Again, we don't actually know who this is! Do you know of any euphonium players that came from the Northern School of Music. Could this be them?

Ref: NSM/13/28
Credit: Manchester Evening News

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

In very lovely suits, these 6 students belonged to the Northern School of Music. A wind quintet, piano and rather charming lamp, we don't know much else about them. Not even names or dates. Do you recognise any of the faces?

Ref: NSM/13/27

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Sadly we don't know much about these photos! We know it is a Northern School of Music opera and that it is in the Lesser Free Trade Hall likely sometime in the late 1950s or 1960s. If you recognise the performers, please do let us know. Any little info helps!

Ref: NSM/13/26

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

One of the final public concerts of the Northern School of Music before it merged with the Royal Manchester College of Music to become the Royal Northern College of Music. This is the school's orchestra and choir performing Verdi's Requiem on the Free Trade Hall stage.
Who remembers performing or seeing concerts on this stage? Do you remember the school?

Ref: NSM/13/25

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Another packed stage at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, this time with the Northern School of Music choir performing works from Bruckner and Walton. It is apparently also the orchestra of the school as well! Who remembers this performance?

Pic by Emil Schlesinger

Ref: NSM/13/24

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The famous performance of the Northern School of Music choir with the Hallé Orchestra of Verdi's Otello, conducted by John Barbirolli. We have lots of memories of this performance from NSM alumni, most in awe of Barbirolli's musicianship. The performance was in the Free Trade Hall on a very packed stage!

Ref: NSM/13/23

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Northern School of Music cast and orchestra of Thomas' opera Mignon in 1957 at the Lesser Free Trade Hall. Staff, students and alumni contributed to these performances. As one alumni said "Once you left the school, you were never really finished with it."

Ref: NSM/13/21

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Northern School of Music cast of L'Elisir d'Amore here looking thoroughly scandalised.
Do you remember the school? Or any of its students?

Ref: NSM/13/20

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Northern School of Music cast of L'Elisir d'Amore opera.
Is this a sort of secret soliloquy solo or is everyone just refusing to pay attention to the guy in the wonderful trousers?

Were you there? Did you perform? Let us know what it was like!

Ref: NSM/13/19

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Northern School of Music cast of L'Elisir d'Amore having a gay old time with what I hope is an empty prop. Surely.

Ref: NSM/13/18

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Please welcome the cast of L'Elisir d'Amore! This Donizetti opera was performed by the Northern School of Music at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in 1959. The story is about unrequited love, class divides and a weird love potion that honestly has consent issues written all over it. Looking very civilised here, it is sure to hurtle into chaos.

Ref: NSM/13/17

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Beryl Cook here as the eternally hopeful Siébel in the Northern School of Music's production of the opera Faust in 1964. I am loving the crushed velvet costume.

Ref: NSM/13/16

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Peter Walker as a strapping Valentin from the 1964 production of Faust by the Northern School of Music. Do you remember the performance? We'd love to hear from you!

Ref: NSM/13/15

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A backstage brew at the Northern School of Music's 1964 production of Faust. We can spot Marie Cunningham, Teresa Fitzsimons, Joan Aubin but do you know who the other face is? We'd love to know!

Ref: NSM/13/13

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ian Comboy here as an absolutely devilish Mephistopheles in the Northern School of Music's 1964 production of Faust. Fantastic makeup!

Ref: NSM/13/13

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A very dandy handy crew of Peter Walker, Irene Smyth and Teresa Fitzsimons with unnamed pal, backstage in the Northern School of Music's 1964 production of Faust.

Do you recognise the unnamed pal? Let us know your thoughts!


Ref: NSM/13/12

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A gorgeous backstage photograph of Alison Hargan as Marguerite in the Northern School of Music's production of the opera Faust in 1964.


Ref: NSM/13/11

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Suzanne Doyle, a dancer in the Northern School of Music's production of Faust from 1964. A lovely backstage posing in beautiful costume.

Ref: NSM/13/10

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A backstage Martha in the Northern School of Music's production of Faust.
Do you remember the performance? Tell us all about it!


Ref: NSM/13/9

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Who remembers the gorgeous triumph of the Northern School of Music's production of Gounod's opera Faust in 1964? Striding to the front of the stage is Beryl Cook as the honourable Siébel.

Ref: NSM/13/8

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The cast of Everyman, a morality play, performed by the Northern School of Music in 1961. Yes, as well as orchestras and operas, students could also take Speech and Drama lessons and perform plays and all sorts!

I am absolutely loving the Terry Pratchet-esque Death in the back.

Ref: NSM/13/7

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A close up of the cast with absolutely gorgeous costumes.

Ref: NSM/13/6

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A lavish production of a lavish opera, the Northern School of Music have pulled out all the stops for Mozart's The Magic Flute, 1956.

It's absolutely delightful to be able to see the orchestra at the same time as the singers, usually they're lurking underneath the stage in the bigger concerts. Although I imagine there were fewer orchestra pit shenanigans because of it.

Ref: NSM/13/6

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Northern School of Music's 1956 production of Nicolai's Merry Wives of Windsor, based on Shakespeare's "most excellent and conceited comedy" of the same name.
I am loving the jolly costume of the chap on the far right of the stage.

Ref: NSM/13/5

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.