Meet some of our members:
Choral Director – Daniel Adams
Orchestra Musical Director – Jim Cooke
Choir Members:
Stephen Henders – bass
My grandad had a piano in the best room: he couldn’t play it, we weren’t allowed to plink plonk. My music education was non-existent in school but came by way of the Beatles, Bowie and Zeppelin and singing alone in the bedroom. Joining a choir was for old middle class people.
I love to listen to music and have a broad taste. I used music where possible when teaching modern languages. My favourite piece of music is Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis and I applied to sing this in a 1,000-strong choir at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester in 2006 for a Channel 4 televised special. I was a bass but ended up in the tenor section. I hadn’t a clue about reading music but enjoyed the experience. It was ten more years before I retired from work and within a year I was in three choirs.
I came on loan to Ormskirk Music Choir to sing Vivaldi’s Gloria. It wasn’t a permanent thing but impressed by the skills of Dan and Julie and wooed by the choice of music I stayed. When the choir secretary stood down I was coshed, blindfolded and took the Dorling shilling at the bottom of an empty pint pot and that was it I ended up as secretary.
Orchestra Members:
Helena Cooke – flute
Born in Yorkshire, Helena began piano lessons at the age of 4, swiftly followed by recorder and guitar in primary school. On moving to secondary school serendipity struck when it turned out there weren’t enough clarinets to go around and so Helena was offered flute lessons. Helena graduated from Bretton Hall with a BA(Hons) in Music in 1994 and went on to gain a PGCE the following year.
Helena currently teaches woodwind in Knowsley where she teaches woodwind, whole class instrumental lessons and curriculum music. She has performed as a soloist with Ormskirk Music Society (having been a member of the orchestra since 1996) and Parbold Chamber choir. She regularly plays as an orchestra member with local groups and as half of a folk duo with guitarist Mark Dowding.
Catherine Ness – violin
I played violin throughout my school years, and belonged to the Nottingham Youth Orchestra, and later when my family moved, to the Cornwall Youth Orchestra. However, as I studied English at University, I found the University orchestra a bit too challenging, and gave it up. Later, I did play with the Cornwall Chamber Orchestra for a while, but had more fun playing folk fiddle in a Ceilidh band! Many years passed without me playing much at all, apart from church music groups. But once my kids were a bit older, I decided to look for an orchestra to play in, and found OMS nearby.
I joined the second violins, and remember finding the very first rehearsal rather hard work – so many notes! But very soon, I was looking forward to Thursday nights – it’s great to get away from your everyday concerns, and lose yourself in some great music. And the tea and biscuits are a very welcome addition to our half-time break (thanks Alison!). I’ve definitely improved over the last few years, have made some lovely friends, and have taken part in some fabulous concerts – despite the usual nerves and worries, everything seems to come together on the night!
Orchestra member
I have played music as a hobby since childhood. I like many kinds of music but classical music is my favourite mainly due being a member of a highly challenging school orchestra many years ago.
I love being a member of Ormskirk Music Society Orchestra, playing alongside like-minded and friendly people who all perform at different levels. We play a combination of ‘serious’ classical music and ‘lighter’ music, all of which is highly enjoyable. The satisfaction of participating in the production of fantastic music is something I treasure hugely.