Liverpool Quartet

Programme:

• Spanish Ladies (Somerset Folk-Song) Traditional arr. Hollyoak
• The Syncopated Clock – L. Anderson
• Sketch I (‘Sequence’); Fragment III; Sonnet I – Dr. Robert A. Howard (composer and pianist)
• An Overture for Christmas – A.W. Benoy
• Pastoral Symphony & Chorale (from the Christmas Oratorio) – J.S.Bach
• Troika (from Lieutenant Kije) – Prokofiev
• Strange – Celeste (Bridgerton) – performed by the South Liverpool Quartet 
• Molly Malone – performed by the South Liverpool Quartet
• Congregational Carol – The First Nowell – Traditional (arr. Willcocks)
  
• Dance of the Tumblers (from the Snow Maiden) Rimsky-Korsakov (arr. D. Stone)
• Congregational Carol – Kings of Orient – Traditional (arr. D Stone)
• God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen – K.Gaw
• Congregational Carol – Hark the Herald Angels Sing – Traditional (arr. D. Willcocks)
• Ding Dong Merrily on High – K.Gaw

Spring Concert – May 2024  – All Hallows’ Church

South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by Dr Rob Howard. Featuring Abigail Birch Price and Zak Birch Price, Robert Howard (piano) and Susan Hyde (Clarinet).

Programme:

• Overture to Carmen – Bizet
• Slavonic Dance Op. 72 No. 2 – Dvorak
• Rocking (& Sketch) for Piano – Robert Howard – Robert Howard (piano)
• Adagio from Spartacus – Khachaturian
• Montagues and Capulets from Romeo & Juliet – Prokofiev
• Andante for Clarinet & Orchestra – Alice Mary Smith (Soloist: Susan Hyde)
• Entry of the Masters (from the Mastersingers) – Wagner
• The Old 100th Psalm Tune – Vaughan Williams
  
• Viola Serenade No. 1 – Abigail Birch Price                                                               (Viola: Abigail Birch Price, Piano: Zak Birch Price)
• Hungarian March – Berlioz
• Variations on a Shaker Melody – Copland
• Alla Marcia from Karelia Suite – Sibelius
• Mist & Enigma for Strings – Abigail Birch Price
• Pomp & Circumstance March No. 4 – Elgar
• Grand March (from Aida) – Verdi

Christmas Concert – December 2023 – All Hallows’ Church

South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by Dr Rob Howard. Featuring Dr Robert Howard (piano) and Alex Scott (trombone).

Programme:

• Rosamunde Overture – Schubert
• Lauda (piano piece) – Dr Robert Howard
• Suite of Scottish Dances – Alwyn
• Chaconne from Trombone Concerto – Ellerby (Alex Scott on Trombone. Dr Rob Howard piano)
• 3 Dances from Henry VIII – German
• Congregational Carol – Once in Royal David’s City (arr. Stone)
• Le Castillane from Le Cid – Massenet
• Congregational Carol – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (arr. Willcocks)
  
• Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! – Cahn and Styne
• Congregational Carol – O Come, all ye faithful (arr. Willcocks)
• Sleigh Ride – Anderson

Summer Concert – June 2023 – Prescot Arts Festival finale concert

South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by Dr Rob Howard. Featuring Abigail Birch Price and Zak Birch Price.

Programme:

• The National Anthem – arr. David Good
• The English Folk Songs Suite – Vaughan Williams orch. Gordon Jacob
• Dance of the Hours – Ponchielli
• Ave Maria – Robert Howard – Abigail Birch Price (voice) Robert Howard (piano)
• Prelude from the “Te Deum” – Charpentier arr. Nigel Wicken
• Fantasia on Greensleeves – Vaughan Williams arr. David Stone
• Slavonic Dance No.8 – Dvorak arr. David Stone
• Entry of the Gladiators – Fucik arr. Nigel Wicken
  
• Flute Serenade No 1 – Abigail Birch Price – Zak Birch Price (flute) Robert Howard (piano)
• Hoe Down from “Rodeo” – Copeland
• Fantasia on British Sea Songs – Wood arr. Peter Lawson including – 5. Jack’s The Lad, 8. See, The Conqu’ring Hero Comes, 9. Rule Britannia!
• Pomp & Circumstance No 1 – Elgar
• Jerusalem – Parry
• Radetzky March – Strauss Sr.

