Percussion and Bassoon Concert at Rochdale Parish Church

Preview by Steve Cooke

The final autumn lunchtime concert at Rochdale Parish church will feature Dan Nolan (Percussion) and Lauren Martin (Bassoon), Music graduates of the University of Manchester.

Dan is a percussionist and composer based in Manchester. He studied at the university of Manchester where he gained an undergraduate degree in music and masters in instrumental composition. He freelances around the northwest including Slaithwaite Philharmonic and Grimethorpe Collery Band and beyond with a range of ensembles as well as internationally at the Opera de Bauge festival. He has a particular interest in new music and improvisation and loves collaborating with composers and other artists to create new works. Outside of performing Dan works as a percussion tutor for Rochdale Music Service.

Lauren is Bassoonist, researcher, and teacher based in Manchester. After completing her undergraduate and masters at the University of Manchester, she studied performance in Los Angeles at the California institute of the arts. She is currently studying for PhD in contemporary Bassoon performance at Royal Holloway. She specialises in new music and improvisation and is currently working on a commissioning project as part of PhD research. She freelances across the country with a range of ensembles, including Paraorchestra where she has performed at the BBC proms, Bradford City of Culture, and the Southbank Centre. Beyond her performance work, Lauren is a teacher at Trafford Music Service where she teaches woodwind and guitar.

The Programme will include:

Evelyn Glennie - Little prayer

Joseph Fiala - duo concertante movement 1

John Steinmetz - Lament

Arr. Nolan - Three English folk songs

Gabriel Faure - Pavanne

Gene Koshinski - Get it!

Pay on door £6.00 entry including refreshments available from 11.30am

Concert commences at 12 noon

Saturday 1 November 2025

Rochdale Parish Church of St Chad, Sparrow Hill, Rochdale OL16 1AF

[On top of the hill overlooking Rochdale Town Centre, St Chad's was the mother church of the ancient parish of Rochdale and was founded before 1170, possibly on an Anglo-Saxon site. Much of the current building is the result of late Victorian restoration. It’s stunning architecture provides the perfect setting to experience music of the highest quality.]