The Tameside Festival Chorus, under its founder John Miles, has kept the flag flying for classical music in Tameside with one major choral event a year since 1991.

That year, and for a few years afterwards, Tameside Council ran a Festival of Arts and Leisure, which prompted the name of the choir.

Arts festivals have cropped up sporadically thereafter, but the Tameside Festival Chorus has carried on every year regardless, right up until the Covid years of 2020 and 2021.

Some of the highlights have been the Opera Gala Night at the Tameside Hippodrome in 1998 with the Northern Chamber Orchestra, and Monteverdi Vespers at St Mary Magdalene Church, Broadbottom, in 2007, with the superb English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble, plus seven soloists.

Most of the concerts have been accompanied by a small orchestra. The choir has normally re-formed every year in May for a concert in July, but this year there has been more of a challenge after two years enforced break.

Rehearsals have been under way for a few weeks, and in this 30th season, the choir will be presenting contemplative music at Albion Church in Ashton on Sunday, July 24, at 7.30pm, singing the well-loved Faure Requiem and other music with Jeffrey Makinson from Lincoln Cathedral at the organ.

The choir is also welcoming back baritone soloist Andrew Wickens. The choir generally numbers around 50 singers, mostly from the Tameside and Glossop area.

It is always interested in recruiting new singers, subject to limitations of space at Albion Church.

Tickets for this year’s concert are £10 (including programme), and may be obtained at the door, or by ringing 01457 763701.

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