About us
Welcome . . .
We’re the best remaining Opera company in the city run for and by non-professional singers
Midland Music Makers is a friendly and exciting company whose passion is staging orchestrated and costumed opera in English.We’re now the best company around with whom you can take part in a full chorus and cast of non-professional singers, actors, technicians and dancers. The main opera each year is supported by a professional group of players, and is fully costumed and staged.
We’re an exciting group to belong to, and all new members are warmly welcomed. Call 07971 676 060
We aim to make Opera accessible to both performers and audiences in and around Birmingham by performing in English, and in smaller theatre environments. We keep ticket prices as low as we can. And there are parking offers to make travelling to the citty by car more affordable, too.
In 2006 and 2007 we will be supporting Marie Curie Cancer Care at all of our events with collections, raffles and publicity.We draw members from all around the West Midlands. And we welcome all singers and actors ranging from keen amateurs looking for a fun outlet, right through to those aspiring to a career in Opera. A few members are semi-professional, and many belong to other societies too. Ranging in age from 19 to sixtysomething, we pride ourselves on giving opportunities to those who have the talent and potential.
The company has been performing opera for some sixty years! MMM began as ‘The Gooch Street Choir’ headed up by Arthur Street, our well-known and loved President. Arthur’s passion for opera soon saw his choir taking to the stage and, to the amazement of many of the professional companes and critics, he both produced AND directed the operas, getting critical acclaim from national music press, and entries in hard-back publications about Opera. We moved on to ever more challenging and unusual pieces, creating English translations of some, and putting some on stage for the first time in the UK. Arthur’s wife, Kath, even made costumes, and everyone pitched in through the post-war years, when staging an opera was seen to be far out of the reach of ‘normal’ societies.
Since May 2005, the company has been headed by new Chair team, Malcolm Oakes and Lorraine Payne (seen above at Artsfest) both singers with MMM for around twelve years apiece. There are more members joining on a regular basis, and the future looks bright for this amazing little company.
New singers will be made very welcome to join us for another memorable and historic production.
Email us: info@midlandmusicmakers.org