We hold about 25 concerts (mainly classical) each year at Holy Trinity Church in the middle of Warrington. These are normally between 1:45 and 2:30 on Saturdays and attended by about 50 to 90 people. Whilst the concerts are free they are funded by donations received through voluntary retiring collections.
We enjoyed the Outstanding Young Pianists – Sam Lord, Melody Zhao and Natalia Mei playing a superb selection of music to celebrate yet another milestone concert. At the end, Sam played ‘Happy Birthday’ and we learned that it was Melody’s 16th birthday today.
We also learned that Helen (who holds the donations basket after our concerts) has attended all 550 concerts.
Thank you to Alan (who takes photographs for us) for presenting us with this 3D printed embossed plaque.
Finally, thank you to the Committee who ensure that our concert programme is of a consistently high standard and that our audience receives a warm welcome to the concerts.
Northerly Winds Emily Doan – Flute, Emily Crichton – Oboe, Michael Arnold – Horn, Jon Jones – Bassoon, Beth Nichol – Clarinet, Tamsin Holding – Piano
Programme
Gordon Jacob Sextet in B Flat Major, Op 6 I. Elegiac Prelude ii. Scherzo iii. Cortege iv. Menuetto v. Rondo with Epilogue
Francis Poulenc Sextet in C Major, FP 100 i. Allegro vivace ii. Divertissement (Andantino) iii. Finale Prestissimo
Biography
Northerly Winds, a talented quintet formed from top freelance musicians in the North West, has gained significant recognition for their performances at various prominent venues, including the Anthony Burgess Foundation and Sheffield Cathedral. Each member has studied and graduated from one of the UK’s top conservatories, such as Royal Northern College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and each brings extensive orchestral experience from the Halle Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Manchester Concert Orchestra, English National Ballet, London Concert Orchestra and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
The love of music, and in particular chamber music, brought them together and they are also committed to outreach and education, participating in workshops and performances at local schools and collaborating with mental health charities.
Tamsin Holding is a pianist, organist, teacher and choral director based in York and the East Riding. She has been an organist since the age of twelve, and has worked as a professional accompanist across the region for over fifteen years. She serves as principal accompanist for the WMA summer school and directs the Barmby Moor Community Choir for which she also composes. Tamsin performs solo and chamber music often for charity including a series of concerts raising funds for Ukraine relief, featuring the music of Ukrainian composers. She has been performing with Northerly Winds since 2024.
This is the last concert in the current series – we hope you have enjoyed it and we look forward to welcoming you back to Holy Trinity on 25th April 2026 for the first concert in our new series when we will welcome pianist Dominic Downs.
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Outstanding Young Pianists Sam Lord, Melody Zhao and Natalia Mei
“Celebrating our 550th Concert”
Programme
Sam Lord Beethoven Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a “Les Adieux” 1st Mvt. Liszt Transcendental Étude No.8, “Wilde Jagd” (Wild Hunt)
Melody Zhao Debussy Reflets dans L’eau (reflections in the water) Images, Book 1 Prokofiev Piano Sonatas Nos. 2 & 4 in D Minor, Op. 14
Natalia Mei Chopin Nocturne in D-flat major, Op.27, No.2 Say Paganini Jazz, Op. 5c
Biographies
Sam Lord Sam is 15 years old and is in year 11 at Chetham’s School of Music, he has been there since year 8. He has been playing the piano since he was 7 years old. He first played at Rochdale Festival and got 100/100 marks. Sam entered the International Paderewski Competition in June 2025 and got 2nd prize in his class. He has also played at festivals in Ramsbottom, Hazel Grove and Blackburn winning classes in each. Sam has also played in multiple lunchtime concerts at school and concerts in Manchester Cathedral. He has played in two previous concerts in Warrington.
Melody Zhao Melody is 16 years old and started playing the piano when she was 6 years old. She is in her fourth year at Chetham’s School of Music where she is a pupil of Mr. Simon Bottomley. Melody has won prizes in several local music festivals and was a finalist in the EPTA piano competition in Belgium. Melody recently passed her LTCL diploma with a high distinction.
Natalia Mei Based in Poynton, Natalia has been playing the piano since the age of five. She joined Chetham’s School of Music for primary school, where she studied with Mr. Simon Bottomley, whose guidance remains central to her musical development. Alongside her academic studies, now at Withington Girls’ School, Natalia has won multiple awards at the Hazel Grove Musical Festival and won the North-West EPTA UK Finals. In Year 9, she earned a Distinction in her ATCL Diploma and recently passed her LTCL Diploma with distinction. Now in year 12, Natalia hopes to study Mathematics at University. She looks forward to continuing her musical studies alongside her future degree, carrying forward the passion for music that first took root at Chetham’s.
Next week is the last concert in the current series and features the Northerly Winds Quintet plus piano.
WACIDOM is a voluntary run music society and charity that holds free lunchtime concerts on Saturday afternoons at Holy Trinity Church in Warrington Town Centre. All our concerts are funded by donations.
Our main aim is to offer opportunities to young student musicians, most often from the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham’s School of Music, but sometimes further afield. We also support musicians at the start of their careers as they build repertoire, confidence and platform skills.
In 2024 we celebrated our 500th free concert which was played by Patron, Leon McCawley and Patron, Sir Stephen Hough kindly offered to play a December concert, to bring our celebratory year to a close.
Sir Stephen asked that donations were to go to WACIDOM to support our work with young and aspiring musicians. He was there once!
We prepared this website in time for the start of our February 2024 concert series and hope that you are finding it useful. Explore the Main Menu bar at the top of this page to see what it offers. This Home Page has information about the next concert and any ‘latest news’.
To see our current programme either go to the Main Menu and select Concerts then Programme or click Current Programme. Clicking blue, underlined text will take you directly to that item without having to navigate the Main Menu.
You may find the ‘Links’ menu items useful, this will take you to other local music related sites.
