Conductor of Buxton Musical Society celebrates 50 golden years

Buxton Muscial Society's conductor Michael Williams has been at the helm for 50 years and a special gtolden anniversary concert is marking the occasion.

Michael is the musical director for the group and has been making music since 1967, having previously studied law at Oxford and then returned home to qualify as a solicitor.

This length of service is rare and Michael, who was born in Buxton, has seen great changes during his fifty-year tenure with the musical society, particularly in the standard of orchestral playing.

He said: “In the 1960s a group of local amateur players used to rehearse each Wednesday evening with variable results and when the concert day arrived more distinguished players would be brought in to improve the quality.

“These days the orchestra is an invited group of players, many of whom have pursued professional careers in music, and who are sufficiently proficient to turn up on the day for a single rehearsal followed by the performance.”

Michael first took the baton in 1967 when David Anson decided he would play the solo part of the Grieg Piano Concerto and therefore they needed someone to conduct it.

Since then he has conducted a wide repertoire of choral and orchestral music, including all Elgar’s major choral works, Verdi Requiem, the Bach Passions, Handel oratorios and many works from the classical period, Mozart and Haydn in particular.

Under Michael’s direction, the society performs five or six concerts per year at St John’s Church and at Buxton Opera House.

In recognition of his role in helping the restoration of the opera house and in supporting the town’s opera festival, he was appointed an MBE in 1997 for services to the arts in Buxton.

Michael has played the organ in church regularly since his school days and has been organist and choirmaster at St John’s Church in Buxton since 1985. He has directed festival masses with orchestra from the church during the Buxton Festival, which have been broadcast by the BBC since 1996.

The society is holding a golden anniversary event to mark Michael’s milestone year. The group will be performing The Kingdom by Edward Elgar on Sunday April 2 at St John’s Church at 7.30pm.

Michael said: “As well as the regular performers of the society, several choristers, players and soloists who I have worked with over the years have been invited back.”

Tickets for the concert cost £12 and are available from Buxton Opera House on 08451 272190 or at www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk, Reading Matters Bookshop, Market Street, Chapel-en-le-Frith, or on the door.