Gorton Philharmonic Society

The orchestra was founded in 1854, only 27 years after the death of Beethoven, when Tchaikovsky was a boy of 14 and three years before the birth of Edward Elgar. This makes the orchestra one of the oldest in the North-West of England, being three years older than the Hallé Orchestra.

It was originally founded by a group of Gorton musicians who met in a Mr. Blackshaw‘s house in Brook Green Lane, Gorton, Manchester. The group initially augmented the organ accompaniment at the Aspinal Nonconformist Chapel but then enlarged to become the original Gorton Philharmonic Orchestra.

The orchestra has met regularly ever since at various places in Gorton and Reddish - at Aspinal Smithy, over the old Pomona Hotel at the corner of Reddish Lane, in the old Gorton Town Hall and, for many years, at Belle Vue Gardens, Manchester, first in the Ballroom and then in the King‘s Hall.

From 1887, the orchestra gave concerts at Belle Vue and continued to do so through the two World Wars. Originally concerts were given on the first Sunday in the month from 11.a.m. to 12.30.p.m. between May and October. In July 1945, the Belle Vue management requested that the concerts be in the evening and so the series of "open rehearsals" were started.

Concerts were held at Belle Vue, the Free Trade Hall, the Renold Theatre and at Manchester Town Hall. The last concert at Belle Vue was held in September 1977 and, until December 2001, Stockport Town Hall was the venue for the concerts. In 2002, concerts were presented in the Concert Hall at Parrs Wood High School, East Didsbury, Manchester and from 2003, the concert venue has been the Forum Theatre, Romiley, Stockport.

150th Anniversary Brochures, giving a full history of the Society from its founding in 1854 to the present day, with details of past and present players, concert programmes and soloists, photographs etc., have been published and are available from the Secretary (see contact details below), priced £3 (minimum).

GORTON PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY

GORTON PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY is a registered Friendly Society under the Friendly Societies Act 1974, which allows it to take advantage of the income tax relief from covenanted subscriptions. Therefore members are encouraged to gift-aid their membership payments and so allow the Society to reclaim the tax paid by members.

Concerts are held each year in March, May, July, October and December, of which four are Subscription Concerts to which admission is free to current Members and Patrons.

All the concerts are open to the public. Admission fee is £7(concessions £6) and accompanied children are FREE.

Membership

Patrons

Are regular GPS concertgoers who for an annual subscription are entitled to admission to each of the four Subscription Concerts each year of their membership and advance notification of each concert with news about the orchestra.

Members (Renewals only)

Are regular GPS concertgoers who for an annual subscription are entitled to admission to each of the four Subscription Concerts each year of their membership.

Corporate Members

Are organisations who support the Society by giving a donation, in return for which they receive a number of tickets for their staff, allowing admission to all four Subscription Concerts each year of their membership, and advertising in the programme.

Playing Members

Are the regular playing members of the orchestra who pay an annual subscription and this contributes towards the costs of hiring the rehearsal room and of hiring music when necessary.

If you are interested in becoming a Patron of the Society, please contact the Membership Secretary, Norman Heaps, personally at any of our concerts or by telephone 0161 483 1699.

If you are interested in becoming a playing member, contact the Secretary, John Boydell (john.boydell@tiscali.co.uk) or by telephone 0161 427 5148

Gorton Philharmonic Orchestra

GORTON PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY

Founded 1854

GORTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

A short history