Griff remarks on how hard Ida has to work when NSM principal Hilda Collens is away sick, "you become horribly overworked". When his boss is off however, "there is a certain postponement of Efficacy and Preparation Drives and so on!"
He wishes he could help. Little did he know that he would become the bursar of the school in 1945.
He compares seating arrangements in different cinemas across Manchester in a long preamble to asking Ida if she would accompany him to "test out the seating arrangements at the Rusholme Theatre?" Very cute,
His singing voice was on "pretty form this morning so I have hopes for Monday" and wishes to avoid the use of gargles "or other poisons".

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

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

Griff writes to Ida of a verbal spar between himself and Mrs Lester. Both were enquiring as to how they bumped into each other out and about at the very suspicious hour of past midnight. After an unsatisfactory conclusion Griff apparently "leaves the vestry hastily but with dignity."
He describes a dream she featured in where he met her on the road for a walk.
He mentions some books and looks forward to seeing her at the Night Club to play cards. He finishes by praising her dresses.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

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

"Wednesday being one of those ridiculous days when I'm not privileged even to catch a glimpse of your in the far distance, I am relieving the feelings with written words."
He discusses her feather Walter leaving his Birch Church where he was choir master. "He has built Birch to the point when it has one of the best voluntary choirs in the world." He knows why he presses them so much - because they are amateur - but sometimes "I feel like chucking Birch and a good many more pleasant things and becoming one of Manchester's shop-owners or something and trying to make a packet (like Comrade Cottie)" Comrade Cottie? If anyone can make betters sense of that writing then I can do correct me.
He thinks he could get out of a rut if he could write successfully, a play or something. "A lot of money isn't really required, only more." But he sometimes "sinks into gloom."
He hopes Walter doesn't think himself too old for Birch. He got himself a chair after choir to save his feet and "it hurt a little for we have never known him to do that before." And "he has the spirit and interests of much younger men, and his ideas on church music are so sound."

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

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

"Love + Travel" indeed! Griff writes to Ida that he loves her and is excited by her visit to Ashton-under-Lyne before Christmas to see him. He details her journey options. Pre-Google Maps level of planning.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

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

In this letter from Geoffrey Griffiths to Ida Carroll just before Christmas he mentions that he looks forward to "that especially long letter before the New Year" she would write to him. He begs for a "story of your life" letter and promises to destroy it after reading if she details her life for her.
He is trying to convince her that Boxing Day in the Lake District for fresh air is the best thing and arranges going to the cinema on New Years Eve, possibly to see The Drum. Possibly seeing George Formby in January.
It's deathly cold and church was sparsely populated, tempting a nip into the pub on the way home except he's not one for drink.
He jokes that "One or two of the Hallé gang have said wistfully to me that they would like Mr Rees for a regular Master of the Choir, so I am thinking of applying for the conductorship of the Matthay orchestra!! (Funny piece - not to be taken seriously)"
He signs off that he must attend to writing Christmas cards.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

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

Have a swinging Christmas, indeed!

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3

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 lovely little Christmas card from Hazel to Ida Carroll.

Ref: NSM/20

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 final concert of Northern School of Music's Junior School. A little note of farewell and planning advice by Ida to the students on the back.

Ref: NSM/20

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

"Der Freischütz" is an opera I haven't seen programmed before by the Northern School of Music, or the RNCM or RMCM for that matter but feel free to correct me.
It's a supernatural take of warning, with magic bullets, deals with the devil, drama and of course, more drama after that.
Again an A and B cast, with many students involved in the production.

Ref: NSM/20

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 sort of hangs between two schools: the Northern School of Music which programmed it with one of its most well-known alumna, Alfreda Hodgson - and the Friends of the Northern College of Music advertised on the back. The NSM ceased in 1972 to funnel its efforts into the new NCM, now the RNCM.

Ref: NSM/20

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 *love* an annotated programme. A bit of extra history with the history. This one's just a printer's proof, hence the scribbles.

Ref: NSM/20

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 full words of Mozart's Requiem are printed here in the programme. Do you reckon anyone sang along? I think I would have tried. Badly. But points for (bare) effort.

Ref: NSM/20

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

Possibly the last orchestral concert of 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

"An evening of Italian music" with a coffee break in the school's basement canteen. Of course with any Italian evening there must be opera so they've popped in some of Puccini's opera "La Boheme". A very kind addition of a narrator explaining what's going on in English before each item. Sounds delightful.

Ref: NSM/20

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

In its last year of existence, the Northern School of Music heads over to Salford for an other orchestral concert. A bit of a mistake on the programme, Wagner's work "Tannhauser" is listed as the composer itself!

Ref: NSM/20

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 spring concert by the Northern School of Music. Again with the madrigal group - where are the Manchetser madrigal groups now?

Ref: NSM/20

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! Love a good Christmas concert, complete with sing-along. Irene Wilde, staff of NSM, conducts the concert. Fantastic to see female conductors in Manchester.

Ref: NSM/20

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

Nabucco, a biblical opera, performed by the Northern School of Music. I think this is the first opera by the NSM where I've seen two casts. Usually it's just the one cast but we've got an A and B cast here. Hence the sheer number of names in the programme!

Ref: NSM/20

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 Junior School in 1971, with the steady support of the Barnardo's charity. Great to see another female composer being programmed, this time Dame Elizabeth Maconchy. She was the first woman to chair the Composers' Guild. The NSM was founded and run by women. A nice little nod to women musicians here.

Ref: NSM/20

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 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?

Ref: NSM/20

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?

Ref: NSM/20

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).

Ref: NSM/20

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