Spring Concert – May 2023

South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by Dr Rob Howard. Featuring Abigail Birch Price and Zak Birch Price.

Programme:

• The National Anthem – arr. David Good
• The English Folk Songs Suite – Vaughan Williams orch. Gordon Jacob
• Ave Maria – Robert Howard – Abigail Birch Price (voice) Robert Howard (piano)
• Prelude from the “Te Deum” – Charpentier arr. Nigel Wicken
• Fantasia on Greensleeves – Vaughan Williams arr. David Stone
• Slavonic Dance No.8 – Dvorak arr. David Stone
• Entry of the Gladiators – Fucik arr. Nigel Wicken
  
• Flute Serenade No 1 – Abigail Birch Price – Zak Birch Price (flute) Robert Howard (piano)
• Hoe Down from “Rodeo” – Copeland
• Fantasia on British Sea Songs – Wood arr. Peter Lawson including – 5. Jack’s The Lad, 8. See, The Conqu’ring Hero Comes, 9. Rule Britannia!
• Pomp & Circumstance No 1 – Elgar
• Jerusalem – Parry
• Radetzky March – Strauss Sr.

Christmas Concert – Dec 2022

South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by Dr Rob Howard. Featuring Abigail Birch Price.

• Pomp & Circumstance March No.4 – Elgar
• March (from the Folk Songs of Somerset Suite) – Vaughan Williams
• The Jeremiah Clarke Suite – The Duke of Gloucester’s March, Minuet, Cebell, Serenade, Trumpet Minuet – Clarke
• Farandole – Bizet
• The Little Child (melody Barbara Allen), arr by Robert Howard. Abigail Birch Price (voice), Robert Howard (piano)
• Tales from the Vienna Woods – J.Strauss
• Once in Royal David’s City (congregational carol)
• Dance of the Tumblers (from the Snow Maiden) – Rimsky-Korsakov
• Danse Russe Trepak (from the Nutcracker) – Tchaikovsky
• O Come, all ye faithful (congregational carol)
• Two Carol Cameos – arr. Gaw – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Ding Dong Merrily on High
• Hark the Herald Angels sing (congregational carol)
• Jingle Bells – arr. Gaw

Spring Concert – May 2022

South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by Dr Rob Howard. Featuring Abigail Birch Price and Zak Birch Price.

Programme:

• Overture from the Thieving Magpie – Rossini
• Evening Prayer – Humperdinck
• Grand March (from Aida) – Verdi
• An Die Musik – Schubert – Abigail Birch-Price (voice) & Zak Birch-Price (piano)
  
• Five Courtly Dances (Gloriana) – Britten
• Sonatine Bureaucratique – Satie (arr. Alex Scott)
• Cortege – R.Howard
• Espana – Chabrier
• Piano Serenade No. 1 – Abigail Birch-Price – Zak Birch-Price (piano)
  
• Farnham Festival Overture – Rodney Bennett
• The Old 100th Psalm Tune – Vaughan Williams
• Crown Imperial – Walton

 Christmas Concert – December 2021. Celebrating the orchestra’s 45th & the conductor’s 10th anniversary!

South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by Dr Rob Howard.

