While the anniversary campaign will give an appreciative nod to nostalgia, the celebrations are firmly focused on launching the NCO into its next half a century, to enable this popular orchestra to continue making a positive contribution to the quality of people’s lives in Cheshire.  By networking with local organisations, NCO intends to explore the growing opportunities in Macclesfield and across Cheshire.

The NCO’s Magic at 50! season is shaping up to be a year to remember.  The celebratory season will sprinkle some NCO magic across Cheshire, as world-class soloists take part, including favourites who have a special relationship with the orchestra.  These include violinist, Jennifer Pike and NCO’s President, cellist Raphael Wallfisch and Vice-President, pianist, Martin Roscoe.  Part of the orchestra’s ethos has always been to champion young talent (for example, Jennifer Pike first worked with the NCO as a young teenager).  The season will see rising stars from Chetham’s School of Music take to the platform with NCO players (and benefit from special masterclasses with the NCO and its season soloists), while exciting soloists that haven’t previously worked with the NCO will bring their own brand of magic to the series, such as saxophonist, Jess Gillam, who wowed everybody with her skills and personality at the BBC Young Musician finals this year and acclaimed soprano, Elin Manahan Thomas.  There will be plenty of firsts and new ways to experience classical music – for everybody to enjoy, not just at the Heritage Centre but across Cheshire, including Bollington, Tatton Park in Knutsford, Sandbach and Nantwich.

Malcolm Allcard, NCO’s Chairman said: “We want to present a truly magical season in 2017/18 which will celebrate all the NCO’s attributes – enjoying a nostalgic glance back over our achievements these past fifty years, but most importantly, looking ahead to the next exciting chapter in our history.  Macclesfield and Cheshire has been vital to our success story and, as a small arts charity, we are hoping to encourage local businesses and organisations to help ensure that our Magic at 50! season is enjoyable for everybody and secures the NCO’s future as its legacy.”

Any Cheshire businesses wishing to find out how they can benefit from taking part in NCO – Magic at 50! should contact NCO’s General Manager, Tom Elliott on 0161 247 2220 / email: tom@ncorch.co.uk

More about the NCO, its concerts and the work that it does at www.ncorch.co.uk