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University of Salford (Royal College of Advanced Technology), Manchester Cathedral, Northern School Of Music (NSM), Houldsworth Hall
1965

Official Magazine of the Northern School of Music, covering the academic year 1964-65

This mid-60s issue begins depicting the tantalising atmosphere felt at the opening of the new NSM building at the start of the September term 1964. Pictured on pg. 2, the extended premises included “bright new studios, a new and larger library, a new Principals room, … and a much more commodious recital room” amongst others. The succeeding Principals Letter gives their versions of events, in which Ida Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the NSM) received “an enormous cheque” from the Old Students Association to “spend on something personal” – an obvious nudge from the NSM alumni for Ida to deviate from her modesty and to reward herself for her devotion to the school and her work.

Clearly uncomfortable in this recognition however, she mentions her concern in “losing sight of the most important fact of the building up of the Northern School”. In bringing up of the legacy of the previous principal and founder Hilda Collens and the challenges she overcame (“ill-health, financial insecurity and war”) demonstrates the burden she most likely carried in succeeding her in this role.

The Student Christian Movement lists many visitors to the NSM, most curiously a City Mission Officer who gave an ‘outstanding talk’ on the work of the ‘Telephone Church’ – a new and valuable service for those living in Manchester, who are kept busy with over two hundred calls a week. Additionally, the Young Christian Movement presented opportunities for relationships to develop between students of the soon-to-merge Royal Manchester College of Music and the NSM at a “Coffee and Curry Night”.

The issue continues to detail the exploits of ex-students: one in Ghana, one in Canada, and one touring the USA – all of whose tales are worth reading in detail for a depiction of life abroad as a British music specialist in the 1960s. The success of the ex-students extends to their national exploits also, as detailed on on page 21 with the News In Brief section.

Pages 22-37 are censored to protect personal data.

Ref: NSM/21

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.