Programme:

• The Merry Wives of Windsor – Nicolai
• Festival Suite – Robert Howard – Procession, Folk Song & Dance
• Congregational Carol: Hark the Herald Angels Sing!
• Intermezzo from L’Arlesienne Suite No.2 – Bizet
• Suffolk Suite – Carwithen – Prelude, Orford Ness, Suffolk Morris, Framlingham Castle
• Piano Solo – Arietta (1990) – Robert Howard – Robert Howard (piano)
• Congregational Carol: The First Noel
• Finale for a Concert – Bush
• Finlandia – Sibelius
• Congregational Carol: O Come, All Ye Faithful
• Sleigh Ride – Anderson

Christmas Concert – December 2019

South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by Dr Rob Howard. Also featuring the Wavertree String Ensemble

Programme:

• William Tell Overture (Galop) – Rossini (arr. Andrew)
• Congregational Carol: Once in Royal David’s City
• From the Christmas Oratorio – J.S. Bach 1. Pastoral Symphony 2. Chorale
• Serenade – Mathias  I Allegretto II Lento, ma con moto III Allegro con slancio
• Congregational Carol: The First Noel
• Wavertree String Ensemble – Mendelssohn Octet in E flat major (1st movement)
• Toreador’s Song from “Carmen” – Bizet (arr. Wicken)
• The Stars & Stripes Forever – Souza (arr. Andrew)
• Congregational Carol: O Come All Ye Faithful
• Jingle Bells – Pierpont (arr. Gaw)

Summer Concert – May 2019

South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by Dr Rob Howard. Also featuring Robert Howard (bassoon) and Laura Howard (conductor), & Susan Hyde (clarinet) and Laura Howard (piano)

Programme:

• Palladio – Jenkins arr D. Stevenson
• Bassoon Concerto in Bb (1st movement) – Mozart. Soloist: Robert Howard; conductor: Laura Howard
• Nocturne from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” – Mendelssohn
• Joyeuse Marche – Chabrier
• Prelude from Suite from The Victorian Kitchen Garden – Reade                                  Susan Hyde (clarinet) & Laura Howard (piano)
• Little Suite 1 – Arnold  1. Prelude   2. Dance   3. March
• Pavane – Faure
• Slavonic Dance no. 4 – Dvorak
• Can Can – Offenbach

Christmas Concert – December 2018

South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by Dr Rob Howard.  Also featuring Laura (voice) and Robert Howard (piano)

Programme:

• Habanera from Carmen – Bizet
• Congregational Carol: Hark the Herald Angels Sing
• Dances from Danserye – Susato
• Jubilee Dance – Mathias
• Congregational Carol: We Three Kings of Orient Are
•  A Babe is Born & Once in Royal David’s City – Howard – Laura (voice) & Rob Howard (piano)
  
• Two Carol Cameos – Gaw
• Congregational Carol: O Come All Ye Faithful
• Sleigh Ride – Anderson

Summer Concert – May 2018

South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by Dr Rob Howard  Also featuring Nieve Humphreys (cello) and Robert Howard (bassoon)

Programme:

• Pomp & Circumstance 4 – Elgar
•  Gymnopodie No. 1 – Satie
• Symphony No 25 in G minor (Menuetto & Trio) – Mozart
• Cello Suite 3 BWV 1007-1012 (Bach) – Bouree 1 & 2 – Nieve Humphreys (cello)
• Suite of Scottish Dances – Alwyn
•  Folk Lament – Howard (1994), The Clown – Howard (1991) – Rob Howard (bassoon):
• Carmen Suite 1 (highlights – Bizet
• Farandole from L’Arlesienne – Bizet

Christmas Concert – December 2017

South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by Dr Rob Howard. Also featuring Laura Howard

Programme:

• Rossini—Overture to The Italian Girl in Algiers
• Once in Royal David’s City
• Hoddinott—Welsh Dance (arr. D. Stone)
• Tambourin—Gossec (arr. J. Galway) – Laura Howard (flute)
• Lehar—Gold & Silver Waltz
• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
• Belfast Hornpipe—Trad. (arr. J. Galway) – Laura Howard (flute)
• Strauss—Radetzky March
• O Come, All Ye Faithful
• Jingle Bells—Pierpont (arr. D. Stone)

Summer Concert – May 2017

South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by Dr Rob Howard.  Also featuring Abigail Birch and Tom Howard.

