Past Programmes

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