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Music - People and organisations
Given its rich tradition in music it's no surprise that the Kirklees area has and continues to attract and
develop talent who help make the region such a great place to make, study and enjoy music.
Mrs Susan Sunderland
Susan Sunderland (nee Sykes) was a famous soprano soloist, born in Brighouse near Huddersfield, in 1819. She was a
founder member of the Huddersfield Choral Society and in constant demand to sing throughout the West Riding of
Yorkshire and ultimately beyond. Her renown and accolade as 'The Yorkshire Queen of Song' followed a visit to
London to sing for Queen Victoria. The Queen is reputed to have told her "I may be the Queen of England, but you
are the Queen of Song". Susan also sang before Queen Victoria at the opening of Leeds Town Hall. An annual Mrs
Sunderland Music Competition is held in tribute each February in Huddersfield.
Huddersfield Choral Society
The world famous Huddersfield Choral Society was founded in 1836 by 16 local musicians who recruited its members
mainly from the mixed choirs of nonconformist churches. The society was an early pioneer of recording, starting in
1927 with Columbia Records, and has now appeared on over fifty releases. Two albums of hymns and carols, released
in 1985, have achieved sales of over one million copies, and the gold disks hang in Huddersfield Town Hall. Today's
choir consists of around 200 singers and enjoys a wide repertoire which includes concert opera, popular music and
contemporary works, as well as oratorio and religious music. The choir's busy schedule involves public concerts all
over the UK and abroad.
Orchestra of Opera North
The Orchestra of Opera North holds a unique place amongst British orchestras. Universally praised by audiences and
critics alike, the orchestra is the only ensemble in the country to have a year-round dual role in the opera house
and concert hall. The orchestra is the resident orchestra for the Kirklees Classical Concert season in Huddersfield
and Dewsbury Town Halls, in collaboration with Kirklees Council's Culture & Leisure Services.
Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra
A group of amateur musicians met in 1891 to found a 'philharmonic band'. In its 105-year history it has experienced
both triumph and disaster, but for some years now it has enjoyed uninterrupted success - recognised by the award of
the National Federation of Music Societies' Sir Charles Groves Prize in 1993 and a Performing Rights Society
Enterprise Award in 1991 and again in 1996.
Embrace
West Yorkshire rock band Embrace recorded their first album at Beaumont Street Studios in Huddersfield. The Good
Will Out went on to top the charts in 1998 and the band have since gone from strength to strength.
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Embrace's album "The Good Will Out" remains the biggest-selling album to be recorded at Beaumont Street's studios in Huddersfield - It sold 4.5m copies worldwide, 500,000 of them in the UK. The band left a lasting impression on the Studios, where they recorded their 1998 album Singer Danny McNamara literally left his mark on the studio - by scrawling Embrace `The Good Will Out' 97-98 under one of the desks.
What's it worth? - who knows? But it's doubtful Beaumont Street Studios would ever part with the reminder of the time that the Yorkshire band Embrace spent in the studio.
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