Northern School of Music summer course 1967 with some strong names such as Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the Northern School of Music), Dorothy Pilling (1910-1998, composer, student and teacher at the Northern School of Music, teacher at the Royal Northern College of Music, co-founder of the Rhythmic School of Music in Todmorden) and John Wilson (1940-present, Northern School of Music student, teacher, pianist) on the roster.

Ref: NSM/4

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 Léon Goossens (1897-1988, oboist) shares his insights with the Northern School of Music 1966 summer course cohort. Goossens came from an incredibly musical family with his father, brother and sisters all respected musicians in their own rights. One of the best oboists at the world during the middle of the 20th century, this was a real treat for the NSM students and staff.

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

Talk about star-studded. This programme for the Northern School of Music's 1965 summer course is riddled with future and contemporary celebs. First we have Louis Kentner (1905-1987, pianist), famous for performing Liszt and Chopin and started performing in concerts at just 15. His recitals must have been a knock out for the students and staff at the NSM. Then we have the amazing Alfreda Hodgson (1940-1992, Northern School of Music student, singer, orchestra soloist) who went on to give solo performances to pretty much all the major orchestras in the country, accompanied by John Wilson (1940-present, Northern School of Music student, teacher, pianist) who has become an extremely successful teacher and performer in his own right.

Ref: NSM/4

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

1963 programme of events for the Northern School of Music's summer course. This is one of the many summer courses featuring the famous Leonard Hirsch (1902-1995, violinist, teacher). He pioneered the idea of arranging concerts in air-raid shelters in WW2, he studied under the famous violinist Adolph Brodsky at the Royal Manchester College of Music and at 19 he joined the Hallé Orchestra, later becoming its leader and soloist. Pretty impressive guy!
In 1963 he was directing the summer's chamber music and orchestral course for the NSM.

Ref: NSM/4

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

1962 Northern School of Music summer course programme with speakers from all over the country.

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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 summer course for 1961 including talks on "Backstage at Covent Garden".

Ref: NSM/4

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

Programme for the Northern School of Music's summer course of 1960, including updates on the changes at GCE/GCSE level.

Ref: NSM/4

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

Letters between guest lecturers and Ida Gertrude Carroll (1905-1995, student and principal of the Northern School of Music) for the Northern School of Music's 1959 summer course. Amongst this year's visitors is Dr. Annie O. Warburton, Gordon Clinton, Bernard Shore, Geoffrey Tankard and Allan Wicks. A "galaxy of stars" indeed!

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

Warwick Braithwaite (1896-1971) was a composer from New Zealand who did lots of work in British opera. Well connected, he would have been the star attraction to the 1958 summer course at the Northern School of Music.
Any takers on what the "pitfalls as well as difficulties" of opera would be, that he talked about?

Ref: NSM/4

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

Some big names in the Northern School of Music's summer course for 1957. Clifford Curzon (1907-1982, pianist) was a good friend of the school and supported them often. Michael Kennedy (1926-2014, music critic), was a close friend of the Royal Manchester College of Music down the road from the school and wrote for the Telegraph. Dorothy Pilling (1910-1998, composer, student and teacher at the Northern School of Music, teacher at the Royal Northern College of Music, co-founder of the Rhythmic School of Music in Todmorden) was an influential woman and used Dalcroze Eurhythmics in her teachings.

Ref: NSM/4

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

Planning behind the Northern School of Music's summer course for 1956, including a letter to Gordon Clinton with a note announcing the death of Hilda Collens, and some notepaper planning the speakers including Kathleen Forster (alumna of the Royal Manchester College of Music and pupil of the famous violinist Adolph Brodsky).

Ref: NSM/4

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 jam-packed summer course for the Northern School of Music. Does anyone remember attending the holiday lessons?

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

End of term didn't mean end of teaching for the Northern School of Music. For many years, the school arranged summer courses in music and teaching, with some pretty big names delivering lectures including Stewart Macpherson (1865-1941, composer and educator), and Walter Carroll (1869-1955, father of Ida Carroll, teacher, composer and music education professional).

Anyone else intrigued by the recommended reading? "The Differentiation of Curricula between the sexes in Secondary Schools" by the Department for Education, with its "remarkable chapter upon the value of Art and Music in Education"?

Ref: NSM/3

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

Seriously though, is there anything you *weren't* expected to learn as part of the Graduate Northern School of Music programme??

Ref: NSM/3
Dates are approximate

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

Years after her death, the Northern School of Music still honours its founder Hilda Collens on its syllabus.

Ref: NSM/3

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

According to these syllabi, as a graduate of the Northern School of Music's Associate Diploma of Music Education in Schools programme, you had to learn the piano, had to learn sight-singing and had to learn your music history. As well as a whole bunch of other things!

Ref: NSM/3
Dates are approximate

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 offered a pretty holistic programme of study. With their special course in elocution, you could learn a foreign language, English literature, rhythmic movement and all sorts as well as music and music teaching.

Ref: NSM/3
Date is approximate

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

I like how even after at least 25 years since the school changed its name and even whilst acknowledging the forthcoming merger with the Royal Manchester College of Music to form the RNCM, it still recognises its beginnings as "formerly known as Matthay School of Music, Manchester Branch" on its prospectus. It appears to always look towards to its roots as well as manage its future.

Ref: NSM/2

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

This prospectus for the Northern School of Music has a different cover than other of its time. Most are NSM green but this a silver-grey. Could it be different to mark it's golden anniversary (gold binding is pretty hard to come by!)? Could it be simply a case that the printers ran out of NSM green? Could it be a mix up? Who knows!

Ref: NSM/2
Date is approximate

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

This prospectus for the Northern School of Music has some heavy annotations on the staff list page - anyone make out what it all means? Could be notes for writing up the 1968 prospectus?

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

This amazing staged production is a total mystery. Students of the Northern School of Music (1920-1972, music teacher training school, founded as the Matthay School of Music’s Manchester Branch, incorporated as the Northern School of Music in 1943) wearing fabulous costumes and and orchestra working really hard must have been a show to remember. But we have no idea what it is! Or who any of the performers are.

Do you? Please share with us in the comments.

Ref: NSM/13/26

Uploaded as part of the #ExploreYourArchive campaign 2019 #MysteriousArchives

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

This journey of ditties for piano is a series called "Sea Idylls", written by Walter Carroll (1869-1955, father of Ida Carroll, teacher, composer and music education professional).

Ref: Carroll/WC/10/2/7
Ownership of Ida Carroll Trust

Uploaded as part of the #ExploreYourArchive campaign 2019 #ArchivesAtSea

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 draft prospectus of the Northern School of Music. What do you think of its rules? "All full time students must obtain the school scarf." Well, it is Manchester so a little weather protection is sensible.

Ref: NSM/2
Date is approximate

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 prospectus of the Northern School of Music. Unbound it looks rather naked!

Ref: NSM/2
Date is approximate

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