HUDDERSFIELD Philharmonic Orchestra has come a long way since they first formed 150 years ago.
And one of their fans will be coming a long way just to see the Philharmonic celebrate the milestone tomorrow.
Adrienne O’Leary, of Cleveland, Ohio, will fly in from American tomorrow to be in the audience for the concert for the Philharmonic with Huddersfield Choral Society.
Adrienne’s family first came into contact with music and Huddersfield in 1967 when her father, Rev Charles Ireland, became involved in a ministerial exchange programme.
He was linked with the Gledholt Methodist Church, exchanging with the Rev Leslie Thexton.
“During the exchange visit, we were overwhelmed by the kindness and hospitality of everyone we met in Huddersfield – church members not only inviting us into their homes for visits and tea, but driving us around Yorkshire to visit many historic places and to see the wonderful countryside,” Adrienne said.
And after finishing a teaching degree she relocated to teach at Mixenden Primary School in Halifax and found a home with Jack and Joyce Green and daughter Ruth, then a student at Crossley and Porter Grammar School who was studying cello. Ruth is now a member of the Philharmonic.
After returning to America Adrienne kept in touch with Yorkshire and during visits she attends concerts and church services at Gledholt Methodist Church.
On Saturday Adrienne will be in the audience along with Joyce Green, both of them no doubt hoping that Ruth’s early efforts on the cello have matured enough to make the Phil’s performance of Beethoven’s Choral Symphony and the world première of Arthur Butterworth’s Seventh Symphony a very special evening.
