AN ORCHESTRA will continue to hit the right notes to carry on the legacy of its founder who passed away earlier this year.

Founder and musical director Alan Free set about creating the St Helens Sinfonietta, composed of professional musicians, 22 years ago.

Alan, from Newton-le-Willows, passed away on Sunday, April 7 this year leading to a flurry of tributes being paid to him.

And the St Helens Sinfonietta has vowed to carry on and continue the legacy which Alan built as he "would have wished".

Its next performance takes place at St Helens town hall later this month, with the orchestra already planning for 2020.

"It hasn’t ever been easy," said Joyce Clavering, of the St Helens Sinfonietta.

"Getting together a suitable group of skilled musicians is one thing. Organising finance, venues, publicity, tickets and an audience is another. The musicians are paid, but the organisation is a charity run by amateurs.

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"Alan Free was always the lynchpin, the driving force. His determination persuaded some amazing people to join the effort to bring beautiful music to local people.

"For more than 21 years Alan was the keystone, the heart and soul of the Sinfonietta, even through illness. His sudden tragic death in April this year hit everyone like a bombshell and raised huge questions about the future of the Sinfonietta."

However, with a programme already planned, the orchestra has gone ahead despite what it describes as a minor panic or two, and planning for 2020 is well under way.

The St Helens Sinfonietta will give its next performance on Saturday, September 28 from 7.30pm at St Helens town hall.

In Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni’ overture listeners can hear Don Juan meeting his hellish deserts while Mendelssohn’s ‘Hebrides Overture’ (Fingal’s Cave) will transport people to the wild waters round Staffa, in a full-blown storm.

Dewi Tudor Jones will weave lyrical violin magic in Bach’s Violin Concerto in A Minor.

St Helens Star:

Dewi Tudor Jones Pic: Gavin Wallace

"After a break for refreshments, the augmented orchestra will be back to play Beethoven’s glorious Seventh Symphony in A major, which has more dance rhythms than any heat of Strictly," added Joyce.

"Bill Connor will be in charge of the conductor’s baton, you may remember him as the wizard who led the schoolchildren in the St Helens 150th Anniversary celebration in March last year. Our new Musical Director, Jay Hall, will making his full debut in 2020."

  • Cost is £15 (£1 for accompanied under-16s) and people can enjoy a rich feast of tunes and harmonies that have delighted people for centuries. To buy tickets call 01744 600846 or 07914 114635. See sthelenssinfonietta.co.uk for more.