Programme:

• Suite No 1 from Water Music—Handel
• Rondeau from Abdelazer—Purcell, conducted Abigail Birch
• Funeral March of a Marionette—Gounod
• Woe Unto Them Who Forsake Him from Elijah – Mendelssohn – Abigail Birch
• Overture for Farnham—Alan Rawsthorne
• Symphony No 8 (Unfinished): First Movement—Schubert
• Dance in Bulgarian Rhythm No 4 from Mikrokosmos—Bartok – Tom Howard
• Two Gavottes from Suite No 3—Bach
• Marche Slave—Tchaikovsky

Christmas Concert – December 2016

South Liverpool Orchestra featuring The Wavertree String Quartet

Programme: (Congregational carols in bold; Wavertree String Quartet item in italics)

• Entry of the Master Singers – Wagner
• Romance – Elgar (Bassoon soloist: Robert Howard)
• Once in Royal David’s City
• Slavonic Dance No.2, Op. 72 – Dvorak
• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
• Danse des Mirlitons – Tchaikovsky
• Traditional—First Noël
• Pennies from Heaven – Johnston
• The Old One Hundredth Psalm Tune – Vaughan Williams
• O Come, All Ye Faithful
• Sleigh Ride – Leroy Anderson

Summer Concert – Prescot Music Festival June 2016

South Liverpool Orchestra featuring Trumpet Soloist, Hannah MacKenzie.

Programme:

• Fantasia on Greensleeves – Vaughan Williams
• The Prince of Denmark’s March (Trumpet Voluntary) – Clarke*
• Capriol Suite (movements I, II, V & VI) – Warlock
• Prelude to Te Deum – Charpentier*
• Courtly Dances from Gloriana – Britten
• Trumpet Tune – Stanley*
• Festival Suite (I Procession, II Dance, III Folksong, IV Like Clockwork) – Robert Howard
• Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Mendelssohn
• Two Pieces for Strings (from Henry V) – Walton
• Crown Imperial – Walton
• Trad. – Hornpipe
• Rule Britannia – Arne
• Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D major (Land of Hope and Glory) – Elgar
• Jerusalem – Parry
  *= Hannah MacKenzie (Trumpet soloist)

Summer Concert – May 2016

South Liverpool Orchestra featuring Violin Soloists, Leo Byrne & Jonathan Byrne

Programme:

• Fantasia on Greensleeves – Vaughan Williams
• Crown Imperial – Walton
• Jonathan (Grandson) & Leo Byrne (Son of orchestra founder) J.S. Bach – Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor (1st movement)
• Procession – Robert Howard
• Courtly Dances from Gloriana – Britten
• Two Pieces for Strings (from Henry V) – Walton
• Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Mendelssohn
• Capriol Suite (movements I, II, V & VI) – Warlock
• Pomp & Circumstance March No.1 in D major – Elgar

Christmas Concert  – December 2015

Programme:

• Magic Flute Overture – W A Mozart
• Variations on a Shaker Melody – Copland
• Bethlehem Down – Warlock
• Fifth Symphony (Finale) – L van Beethoven
• Sleigh Ride – Leroy Anderson
• & Sing-a-long Christmas Carols

Summer Concert – Prescot Music Festival June 2015

South Liverpool Orchestra featuring Trumpet Soloist, Hannah MacKenzie

Programme:

• Rondeau from Abdelazar – Purcell
• Cortege – Robert Howard
• Finlandia – Sibelius
• Trumpet Concerto (soloist Hannah MacKenzie) – Haydn
• L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2 (movements 3 & 4) – Bizet
• Overture William Tell – Rossini
• Entry of the Gladiators – Fucik
• Rule Brittannia – Arne
• Pomp & circumstance March No 1 – Elgar (arr. Hesford)
• Jerusalem – Parry
• National Anthem

Also Organ Solos by Tim Hall

Summer Concert – May 2015

South Liverpool Orchestra & Wavertree Quartet

Programme:

• Overture William Tell – Rossini
• Rondeau from Abdelazar – Purcell
• Cortege – Robert Howard
• Entry of the Gladiators – Fucik
• L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2 (movements 3 & 4) – Bizet
• Finlandia – Sibelius

with item from Wavertree String Quartet

Christmas Concert  – December 2014

South Liverpool Orchestra & Hope Park Voices. Also featuring the Wavertree String Quartet.

