Oh holy night!

IN tune: Ella Dibden (right) with St Anne's CE School choir, Lydgate

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HUNDREDS of festive revellers packed into Oldham Parish Church to kick off their Christmas celebrations in spectacular style.

It was standing-room only at the town-centre church as choirs and bands entertained the crowds for the 33rd annual Oldham Chronicle Festival of Carols.

Deputy Mayor Councillor John Hudson, and his wife Kathleen enjoyed the event — a fundraiser for the Mayor’s Appeal charities — from the front row.

First up was Crompton House School Band, featuring Royal Northern College of Music members Toby Butt and Ben Conway, who performed a medley of festive classics.

Soloist Caroline Simister gave a haunting rendition of “O Holy Night” before East Crompton St James’s School Choir took to the stage in matching sparkly Santa hats.

Talented pupils from Higher Failsworth School performed a duo of choral speaking classics after being invited back to the Festival of Carols following an impressive performance last year.

Next up was St Anne’s CE School in Lydgate. The 20-strong choir was reduced to nine due to illness — but had to go on and the remaining members soldiered on valiantly to rapturous applause.

Muso’s Choir — based above the music shop of the same name in Yorkshire Street — caters for anyone who wants to sing, regardless of ability, and sung several seasonal favourites.

The Pennine Trust Choir - made up of carers, patients and staff within Pennine Acute Trust - enlisted public help to clap and sing along as it performed

And Crompton House school band played a medley of Christmas hits before a final rendition of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” ended an evening that left attendees with a warm glow.



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