Concerts 1982 - 1989
Musical Director Christopher Liddle
Christopher Liddle was appointed as Director of Music at St Olave’s Church and Musical Director for the Academy of St Olave’s in 1982.
As Director of Music, Chris continued to work with the orchestra’s founder-leader Robin Gilbert. Under Christopher Liddle’s leadership, the orchestra took part in the York Festival in 1984 and 1988 and also worked with the York Musical Society.

Sketch of St Olave’s Church from programmes in the 1980s and 1990s
The details of the early concerts of The Academy of St Olave’s are currently being researched and gaps will be filled when the information becomes available. Concerts in italics are waiting to be confirmed.
1989
SUMMER CONCERT
Saturday 8 July 1989, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- HANDEL: Concerto Grosso Op.6 No. 10
- MOZART: Concerto for Clarinet in A
Clarinet: Lesley Schatzberger - HAYDN: Symphony No. 103
SPRING CONCERT
Saturday 8 April 1989, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- CROFT: The Comedy Called The Funeral
- MOZART: Concerto in C for Flute and Harp K299
Flute: Sonja Davies, Harp: Honor Wright - BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 “The Eroica”
NEW YEAR CONCERT
Saturday 7 January 1989, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- GOUNOD: Petite Symphonie
- BRITTEN: Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op 31
Tenor: Paul Hindmarsh, Horn: Roger Montgomery - HAYDN: Symphony No. 92 in G major
1988
AUTUMN CONCERT
Saturday 17 September 1988, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- MOZART: Overture – The Magic Flute
- BACH: Suite No. 3 in D
- BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7
FESTIVAL CONCERT
Monday 20 June 1988, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- ROSSINI: Overture – The Silken Ladder
- MOZART: Sinfonia Concertante in E Flat K.364
Violin: Jonathan Sparey, Viola: Carolyn Sparey - HAYDN: Symphony No. 94 in G “The Surprise”
HAYDN: Creation
Saturday 14 May 1988
The Easingwold Singers
Easingwold Church
Conductor: Christopher Liddle
Soloists: Yvonne Seymour, David Croft, Graham Ellin
SPRING CONCERT
Saturday 26 March 1988, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- BEETHOVEN: Egmont Overture
- POULENC: Concerto for Organ, Timpani and Strings
Organ: John Scott-Whiteley - MENDELSSOHN: Symphony in A Major “The Italian”
TENTH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
Saturday 9 January 1988, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- HANDEL: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
- FINZI: Dies Natalis Soprano: Yvonne Seymour
- BACH: Concerto in C minor for Two Harpsichords
Harpsichords: Peter Seymour, Christopher Liddle - MOZART: Symphony No. 29 in A major K.201
1987
ST CECILIA’S DAY MORNING SERVICE
Sunday 22 November 1987, 10:30am
St Olave’s Church Choir
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle
- MOZART: Ave Verum
- MOZART: Epistle Sonata in F
- MOZART: Missa Brevis in C Spatzenmesse
AUTUMN CONCERT
– Farewell to Revd. Alan Heslop
Saturday 19 September 1987, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- HOLST: Saint Paul’s Suite Conductor: Robin Gilbert
- DELIUS: On Hearing the First Cuckoo
- VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Symphony No. 5
SUMMER CONCERT
Saturday 18 July 1987, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- FINZI: Romance for String Orchestra in E flat major Op 11
- MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major KV.219
Violin: Jonathan Sparey - HAYDN: Symphony No. 101 in D major “The Clock“
HANDEL: Messiah
Saturday 16 May 1987
Wheldrake Church
Conductor: Robin Gilbert
Soloists: Joanne Nattrass, Colin Wilson, Robert Wade, David Ward
In aid of Martin House Hospice
SPRING CONCERT
Saturday 21 March 1987, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- ROSSINI: Overture Signor Bruschino
- WEBER: Clarinet Concerto in F minor
Clarinet: Lesley Schatzberger - HAYDN: Symphony No. 82
WINTER CONCERT
Saturday 10 January 1987, 8:00pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- HANDEL: Overture – Berenice
- MOZART: Oboe Concerto in C major K.314
Oboe: Andrew Maries - HAYDN: Symphony No. 100 in G major
1986
AUTUMN CONCERT
Saturday 20 September 1986, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- BEETHOVEN: Coriolan Overture Op 62
- BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 in C minor Op 67
- MOZART: Symphony No. 40 in G minor KV 550
SUMMER CONCERT
Saturday 26 July 1986, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
Organ: Dr Francis Jackson
- BOCCHERINI: Minuet
- ELGAR: Serenade for Strings
- ALBINONI/GIAZOTTO: Adagio in G minor
- HANDEL: Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 11 in A major
- ARNE: Organ Concerto in B flat
- PUCCINI: I Crisantemi
- HANDEL: Organ Concerto in F
SPRING CONCERT
Sunday 16 March 1986, 7:30pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- HAYDN: Symphony No. 104 “London”
- HANDEL: Salve Regina
Soprano: Frances Brock - BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 2
WINTER CONCERT
Saturday 4 January 1986, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- HAYDN: Symphony No. 89 in F major
- VIVALDI: Concerto for Bassoon in A minor
Soloist: Christopher Small - SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 5 in B flat major D.485
1985
BACH: The Passion of Our Lord according to St Matthew
Palm Sunday 31 March 1985, 6pm
York Musical Society
St Olave’s Church, York
Conductor: Philip Moore
Academy of St Olave’s, Leader: Robin Gilbert
Christus: James Ashworth, Evangelist: Peter Hall
Soprano: Lynne Dawson, Mezzo Soprano: Angela Hartley
Bass: Christopher Underwood
Organ: John Scott Whiteley, Harpsichord: Christopher Liddle
A TERCENTENARY CONCERT
Friday 15 March 1985, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- HANDEL: Concerto Grosso Opus 6 No. 1
- BACH: Cantata No. 84 “Ich Bin Vergnügt”
Soprano: Kate Eckersley - BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3
- D SCARLATTI: Salve Regina
Soprano: Kate Eckersley - HANDEL: Concerto Grosso Opus 6 No. 10
AUTUMN CONCERT
Missing Information
SUMMER CONCERT
Missing Information
WINTER CONCERT
Missing Information
1984
FESTIVAL CONCERT
Monday 25 June 1984, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- HANDEL: Concerto Grosso in A minor Op. 6 No. 4
- IRELAND: Concertino Pastorale
- BACH: Suite No. 2 in B minor Flute: Sonja Davies
- BRITTEN: Simple Symphony
AUTUMN CONCERT
Missing Information
SPRING CONCERT
Missing Information
WINTER CONCERT
Missing Information
1983
AUTUMN CONCERT
Wednesday 21 September 1983, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- HANDEL: Overture to Parnasso in Festa
- MOZART: Piano Concerto in B flat K.595
Piano: Josephine Rayner - HAYDN: Symphony No. 83 in G minor “The Hen“
The piano used in this evening’s performance was built in 1828 by George Dettner. It was restored by Roy Knowles of Bolton Percy, who also rebuilt the harpsichord used in the Handel overture.
SUMMER CONCERT
Monday 18 July 1983, 8pm
St Olave’s Church, York
Director: Christopher Liddle, Leader: Robin Gilbert
- HAYDN: Symphony No. 73 in D major
- BARBER: Adagio for Strings
- HANDEL: Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 4
- SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 5 in B flat major