A brief history of MMC, abridged and updated with thanks to the authors of the original article written for our 30th Anniversary Concert Programme:
1990s & 2000s
In 1994 King’s Music Centre was founded by Adrian Silcock (The Head of King’s School Macclesfield) in collaboration with Susan Brown (Music Administrator at King’s), with a small staff of skilled tutors. Adrian was a wonderfully supportive musician and The Music Centre, based at the King’s Girls’ site on Fence Avenue, filled a gap in the area to provide opportunities for young musicians to play together and experience the thrill of performing.
Ros Bevan started up the “Senior Orchestra” with some wonderfully talented 6th formers. As the orchestra evolved, student conductors from the RNCM were invited to lead, and Susan Brown passed the administration of the Music Centre to Ros.
The Macclesfield Junior Orchestra (founded by Fiona Collister) was also incorporated into the Music Centre, as well as the Big Band with Ronnie Darlington (Trumpet) and Roger Read (conductor). The Big Band continues to have great success and has performed on various public stages under the direction of Neil Shaw-Hulme, Simon Lodge and most recently Kyran Matthews (an MMC alumnus before going on to study at the RNCM).
The Centre’s name changed from King’s Music Centre to Macclesfield Music Centre (MMC) in 2003. This was aligned with the Music Centre achieving charity status, affirming the organisation’s independence and enabled a reduction in fees, making MMC more accessible to everyone.
2010s
Ros Bevan, after 19 years of championing music-making in Macclesfield, handed over the role of Musical Director to Nicola Bright in 2013. Nicola was equally enthusiastic about creating opportunities for music education and founded the Music Centre holiday courses in the summer of the same year. Nicola continues to direct and manage the summer courses, which are now attended by over 100 local musicians, and conducts the MMC Advanced Orchestra & Advanced Strings on a Saturday morning.
Collaborations with the Barnaby Festival have included A Young Persons’ Guide to the Orchestra in 2013 and The Planets: A Guide to the Orchestra in 2016, both organised by Angie Aiken. 2017 saw the fourth collaborative project with Barnaby - an interactive, family-friendly performance of Peter and the Wolf.
New opportunities came in 2015 when the Music Centre became a partner organisation to Love Music Trust (LMT), the local Cheshire East Music Hub. This gave the Centre access to wider networks, funding and instrument loans.
Angie Aiken took on the role of Musical Director in 2018. She was the driving force behind the memorable Silver Celebration concert in 2019. MMC members had the very exciting opportunity of performing at the RNCM in Manchester!
2020s
When in March 2020 MMC had to shut the doors due to Covid lockdown restrictions, it quickly became apparent that there was still an appetite for music-making. The Business Committee and tutors worked out a way of running groups online, and MMC carried on! Socially-distanced rehearsals in outside spaces across Macclesfield followed, as well as an online collaboration that saw members recording their own parts to “I wish I knew how it would feel to be free" by Nina Simone, which was then magically all put together by some very clever technicians to create a wonderful performance!
In September 2021, with MMC’s previous home being demolished when the King's School moved to their new site, the Centre needed to find a new Saturday morning venue. After 27 years at King’s, MMC moved into The Fallibroome Academy, warmly welcomed by the Performing Arts department, following initial introductions and generous support from Francis Power, the Headmaster. Face-to-face Saturday morning sessions returned, initially with Covid restrictions in place and over time moving back to a more "normal" setting for players and singers to meet.
In 2022, the Northern Chamber Orchestra chose MMC as their new community link organisation. Since then, the MMC programme has been enhanced with masterclass sessions, quartet performances, and tutor support for some groups, all provided by the Northern Chamber Orchestra. This has been both inspiring and encouraging for both organisations, allowing the sharing of good practice and linking together various musical activities.
Other memorable events over these years include MMC’s first Music Marathon in December 2021, with wonderful support from members and their families raising £2,000 for MMC during 12 hours of music making. The Advanced Groups Christmas Concerts and two Summer celebration events at Dean Valley Primary School have been a fantastic celebration of outstanding music making.
Our 30th Anniversary Year in 2024 was filled with extra events – a Saxtravaganza concert, a Big Band “Celebration of Jazz” and a celebratory Anniversary Concert held at the new King’s School in June.
As MMC headed into a 4th decade, Angie Aiken passed the Music Directorship back to Nicola Bright in 2025. Groups and classes continue to develop. There are plenty more events to look forward to – the NCO collaborations, Summer Courses, other special sessions such as the folk taster and group performances. Each term culminates in one of our regular events showcasing the breadth of music within the Centre:
- an Advanced Groups' Christmas Concert,
- a Easter Term open-Saturday performing opportunity for Beginner, Elementary & Intermediates,
- a Summer Celebration where all ensembles can share in a huge afternoon of music-making.
…it’s all about the music!
Thanks
It is worth a very special thank you to tutors who have been involved from the start. Ros Bevan (orchestra conductor 1994 – 1998 and Musical Director 1998 – 2013) led proceedings voluntarily for 19 years, delivering a passion for enabling communities to access quality music education. Sue Whitham has been a group tutor since the Centre opened in 1994. Her talent for writing parts that are “just right” for each individual, continues to enable players of all age and all abilities to come together to play each Saturday morning.
Thanks must also go to the Headmasters of King’s: the late Adrian Silcock, the founder of MMC; Stephen Coyne and Simon Hyde, who generously supported the Music Centre for so many years; as well as the current Head Jason Slack, who has maintained links with MMC via his role as Trustee.
Thanks also to Francis Power, the Headmaster of Fallibroome in 2021, for his determination to ensure the Music Centre continued to exist, as well as Karen Fey and the other staff in the Performing Arts department for their enthusiasm and collaboration since then.
Finally, a huge thank you to all the volunteers, tutors and sponsors who keep MMC running, and to all the wonderful members who all play a part in making the Centre such a joyous place to be on a Saturday morning.