Music Centre History

The Oldham Schools' Music Service began life in the 1960s with £100 and four brass instruments. A Music Organiser was appointed by the L.E.A. and a Music Centre was established in the College of Commerce in Oldham. Choral and brass music were the main features of those early days and gradually, string work and woodwind teaching followed.

In September 1968, the Music Centre transferred to an old Board School building on the outskirts of town and the work of the Centre developed until four distinct areas evolved, embracing Brass and Percussion, Woodwind, String and Choral disciplines.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Music Centre had the advantage of possessing its own building, albeit an old one with poor acoustics, which often made the timetabling of rehearsals a difficult exercise. Nevertheless, the work of the Music Service expanded and in 1989 the prestigious Lyceum Building, in the town centre was refurbished by the L.E.A. and became the new Oldham Music Centre and the base for the Music Service.

The work has expanded and now also includes class music, percussion, keyboard, world music, aural and theory classes, Musical Beginnings classes for pre-school children, Special Projects and a number of Wider Opportunity pilot projects.

Oldham was one of the first centres of the Industrial Revolution with cotton spinning and weaving as its main industries. During the middle years of the 19th century the Unitarians first conceived the idea of the Oldham Lyceum when, in 1839, an address was issued to the people of Oldham. This said: "...that whilst there are a number of institutions in other towns affording to various classes facilities for friendly intercourse, wholesome recreation and the cultivation of intelligence and refinement, the want of such institutions in this town has long been acknowledged."

The Lyceum

After that year a house was rented for the sum of £28 per annum and on April 1st, Easter Monday, 1839, The Lyceum opened its doors. By the end of the first quarter there were 576 names on roll. Available to the members were a library, a newsroom and a series of lectures on Physical Geography, Geography and Education, Microscope and Chemistry, Female Education and Botany. Instrumental music was introduced and there were soon 16 violinists and 3 'cellists. A larger building was commissioned and the "Foundation Stone Ceremony" of the present building took place on June 25th, 1855. Eventually the building was extended and comprised The Lyceum and The School of Science and Art. Music had always existed at the Lyceum and in 1892 a School of Music began with 39 students enrolled for the "theory and practice of music".

The Lyceum continued throughout the 20th century as a centre for the arts in Oldham and in 1986 the Metropolitan Borough Council was invited by the Directors and Trustees of the Lyceum to accept the building as a gift. The acceptance of the Lyceum Building by the Education Committee provided the opportunity to re-locate The Music Centre and 'further enhance the cultural activities of the town". Now the Music Service and Music Centre would be centrally placed in a prestigious building, categorised as a Grade 2 building by the Department of the Environment. The plans were accepted; extensive refurbishment and re-modelling began; and in 1989 the Oldham Metropolitan Borough Music Centre moved into its new "home".

The new building provided the staff and students of the Centre with excellent accommodation. The rear of the building has been totally remodelled to give pleasant waiting areas for staff, students and parents. On the ground floor there is a recital room for small ensembles/soloists to perform for an audience of up to 125. A harpsichord and Steinway grand are available for performances. Two large rehearsal rooms are also located on the ground floor as well as a staff room. The original foyer, complete with Victorian glass window and double staircase, leads to the upper floors where the main administrative suite and rehearsal hall are located. Extra rooms provide a further sixteen teaching studios, all fully carpeted and equipped with good quality pianos.

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Oldham Council, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham, OL1 1UT.
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