The Damnation of Faust, in the same venue that it had its English première, Manchester's Free Trade Hall. A huge production by the school on the grand stage. Who remembers it? Did anyone take up the coffee invitation at the end?

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

This programme is a bit torn up but I do love a bit of extra history with my history. Alfreda Hodgson accompanied by John Wilson for the Northern School of Music.

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

The University of Salford audiences treated to the Northern School of Music's orchestra in 1971.

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

I think this is one of the only concerts by the Northern School of Music's part-time students. The school had part-time evening students, usually teachers who wanted to supplement their own musical training. There were hundreds of students over the years that benefitted from the school's generous opportunities.
It's also one of the only programmes that has been arranged by Marjorie Proudlove of the school, I think?

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

Another 50th year Junior School concert from the Northern School of Music. It faithfully programmed music from one of its first champions, local composer Walter Carroll (also father to principal Ida Carroll).

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

This Thanksgiving Service is for the Northern School of Music's 50th anniversary, its Golden Jubilee. The event included the official dedication of the perspex decorative window in St Ann's Lady Chapel in memory of Hilda Collens.

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

Kendall Taylor at the 50th anniversary year. Showing his never ending support for the Northern School of Music, with a Beethoven sonata programme.

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

Another opera - that's 2 for 1970 from the Northern School of Music. The Magic Flute this time, an epic quest with the famous Queen of the Night aria.

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

Well this is a new one. An "open orchestral rehearsal for members of the conductors' class". So you could come and see trainee conductors with a free orchestral concert I think?

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

It's the Junior School. RNCM Junior School came of this NSM Junior School and provided a musical education to thousands of children over the years. Celebrating with a ton of music and music valued experience for the Junior students 50 years after it opened in 1920. They were still collecting to help other young children by raising funds for the Barnardos charity, something they had been doing for decades.

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

The Golden Jubilee programme plan for the Northern School of Music. Right from the off the school acknowledges its founder Hilda Collens. There's operas, a recitals, a dance, a dinner and of course the unveiling of the famous perspex decorative window at St Ann's church in memory of Hilda Collens.

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

After 50 years of teaching the piano according to the approach of Tobias Matthay, a piano recital is on the cards for their Golden Jubilee. A typical NSM mix of the well dead and still living composers.

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

Golden Jubilee celebrated with "A Pilgrim's Progress". It's a "morality" opera sort of, like the Everyman play they liked to use, and has strong Christian themes. The school itself had a thorough grounding in Christian faith, having school masses and psalms/hymns at the termly school assemblies.
A journey of struggle and triumph, perhaps there is metaphor in the programming choice.
A coffee in the back between alumni and performers sounds like a delightful invitation.

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

An Easter concert for the Golden Jubilee year for the Northern School of Music. There's a women's madrigal group performing a bunch of songs. Are there still madrigal groups in Manchester?

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

1970 was the Golden Jubilee of the Northern School of Music. They're including Salford in the celebrations here.

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

A song recital this time, by the Northern School of Music.

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

Even more piano music. But my, what a lot of piano music.

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

A Christmas concert on my birthday! Very nice of them to honour me that way.
Lots and lots of carols. Who knew there were so many.

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

Another opera! This time more recent by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

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

The Northern School of Music produced La Traviata in 1969 on the Lesser Free Trade Hall. What do you think of the storyline? Is it only opera and theatre where you are told the whole story *before* you watch it?

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

It's the last Messiah of the decade. This time on the big stage at the Free Trade Hall.

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

The orchestra is off to Salford again! With contemporary composer Malcolm Arnold top of the list.

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

I can't find any reviews for this yet but it's a bit of a roller coaster with kings, queens, gods, underworlds and death (surprise surprise).

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

A packed concert for soloists of the Northern School of Music, getting in some valuable public practice in 1969.

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