In September 1969, Chetham's, until then a boys' Grammar School, opened its doors for the first time as a specialist co-educational Music School. Forty years later, we celebrated the fact that Chetham's has established itself as a national and international institution with an enviable world-class reputation in music education. Today it is the largest Music School in the country.
In 2009 we celebrated forty dynamic years in the best way we know how - with music. We created a superb and exciting series of orchestral and choral concerts to mark the year and welcomed back a host of former students, many of whom are nationally and internationally recognised musicians, artists and teachers, to perform as soloists and conductors or to perform alongside our current students.
These former students included conductor David Hill, representing the first class of 1969, and the mezzo soprano Louise Winter; our first 40th Anniversary Concert at the Bridgewater Hall featured no fewer than six more outstanding ex-Chets performers.
In addition to these concerts, and over-arching the anniversary year, was the Piano Forty recital series given by five international pianists and recording artists, all former students of the school.
Our fundamental commitment to musical education continues as the pianists and Louise Winter will be giving masterclasses, all of which will be open to the public.
Please take your time to view the online version of the 40th Anniversary Souvenir Brochure and read some reminscences about the times that some of our former staff and students spent at Chets.
