Paula Jane Bradbury was born in Saddleworth. She studied Drama at Grange Arts Centre and Music at the Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Royal Northern College of Music. She currently studies with Honor Shepherd.

Paula has been a full time member of Welsh National Opera for 6 years where roles have included: Shepherd Boy (TOSCA), Il Paggio (RIGOLETTO, recorded for Teldec), Noemie (Cendrillon), 1st Cretan Woman (IDOMENEO) and 4th Minister, Lady of the Lake (DOCTOR OF MYDDFAI, recorded for Collins Classics), Pelleas and Melisande (Chatelet Theatre, Paris), Fidelio and Leonore (Champs-Elysee Theatre, Paris), La Favorita (Covent Garden and La Clemenza di Tito (Shaftesbury Theatre, London).

Concert work includes CREATION for Voices for Hospices (Salford Cathedral, Chester Cathedral and with the Northern Symphony Orchestra).

She also runs her own company, High Spirits Musical Promotions, which regularly organises musical events with professional artists from Welsh National Opera.

To the top of this page

A programme by aOrchestra String Quartet. Leader: Dara de Cogan

To the top of this page

Music for a Summer Afternoon by Pupils of Hulme Grammar School for Girls, Oldham, with solo instrumentalists. Arranged and accompanied by Ruth Dixon.

To the top of this page

Douglas Butters studied organ, first at St Mary's School of Music, Edinburgh and then at the Royal Northern College of Music.

He is the accompanist with the Oldham Choral Society, performing many of the major choral works and his skills on the keyboard are greatly admired.

He is also gaining a reputation as a Chorus Master and Conductor with other choral groups in Manchester.

To the top of this page

Music with a Victorian Flavour by the Hulme Singers and Soloists from Hulme Grammar School for Girls. Directed by Rosemary Broadbent.

To the top of this page

Saddleworth Writers are bringing out a second anthology "FURTHER BORDER LINES", to coincide with the 1999 Festival, and will be reading from their new book in an hour of words and music.

The "words" will be short stories from Louise Kirkwood, Mark Robberts, Marylin Heginbottom, Anne Parry, and Ellis Pollitt, poems by Mary Bradshaw, Judy Lund, Michael Dicks, Pat Whittaker and Mary Buckley, and contributions from dialect writer, Denis Clarke and Greenfield poet, Dennis Travis.

Pianists Judy Lund and Peter Mallinson - who are building a fine reputation as piano duettists - will provide the music.

With light-hearted thoughts on "The Local Scene", "Passions" and "The Future", there will be something for everyone.

Don't miss this one-off display of local talent.

To the top of this page

The Dobcross Youth Band is a brass band of 40 players aged between 9 and 17 years.

Formed in 1988 with a few village children it has now grown into a thriving organisation playing 50 to 60 engagements each year comprising of fundraising, contesting, social outings and supporting charities.

The band aims to provide an environment where young people can learn to play a brass instrument, improve their musical skills, perform successfully as a band and develop an understanding of discipline, self respect and teamwork.

Amongst their many contest successes, they were National Youth Junior Champions in 1996 & 1997 and Manchester and District Youth Champions in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

To the top of this page