Nick Concannon Hodges has been the conductor of Burnley Municipal Choir and Orchestra since 2007 but will shortly be stepping aside to concentrate on increased professional and family commitments.
The choir has performed many concerts with Nick over the last 5 years, ranging from Bruckner’s Te Deum to Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man but their performance of Handel’s Messiah on 31st March 2012 will be the last one under his baton. This should prove to be a magnificent musical evening with soloists Helen Latham (soprano), Heather Lupton (alto), Richard Dowling (tenor) and John Powell (bass).
In addition to his work in Burnley, Nick was the musical director of the Congleton Choral Society, conducts the Todmorden orchestra and is guest conductor with the orchestra of Square Chapel, Halifax as well as being orchestral conductor of the Pennine Spring Music Festival. Before moving to Manchester, he conducted orchestras in various venues throughout Europe.
Both choir and orchestra will be sad to see him go, but wish him the very best for the future.
Burnley Municipal choir (BMC) is proud to welcome Peter Morrison as its new choirmaster. Peter, a past student of Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and past organ scholar at Liverpool’s R.C. Cathedral, is an accomplished musician and has himself performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the North, including York Minster. Choirs have always played a major part of his life, both as conductor and accompanist and Peter is already schooling BMC with enthusiasm and expertise in learning works for their forthcoming concert on 3rd December 2011 at St Peters Church, Church Street, Burnley. The choir will continue to be led at concerts by their established conductor, Nick Concannon
Hodges, and will be accompanied as formerly by the Burnley Municipal Orchestra. However, both choir and orchestra intend holding future performances at St Peters Church rather than at Burnley Mechanics as in the past. They will continue to sing with excellent soloists from Royal Northern College of Music as well as established international and local singers.