The Stoller Hall in Manchester is the most recent addition to an ensemble of buildings that goes back to the 15th century. At that period, housing was built for the clergy of Manchester Collegiate Church, now the Cathedral. Thanks to the generosity of Sir Humphrey Chetham, in 1653 the buildings became a school for 20 poor boys along with a free public library. This historic library, which still exists, played host to Marx and Engels during their influential time in Manchester. The 19th and 20th centuries saw an expansion of the site and at one point the Manchester Grammar School, Nicholls Hospital School and Chetham’s School all shared the site. In the 1970s, Chetham's became a specialist music school, and in 2017, The Stoller Hall was opened. This provides Manchester with a first-class smaller-scale hall as well as creating a new school facility. My photograph above shows the site today, left to right, Manchester Cathedral, the Victorian former Manchester Grammar School building, Chetham's 15th century buildings and The Stoller Hall.
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Manchester Camerata, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Gábor Takács-Nagy at The Stoller Hall |
What such a visit gives no hint of is that the hall is part of the school campus, when in public use the hall is locked down with no access to the school.
Fran is keen not just to programme different genres but to encourage people to experiment and try different things. One of the projects aiming to do this is the Manchester Guitar Festival. First run last year, the second edition, from 19 to 21 May 2023, brings together a whole variety of guitar styles and genres across a weekend, on the basis of 'if you like the guitar, why not try this?', with participation from professionals, students and amateurs. There is Blues from Eric Bibb, classical from the Aquarelle Guitar Quartet, Flamenco from Miguel Perez, and more. They are hoping people will bring their guitars, there are workshops for everything from flamenco to how to use a loop pedal. Some of the workshops are being given by students at Chetham's, whilst several Chetham's alumni are returning for the festival. This year's festival is far more participatory than last year, and plans are already being made for next year's event, whilst last year's festival had 80% of its attendees as first-time visitors to The Stoller Hall. And the festival helps to demonstrate how hall and school are very much integrated.
Sean Shibe performs at Manchester Guitar Festival May 2022 |
Fran has started working with Ensemble 360, who bring one of their family events as well as giving a public concert in the evening, thus linking the family programme with the main concert series. And next season, they have an emerging artists programme, working with performers just out of conservatoire, mezzo-soprano Phoebe Rayner, wind quintet Ensemble Renard, the Asaka Quartet, the Smoragaschord Collective, and harpist Helena Ricci. In a nice synergy, some of the Asaka Quartet's members are Chetham's alumni. This project doesn't just give the young artists somewhere to perform, it also provides advice on practical matters that go into running a musical career.
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Chetham's Symphony Orchestra, July 2022 |
The Stoller Hall replaced one of the school's old teaching buildings. In 2012, the school completed its capital project renewing the school estate, and the intention had always been to have a concert hall but initially there just wasn't the finance. Then an Oldham industrialist, Sir Norman Stoller, gave the money for the hall; an amazing act of generosity. And Sir Norman also contributed significantly to the Cathedral's new organ; the historic instrument was badly damaged in World War Two and had simply been patched up.
- 19-21 May 2023 - Manchester Guitar Festival - The Stoller Hall
- A full list of The Stoller Hall's concerts on their website
- 6 July 2023 - Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2, Harvey: Concerto Incantato, Walton: Belshazzar's Feast - Jamie Brown (piano), Anna Williams (recorder), Chetham's Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, St. George's Singers, Chetham's Alumni, Grant Llewellyn (conductor) - Bridgewater Hall
- A full list of Chetham's concerts on the school website
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