Manchester Girls Choir sing out for Delia

Manchester Girls Choir will raise their voices in celebration this Christmas at a concert to mark the 40 years that Delia Maunder has been associated with them.

The choir is one of many musical opportunities provided for young people by Manchester Music Service and Delia, from Sale, became the choir's conductor almost from the start - and has been its director for the past 20 years.

The Christmas concert in her honour is being held at St. Ann's church in the centre of Manchester on Saturday, 15 December (7-9pm, organist Gary Hulme.)

Delia is former head of music at Brookway High School in Wythenshawe, and now works part-time for Manchester Music Service teaching singing to GCSE and A Level students, and directing the Manchester Girls Choir.

Delia said: "I simply thought I was planning a normal Christmas concert until I got a phone call from Sue Berry - the Acting Head of Music at Manchester Music Service - to say the concert was being held in my honour. I'm absolutely delighted, though."

The repertoire will consist of carols with Delia conducting most of the concert.

From a musical Blackpool family, Delia, a soprano, is a former student of the Royal Manchester College, now the Royal Northern College of Music, where her sister is senior vocal tutor.

Her favourite piece of music - sung by the choir at the weddings of choir members as a tradition - is the 16th Century composition, Regina Coeli. They once sang it for a vineyard owner in a cellar in California - his reaction: "Awesome."

She says: "Arthur Rooke, who was a music advisor in north Manchester for the council, started the choir 46 years ago because there was nothing for girls to do musically after leaving school. It was to give them an interest. Now there are so many things to do and most of our girls are involved in other things as well as the choir, like drama groups. They live very full lives."

The choir - now regarded as the longest established girls choir in the UK - is divided into three sections: the junior singers up to age 11; the main girls choir aged 11 to 19; and the ladies choir. All three groups will sing together at the Christmas concert.

The Executive Member for Children's Services on Manchester City Council, Councillor Sheila Newman, said: "We are delighted to honour Delia in this way. She continues to be a key player in Manchester's musical life and successes, and I know the choir will sing its heart out for her on the night."

Media contacts:

Dave Hulme, tel: 0161 234 4610

Jane Lemon, tel: 0161 234 3179