To bring us up to date, Monica resigned as conductor in Sept.2006 after 27 years and David Chambers was appointed conductor. David, an accomplished musician, is already well known locally, not least as musical director of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Monica Coles will continue her association with the orchestra as a player and deputy conductor.
From initially playing church music the orchestra’s repertoire now includes light classical works, music from the shows, ballet music and contemporary easy listening pieces. Over the years it has built up a unique and comprehensive library of over 1000 full orchestra sets to which new music is constantly being added. Under the baton of the its present conductor, David Chambers and its leader Richard Andrews, the orchestra remains as vigorous as ever and determined to continue providing concerts of enjoyable music and support for charity and voluntary organisations.
Lineage of the Orchestra
Primrose Hill String Band 1903-1920
Primrose Hill Orchestra 1920-1926
Northampton Amateur Orchestral Society 1926-1936
Northampton Orchestral Society 1936-1941
Northampton Light Orchestra 1941-1999
Northampton Concert Orchestra 1999-
Somewhat unique to this orchestra is that throughout its long history it has only had five conductors. The first, Frederick Facer, was choirmaster at Primrose Hill Church and took responsibility for the band at its formation. He was followed in the early twenties by Edward Hull who was the first to conduct the orchestra when it became independent but conducted for only a short period before moving on to become a professional musician. In 1926 Leonard Andrews (father of the present leader of the orchestra) then picked up the baton and was to conduct the orchestra until his death in 1979, an impressive run of 53 years. Monica Coles then became conductor and under her influence standards continued to improve together with an increase in the number of concerts performed each year.
