There was something for everyone

On Friday May 20, St John’s church in Upper Hopton was well filled for a recital by Robert Sharpe, the musical director at York Minster.

The programme included Baroque music by John Stanley and JS Bach, classical pieces by Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky, with an arrangement of The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies raising a few smiles.

A few modern pieces meant there was something for everyone, all amiably introduced by Robert with amusing anecdotes about the pieces and explanations of instruments’ workings.

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The evening was made more of a soiree by the refreshments – more like a feast! – provided by Chris Breare, Linda Kilner and Diana Ryder.

The audience came from as far as Honley, Meltham and Rotherham to hear the recital and a profit of £262 was made, which covers the cost of last year’s repairs to some of the old organ pipes from 1894.

In May 2012, we will have Jonathan Bielby, organist emeritus at Wakefield Cathedral, coming to play once again.

Jonathan used to give recitals in Hopton in the 1980s organised by the Rev Ian Harrison.

OWEN RYDER

Sub-organist

St John’s Church

UPPER HOPTON