A CONVERTED church that will become a home from home for Liverpool’s internationally renowned orchestra was launched at a special reception last night.
St Mary of the Angels, in Everton, has been given a £500,000 make-over to create a new rehearsal space for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
It will also be used to carry out a £750,000 national pilot scheme, which will encourage young people to learn to play a musical instrument.
Currently, the RLPO is forced to rehearse in local church halls or hotel conference rooms when its art deco concert hall, on Hope Street, is unavailable.
Chief executive Michael Eakin said the launch of Liverpool Phil at the Priory, formerly St Mary of the Angels Church, will enable the orchestra to recreate concert conditions.
He said: “In the past, if the Hall wasn’t available, the musicians would have to rehearse in places where the acoustics would be different to the night of the concert.
“In the Priory, they are as similar as possible.”