Programme:

• Jeremiah Clarke – A Jeremiah Clarke Suite (arr Nigel Wicken)
• Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring – JS Bach
• Movements from Concerto for Oboe (Soloist: Alison Wilson) – Pergolesi
• Dance of the Tumblers (from “The Snow Maiden”) – Rimsky-Korsakov
• Selection of Christmas Carols
• String Quartet No 1 in D, op 11 – Tchaikovksy (Wavertree String Quartet)

Summer Concert – May 2014

South Liverpool Orchestra conducted by Dr Rob Howard. Also featuring Laura Bonnett (flute) and the Wavertree String Quartet with Oboist Howard Rogers.

Programme:

• Prelude from Te Deum – Charpentier
• Chanson de Matin – Elgar
• Summer Splendour (Wavertree Quartet)
• Flute Concerto in G Major, 1st Movement (Soloist: Laura Bonnett) – Mozart
• Petite Suite – Debussy
• Libertango (Wavertree Quartet with Oboist, Howard Rogers) – Piazzolla, arr H Rogers
• Two Royal Marches – Clarke
• Farandole from L’Arlesienne – Bizet

Christmas Concert  – December 2013

South Liverpool Orchestra with Local Church and School Choirs

Programme:

• Dance of the Hours from La Gioconda – Ponchielli (arr. Ling)
• Congregational carol: Hark the Herald – Mendelssohn (arr. Willcocks)
• The Can-Can from Orpheus in the Underworld – Offenbach (arr. Wicken)
• Congregational carol: The First Nowell – Trad. (arr. Willcocks)
• Valse from The Sleeping Beauty Suite – Tchaikovsky
• Congregational carol: O Come All Ye Faithful – Wade (arr. Willcocks)
• Sleigh Ride – Anderson

Prescot & Whiston Methodist Church Choir

• Who would think that was what was needed… (Danzig (Tune: Scarlet Ribbons))
• The Sun Beats on the Desert Air – Forshaw

Prescot Parish Church Choir

• The Coming of Our King – Trad. Polish Carol
• Walking in the Air – Blake. Soloist: Owen Clark

Evelyn Community Primary School & Staff Choirs

• Away in a Manger – Cooke
• O Holy Night – Adam (arr. Rutter)

St Mary and St Paul’s Primary School Choir

• Love Shone Down – Piercy
• Rudolph – Marks

Summer Concert – May 2013

South Liverpool Orchestra conducted by Dr Rob Howard. Also featuring Rob Howard (bassoon) and the Wavertree String Quartet.

Programme:

• Light Cavalry Overture – Suppé
• Bassoon Concerto (Soloist: Robert Howard) – Weber
• Movements from Suite No. I and II from the Water Music – Handel
• Quartet Opus 12, 1st & 4th movements – Mendelssohn

Christmas Concert – December 2012

South Liverpool Orchestra and The Oriel Singers

Programme:

• Skater’s Waltz – Waldteufel
• Suite of Scottish Dances – Alwyn
• First Piano Concerto (Rondo) – Beethoven (Soloist Russell Thompson)
• Movements from the Nutcracker Suite: Chinese Dance, Arabian Dance and Russian Dance (Trépak) – Tschaïkowsky
• The Lamb – Tavener
• In Dulci Jubilo – Pearsall
• Cradle Song – Rutter
• Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day – Traditional

Summer Concert – May 2012

South Liverpool Orchestra & The Oriel Singers

Programme:

• Folk Song Suite – Vaughan Williams
• Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished), 1st Movement – Schubert
• Serenade – Mathias
• Little Suite no 1 – Arnold

Christmas Concert – December 2011

South Liverpool Orchestra and The Oriel Singers

Programme:

• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
• Selection from Swan Lake – Tchaikovsky
  • Neapolitan Dance
  • Dance of the Swans
  • Mazurka
• God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
• Unto Us Is Born A Son
• The First Nowell
• Let It Snow – Styne
• Sleigh Ride – Leroy Anderson
• Oh Come All Ye Faithful
  

A Summer Concert – May 2011

South Liverpool Orchestra with Nick Byrne (Cello) and Lewis Coenen-Rowe (Piano)

Programme:

• Overture to the Barber of Seville – Rossini
• Piano Concerto in A Minor (1st movement) – Schumann
• Symphony No. 3 in D – Schubert
• Cello Concerto (1st movement) – Dvořák
• Peer Gynt Suite No.1 – Grieg
  • Morning
  • In the Hall of the Mountain King

Christmas Concert – December 2010

South Liverpool Orchestra & The Oriel Singers

Programme includes:

• Overture in D – Schubert
• Minuet – Elgar
• Sun Dance from The Wand of Youth Suite – Elgar
• Sleigh Ride – Leroy Anderson
• Five Christmas Carols – David Wilcocks

Christmas Concert – December 2009

The South Liverpool Orchestra & The Oriel Singers

• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Schubert
• And the Glory of the Lord – Handel
• For Unto Us A Child is Born
• Pastoral Symphony
• Hallelujah Chorus
• Unto Us is Born a Son
• The Lamb – John Taverner
• Noel Sing – Gerald Brown
• Carol of the Bells – Wilhousky
• The First Nowell
• Hark The Herald Angels Sing
• Minuet and Trio from Symphony No 101 (The Clock) – Haydn
• The 12 Days of Christmas
• Sleigh Ride
• O Come All Ye Faithful

Summer Concert – May 2009

The South Liverpool Orchestra & The Oriel Singers

• Mass In Time of War – Haydn
• Symphony no 103 – Haydn
• The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace – Karl Jenkins

Christmas Concert – December 2008

The South Liverpool Orchestra & The Oriel Singers

Overture to Tancredi – Rossini

• Items by the Oriel Singers
• God rest you merry, gentlemen
• Unto us is born a son
• Allegro Vivace and Trio from Symphony No.2 – Schubert
• The first nowell
• Hark! the herald angels sing
• Allegro (last movement) from Horn Concerto No.3 – Mozart (Soloist: Nick Swift)
• March from A Little Suite – Trevor Duncan
• Items by the Oriel Singers
• Sleigh Ride – Leroy Anderson
• O come all ye faithful

Evening Concert May 2008

The South Liverpool Rehearsal Orchestra & Hope Park Voices

• Prometheus Overture, Op 43 – Beethoven
• A Gaelic Bless – First movement from Requiem – John Rutter
• Minuet and Trio from Symphony No 39, KV 543, in Eb – Mozart
• The Singing of the Birds – Sing you now – Bob Chilcott
• Nigerian Highlife Song – Oremi
• Slavonic Dance, Op.46, No.4 – Dvorak
• Cantique de Jean Racine – Fauré
• Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam – William Mathias
• Little Suite for Orchestra, Op.53 – Prelude / Dance / March – Malcolm Arnold

Christmas Concert December 2007

The South Liverpool Rehearsal Orchestra & The Oriel Singers

With Matt Simpson (poet & critic)

All Hallows Church, Allerton

The concert is dedicated to the memory of Norman Payne, a founder member of the SLRO

• Overture to the Merry Wives of Windsor – Otto Nicolai
• Nativity Carol – John Rutter
• In Dulci Jubilo – Pearsall
• God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
• Unto us is born a son
• Adagio: Allegro from Symphony No 104 (The ‘London’ Symphony) – Joseph Haydn
• The First Nowell
• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
• Carillion from L’Arlesienne Suite No.1 – Georges Bizet
• Out of Your Sleep – Richard Rodney Bennett
• There Is No Rose – Benjamin Britten
• And The Glory Of The Lord – G. F. Handel
• Readings by Matt Simpson