Wind instrument teacher Carol Baxter founded the Valley Flutes 25 years ago to give her pupils performance experience.
Today the group is still making music – although its membership has, inevitably, changed over the years.
To celebrate the anniversary, Carol is planning a reunion of players from the past quarter century so that they can enjoy each other’s company once again.
She’s hoping they will find their way to St Paul’s Church, Armitage Bridge, on Saturday, June 27, for an afternoon of music and refreshments.
“I’ve started drawing up a list of past members,” says Carol and so far I’ve got 50 names. There must have been 300 or more people through the group so I’ve got a long way to go. Anyone who was a member is welcome to join us. I’m very curious to find out what happened to them and where they are now.”
Carol is also hoping that the reunion might encourage former players to rejoin the Valley Flutes, which is no longer a children’s ensemble.
“We now have a junior group, a senior group and a sextet that plays at weddings and functions,” she explained. “We started with about 15 members and we now have 73, aged from nine to 60.”
The Valley Flutes was founded in June 1990 and rehearsed weekly in Wilshaw Village Hall. Today it meets in Deacon Close Community Centre, Meltham. At the time she started the group Carol worked for Kirklees Music Service and was conductor of the Holme Valley Junior Band. She wanted to offer young flautists - the backbone of the band - the chance to hone their skills. She was helped in the venture by her mum Marie, who still takes care of the group’s finances.
Carol herself plays a wide range of wind instruments and is a graduate of Huddersfield School of Music and Manchester University. She learned the flute at the age of 11, after an initial disappointment that her mum hadn’t bought her a clarinet. Today she plays flute, clarinet, saxophone and piccolo.
Now a reprographics technician at Honley High School, Carol also teaches private pupils as well as running her music groups.
Membership of Valley Flutes is made up of schoolchildren, young returners to the instrument and adults who simply enjoy playing. “We have people who played at school and have come back from university and want to join and some of our members now have their own children who are learning the flute,” said Carol.
The reunion, from 1 to 4pm, will include performances as well as refreshments and a chance to chat.
“It will be a chance for former members to see what we are doing now and how the group has moved on. It’s not just for kids any more,” said Carol.
Anyone who wants to know more about the group or get in touch can call Carol on 01484 852392.
The Valley Flutes are performing on Golcar Lily Day, tomorrow, at Scapegoat Hill Baptist Church from 11am until noon.
