Abney Orchestra

12/04/2026

Just under a week to go until our spring concert at Mossley Community Centre. It would be great to see you there!

23/03/2026

Great news to mark the start of spring 🌷⛅️🐣

Abney Community Orchestra will be teaming up with Mossley Community Centre to bring you a spectacular spring concert. 🤝

Save the date! Details below ⬇️

22/02/2026

Things have been a bit quiet on here while we've been making plans for the coming year. Watch this space for more exciting events in 2026!

In the meantime, it's been a while since we did a 'Meet our Members' post, so I'm going to step out of the shadows and introduce myself today!

I'm Kirsty and I play with the first violins. I played up to grade 4 at school and then picked it up again in 2017 after a twenty-year break.

I moved to the Mossley area in 2017 and was extremely lucky to find Abney Orchestra just a mile from home. Despite being very rusty when I joined, I was made to feel welcome and encouraged to play what I could (something that is still the case when pieces get too fast or far up the ledger lines 😅). It's a really enjoyable way to spend a Friday evening with some wonderful people who are like an extended family.

The pieces I've enjoyed playing most so far are The Greatest Showman, The Lady Gaga Dance Mix and some of the Queen pieces. I've also enjoyed the challenge of working on trickier classical pieces like Mars and Jupiter from Holst's Planet Suite.

There are many musicians that I admire, but I think that Nicola Benedetti has to be one of my favourite contemporary violinists. 🎻

In terms of concerts, I have to admit that most of the concerts I've been to have been rock and indie concerts and the best group I've seen recently was James in Alicante last summer. They have an amazing violinist and I'd 'only' been waiting 30 years to see them. Well worth the wait!

If you're looking for a friendly local orchestra, look no further! Drop us a line via FB Messenger or [email protected] for more information.

(Photo of me not looking at all tense whilst trying to control the bow shakes during our annual solos concert 😅)

16/01/2026

Morning! It's set to be a great play day tomorrow.

Just a reminder to all participants to please bring a stand and some lunch. There are also cafés, a chip shop and a supermarket nearby. Tea and coffee will be provided.

Doors open at 9.30 a.m. for set-up and again at 3.15 p.m. for friends and family to watch the final performance.

Unfortunately, I can't make it in the end 😭 but I'm looking forward to hearing all about it.

07/01/2026

Happy New Year! Hope it's a fabulous one for all.

Here at Abney, we're planning on getting 2026 off to a great start with our play day. Just over a week to go!

It's not too late if you'd like to join us. Just drop us a line by this weekend and we'll secure your spot. Details below ⬇️

21/12/2025

You’ve been busy getting your Christmas shopping, finding the perfect gifts for your friends and family, but have you thought about yourself? 🤔

Why not treat yourself to a day away from it all, playing some fantastic music in great company? 🎷

Spaces are still available for our upcoming play day in January. Give yourself the gift of music and contact us today. Details on the poster below ⬇️

14/12/2025

Another two brilliant busking sessions at Nottcutts garden centre this weekend. Thanks to all who stopped to listen and dropped some coins in our buckets. 🪣

Your donations help to keep music alive in our community and are very much appreciated. ❤️

If you missed us, you can still catch us next Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 3. 🎶

Have a wonderful week!

12/12/2025

📢 UPCOMING EVENT! We're delighted to announce our upcoming play day for adult musicians.

🎺 Come and blow, bow, drum or strum away those January blues!

Details on the poster below ⬇️

Please specify your instrument and level when you contact us to secure your spot.
Beginner, grade 1 to 3 and grade 4 to 5 parts are available.

09/12/2025

It was another busy weekend for Abney with busking on Saturday and two full orchestra performances on Sunday. 🎻

On Sunday morning we had the pleasure of playing at Mossley Community Centre as part of their fabulous Christmas Tree Festival and on Sunday afternoon we performed with the extremely talented Grace's Darlings at Mossley Methodist Church. 🎄
(Photos courtesy of Mossley Community Centre)

Thank you to all who came to see us. We hope you enjoyed it and wish you a wonderful Christmas and New Year! ✨

In the meantime, if you play an instrument, watch this space for information on an upcoming play day 🧐

06/12/2025

🎅If it's not down in your diary already, don't forget that we'll be playing at Mossley Methodist Church tomorrow afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m., supported by the wonderful Grace's Darlings and with a couple of other guest appearances. ✨

You also have the chance to win some fab goodies in the Christmas raffle in the interval 🍀

Looking forward to seeing you there!

28/11/2025

🎄Upcoming events🎄

✨This coming weekend marks the start of our Christmas busking sessions at Nottcutts Garden Centre (Lord Sheldon Way, Ashton-Under-Lyne, OL6 7UB). Listen out for us bringing some extra festive cheer on the following dates from 1 to 3 p.m.:

Saturday 29th of November
Sunday 30th of November
Saturday 6th of December
Saturday 13th of December
Sunday 14th of December
Saturday 20th of December
Sunday 21st of December

✨On Sunday 7th of December we will be playing at Mossley Community Centre (Roughtown Road, Mossley, OL5 0SG) from 11 to 12 a.m. as part of their three-day Christmas Tree Festival.

✨And on the afternoon of Sunday 7th of December we of course have our Christmas concert at Mossley Methodist Church. I'm pleased to announce that we will be joined by the fabulous Grace's Darlings https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553122613060&sk=about
and will have some fantastic raffle prizes lined up for you.

Hope to see you soon!

Grace’s Darlings are a trio of experienced musicians from a variety of backgrounds, combining to form a folk group which captivates audiences with their original songs and tunes, and unique arrangements of pieces from the folk tradition.