Inaugural Concert
This photograph suggests that St Olave's was not a warm rehearsal environment in the depths of winter! Nothing has changed; and the organ is again about to have extensive work done: plus ça change, plus la même chose.
By the time funds had been raised The Academy of St Olave's
was
sufficiently well-established in the musical calendar of York for it to
continue to give concerts. After Charles Macdonald moved from
York in the early 1980s his successor, Chris Liddle continued with the
orchestra, occasionally adding wind players as and when needed, a
practice which further developed when Andrew Wright became Musical
Director. By the time John Hastie, the present Director, was
appointed in 1997 the Academy had become a chamber orchestra and it
adopted the policy of playing for the Solemn Requiem Mass on
Remembrance Sunday offering the Requiem settings by Fauré
and Duruflé on alternate years.
Charles
McDonald (harpsichord) and Robin Gilbert (leader) and some of the Academy’s
violinists rehearsing in St Olave’s Church on 31st December 1977 in
preparation for the first concert on 8th January 1978.