FUNDING provided by Ilkley and District Round Table is helping to promote choral music events in Ilkley.

Ilkley Choral Society is an amateur choir based in the town. It has about 90 members dedicated to providing top quality choral music at an accessible price.

Members perform between two and three major concerts each year, hosted at St Margaret’s Church in Ilkley. In addition to the main concerts, they also partner Ben Rhydding Primary School at its carol service in December, as well as spreading some festive magic by singing in residential homes at Christmas time.

Ilkley Choral Society hosted its first concert on December 16, 1949 in Ilkley Parish Church under the baton of Charles Bainbridge. The review of that first concert, written by AG Sykes in the Ilkley Gazette, pays glowing tribute to the newly-formed choir, which, on that night, sang Handel’s Messiah for the very first time in public.

Judy Hutton, sponsorship officer of Ilkley Choral Society, said: “On behalf of Ilkley Choral Society, I would like to extend thanks to Ilkley and District Round Table for granting our request for support this year.

“The cost of putting on these concerts increases year by year, and while our outgoings are met in part by ticket sales and membership subscriptions, we are reliant upon sponsorship, advertising and donations to make ends meet.

"Larger concerts run at a loss because of the cost of providing a good orchestra. The funding provided by Ilkley and District Round Table will be put toward the printing cost for our concert programmes and tickets.”

Ilkley Choral Society presents the first of two evenings of entertainment from 7pm on December 12, 2015 at St Margaret’s Church when, in combination with Otley Choral Society, members will be performing Handel’s Messiah with the Yorkshire Chamber Ensemble, conducted by Barry Jordan.

The second concert takes place from 7pm on March 12, 2016, again, at St Margaret’s Church, when they will perform a packed programme, including works by Vivaldi, Handel and Haydn, conducted by Barry Jordan and featuring Christopher Rathbone on organ. Tickets for all concerts are available from the Grove Bookshop and from choir members.

A warm welcome is extended to all new members. Rehearsals are held Monday evenings between 7.30pm to 9.30pm, September through April, at Christchurch in The Grove, Ilkley.