Oldham date for top choir

ONE of the North-West’s top choirs is to appear at Oldham Parish Church.

The Manchester Chorale — which has been on stage with stars such as Russell Watson, Michael Crawford, Jose Carreras and the late Luciano Pavarotti — will perform on Saturday at 7.30pm.

It has sung in cathedrals in Manchester, Ripon and Hereford, and frequently in the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.

Alan Hazell, the group’s new chairman, said he was keen to help raise money for the upkeep of Oldham’s historic parish church. The chorale’s newly-appointed conductor is Jill Henderson Wild — daughter of James Wild, Oldham’s “Mr Music”, who was one of the prime movers of music development in schools and the man behind Oldham Music Centre and the annual schools music festival.