About us...
Heanor Operatic Society was founded in 1972. We had no funds whatsoever, so after rehearsing for a number of months each year we then gave concert versions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas every 6-8 weeks in and around the area for a small fee until we had accrued enough to put on a small performance.......This took us 9 years!
“Pirates of Penzance” was our first show which we did on a shoestring budget. We could only afford to do 3 nights at South-East Derbyshire College in Ilkeston with 2 pianos instead of an orchestra. Only the actors, backstage crew, props team and front-of -the- house volunteers come free of charge - everything else has a cost!!.
After ticket sales the shortfall is met by members subscriptions; and fund raising events such as Coffee Mornings and Evenings, Safari nights,BBQ’s, Car Rallies, Hoe-Downs, Tote, Raffles, Sponsorship, Patrons, Grants, Stalls at Various Fetes, Treasure Hunts, Hot Dog Stalls, Quizzes, Auctions, Concerts and other such events.
We are also a registered charity and over the years have donated to various organisations including local churches, Children in Need, Cancer Research Guide Dogs for the Blind, The Lupus Society,Derbyshire Autism, St John Ambulance, Heanor League of Friends, local schools, and the Tsunami Appeal.
The Seniors are not neglected either, for we have also put in place an award for outstanding support to the Society which is presented to an adult who doesn’t necessary have to be a performer. “The Derek Camm Award” is in memory of a man who came to support his grandchildren in the junior group and ended up designing and making some wonderful scenery. If you came to see our productions of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in Heanor Church you will have seen examples of his talent. The recipients of this award, so far, have been ladies and gentlemen who have not only supported us front-of-house during the productions, but also behind the scenes at rehearsals and fund-raising events.
We have been delighted to be able to use various venues in the area for publicity shoots such as Home Farm in Shipley Park, Erewash Museum, The American Adventure, Elveston Castle, Nottingham Castle,The Plaza Hotel Nottingham,and Wollaton Hall to name a few.
In 1982 we were privileged to have a party of Vietnamese dancers and their dragon joining us in “The Mikado”, also a group of Ukrainian dancers some years later for “Fiddle on the Roof”.
Throughout the years our concerts have been held in many venues including various Churches, Schools, Senior Citizen Centres, Town Halls, Denby Pottery, South-East Derbyshire College plus many more. We’ve sung with Eastwood Male Voice Choir, Long Eaton Operatic Society, Britannia Brass, Ilkeston Brass Band, Long Lea Valley Silver Band. In 1999 we joined other societies from all over the country in the N.O.D.A. centenary celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall. We took part in a recoding ox Xmas music in the Queen’s Hall at Denby for Radio Derby and in 2000 we produced a CD to celebrate the millennium and sang at the Assembly Rooms in Derby with other local societies.
Our Concert Party is an important off-shoot of the Society and has been in existence since 1990 entertaining many groups of Senior Citizens.
We have been delighted to be able to sing at the switching-on of Heanors Christmas lights for a number of years and for many of the Town Council’s Mayors Inaugural Services. Our Christmas Eve’s are spent entertaining guests at Morley Hayes Hotel.
A number of members were also invited to join a group of professional singers from the UK. And America in 2000 to showcase a new musical about D H Lawrence entitled “The Country of my Heart” written by Glynn Bailey. It was then reworked, re-titled “Scandalous” and in July 2008, performed at the Nottingham Playhouse with some of the societies members signing alongside professional singers and accompanied by professional musicians, directed by Keith Thomas from the Guildford School of Drama.
We’re also proud of our achievements over the years, for both Junior and Senior groups continuously strive for improvement, every show is a team effort, each year presents a challenge and we do our best to grow in size and stature, and present audiences such as yourselves with an enjoyable afternoon or evenings entertainment.
We have been delighted to be able to use various venues in the area for publicity shoots such as Home Farm in Shipley Park, Erewash Museum, The American Adventure, Elveston Castle, Nottingham Castle,The Plaza Hotel Nottingham,and Wollaton Hall to name a few.
In 1982 we were privileged to have a party of Vietnamese dancers and their dragon joining us in “The Mikado”, also a group of Ukrainian dancers some years later for “Fiddle on the Roof”.
Throughout the years our concerts have been held in many venues including various Churches, Schools, Senior Citizen Centres, Town Halls, Denby Pottery, South-East Derbyshire College plus many more. We’ve sung with Eastwood Male Voice Choir, Long Eaton Operatic Society, Britannia Brass, Ilkeston Brass Band, Long Lea Valley Silver Band. In 1999 we joined other societies from all over the country in the N.O.D.A. centenary celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall. We took part in a recoding ox Xmas music in the Queen’s Hall at Denby for Radio Derby and in 2000 we produced a CD to celebrate the millennium and sang at the Assembly Rooms in Derby with other local societies.
Our Concert Party is an important off-shoot of the Society and has been in existence since 1990 entertaining many groups of Senior Citizens.
We have been delighted to be able to sing at the switching-on of Heanors Christmas lights for a number of years and for many of the Town Council’s Mayors Inaugural Services. Our Christmas Eve’s are spent entertaining guests at Morley Hayes Hotel.
A number of members were also invited to join a group of professional singers from the UK. And America in 2000 to showcase a new musical about D H Lawrence entitled “The Country of my Heart” written by Glynn Bailey. It was then reworked, re-titled “Scandalous” and in July 2008, performed at the Nottingham Playhouse with some of the societies members signing alongside professional singers and accompanied by professional musicians, directed by Keith Thomas from the Guildford School of Drama.
We’re also proud of our achievements over the years, for both Junior and Senior groups continuously strive for improvement, every show is a team effort, each year presents a challenge and we do our best to grow in size and stature, and present audiences such as yourselves with an enjoyable afternoon or evenings entertainment.