Contact us
Please feel free to email us at
Or leave a comment here on the website, wherever you like…
or become a ‘friend of phil’ by completing the form on the left.
Subscription & Ticket Secretary:
Chris Leyland, 23 Lane Ings, Marsden, Huddersfield, HD7 6JP
Tel: 01484 844883
Publicity Officer:
Ruth Holmes, 16 Low Town, Kirkburton, Huddersfield, HD8 0SD
Tel: 01484 603202
Registered Office:
280 Halifax Old Road, Grimscar, Huddersfield, HD2 2SP.
2010-2011 Committee
President: Peter Lewis
Honorary Life Vice-President: Stuart Sandys
General Secretary: Chris Leyland
Treasurer & Company Secretary: Alastair Cridland
Ticket and Subscriber Secretary: Chris Leyland
Leader: Mary Barber
Orchestra Organiser: Nick Barber
Concert Co-ordinator: David Robinson
Membership Secretary: Bart Naughton
Publicity: Ruth Holmes
Librarian: Ben Lawrence
Players Representatives: Bart Naughton, Bob Shaw, Judith Stones


In reply to Roger Collinson on people looking bored at concerts I can only say that they no little or nothing of music. It is a good thing when you go to a concert not only to listen to the music, but also watch the performers, how they react to the conductor and their own body language. I am lucky because one of my favourite string instruments is the cello, although I don’t play the instrument. At a concert you get a good view of all the action. Remember as well the hours and hours of practice that has to be put in.
We would like to thank everyone for the wonderful, bright and uplifting performance at Sundays “Movie Music Spectacular”. Spectacular indeed.
I am researching my family history in West Yorkshire and wonder if Bart Naughton can tell me if he is a descendant of Frances and Bridget Naughton who were “Famine exiles”from Roscommon and settled in Huddersfield in 1849. My GGG Grandad was Michael Naughton who I believe was Frances ‘brother. Our branch of the Naughtons settled in the Batley/Dewsbury area, though I emigrated to Australia 25 years ago.
Kind regards
Maire Naughton
It was such a pleasure to be able to hear The Phil’s St George’s Day concert – all top quality English music performed with tremendous skill and enthusiasm. The ‘lollipops’ in the first half deserved a far larger audience (where were they?) and certainly were much enjoyed by all of us lucky enough to be present. But the icing on a very considerable cake was the Vaughan Williams symphony, in a performance which so splendidly captured RVW’s musical picture of London – extremely atmospheric where required and thrilling in the bigger moments. But that’s all in the music: what the symphony needs is someone with a grasp of the overall structure to give it maximum sense, and Natalia provided precisely that. It was a terrific performance of a much-loved work and richly deserved the warmth of the audience response. Thanks and congratulations all round.
Fantastic concert last night, really enjoyed playing! It’s a priviledge to lead the second violins, we are a good team and I always feel supported. The Symphony felt magical in parts, the orchestra really pulled together to create an atmosphere. Playing in ‘The Phil’ is hard work but definitely worth it!!! Hope the audience enjoyed it as much as I did!
As a former member of the Phil for 30+ years, I have very much enjoyed the last 2 concerts; I feel that the orchestra is very much on the up, a tribute to the conductor.
However, I have a few comments on the introductions. It is good to establish a rapport with the audience, and Natalia’s personality came over well. But to me, and somme people to whom i spoke, they were much too long , and interfered with the general flow of the concert. Also, the material seemed unsuitable for a for the typical concert goer, who is likely to be familiar with the material. It did not help to see people looking bored.
It would be good to continue this experiment, but I think 3 minutes should be the maximum. A longer discourse would be more suited to a pre concert talk, so that people can choose to go or not.
I look forward to the next concert.
Yours, Roger Collison