The festive concert season is well under way in the Huddersfield area with a wealth of events on offer, so why not celebrate Christmas with an evening of carols, rousing brass sounds, uplifting choral or orchestral music.
Events are listed in date order.
Monday, December 7
Huddersfield University Brass Band is offering a free programme of Christmas music at Huddersfield Town Hall from 1pm. (The ensemble can be heard again at Dewsbury Town Hall on Wednesday, December 9, from 1pm. Tickets are £5.50 (£4 concessions).
Thursday, December 10
Honley Ladies Choir presents The Colours of Christmas at St Mary’s Church, Honley, from 7.30pm. The concert will feature guest flautist Simeon Wood, a Huddersfield musician who now has an international reputation and is returning to his home town for Christmas. Tickets are £8 from www.honleyladies.co.uk or 01484 307189.
War and Peace is the title of a recital by the Huddersfield University Chamber Choir and Early Music Ensemble in St Paul’s Hall at 1.15pm. The concert marks the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Marignano and rings the changes from carols and Christmas songs. Tickets are from £2, visit www.store.hud.ac.uk
The university’s Big Band is to perform a series of pieces by Sammy Nestico and improvisational jazz in the Phipps Hall at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5, details as above.
Friday, December 11
The Huddersfield University Folk Group presents a free concert of vocal and instrumental music from a range of traditions in the Phipps Hall at 6pm.
Huddersfield’s famous Choral Society is staging its annual Christmas Concert in Huddersfield Town Hall at 7.30pm. The event features the Black Dyke Band and the Junior Choirs and is presented by former Chorus Master and choral favourite, Brian Kay. Tickets are available from tickets.kirklees.gov.uk or 01484 223200. The choral society is also producing the Messiah on December 15 (public concert) and 16 (subscriber’s event).
Saturday, December 12
It’s time for the annual Brighouse and Rastrick Band Christmas showpiece at Central Methodist Church, Brighouse, with a matinee at 2.30 pm and an evening performance at 7.15pm. The afternoon concert also features young musicians from Brighouse High School. Tickets are available from Ryecorn Wholefoods in Brighouse, the band website, or 01484 718835.
Holmfirth Choral Society is singing Handel’s Messiah in Holmfirth Civic Hall from 7.15pm. Ticket details from 01484 687643.
Skelmanthorpe Male Voice Choir is to perform with Denby Dale Ladies Choir at Denby Dale Methodist Church, at 7.30pm. The choir is on the lookout for new members so this is a chance to see them in action. (The choristers are singing again on Friday, December 18, in Dewsbury Town Hall, also at 7.30pm).
The final cinema organ concert of the season at Penistone Paramount, A Compton Christmas Cracker, will feature Andrew Nix and Kevin Grunill. From 2.30pm. For details call 07944 566972.
Gledholt Male Voice Choir is in St Paul’s Hall on the university campus for its Yorkshire-themed festive concert. Featuring local carols and The Lindley Band Brass Ensemble, the event starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £7 to £9 on the door or from 01484 523711 or 01484 312551. The choir will also be singing in Huddersfield Piazza on Saturday, December 19, and at a number of other venues during the Christmas season.
Honley Male Voice Choir is hosting Christmas With Honley at Huddersfield Town Hall, from 7.15pm. Appearing with the well-known choristers will be Yorkshire champion Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Brass Band. Honley MVC’s musical director Steven Roberts is conducting and the evening will feature a performance by Organist Emeritus George Marsden on the Father Willis organ. Tickets from £5 to £16 from www.kirklees.gov.uk/townhalls or 01484 223200.
Sunday, December 13
The Colne Valley Male Voice Choir is hosting A Christmas Festival at Huddersfield Town Hall, assisted by Brighouse and Rastrick Band and the Colne Valley Boys. Soloist for the concert is soprano Victoria Sharp. Concert starts at 7.15pm and tickets are from £5 to £17 (available from town hall, as above).
Monday, December 14
Nigel Ogden, presenter of BBC 2’s programme The Organist Entertains for more than 35 years, is appearing at Huddersfield Town Hall with arrangements of well-known songs. The lunchtime concert starts at 1pm.
The University Symphony Orchestra and String Orchestra in concert at St Paul’s Hall, Huddersfield University, from 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 and £7 from www.store.hud.ac.uk
Wednesday, December 16
There’s an organ recital at St Paul’s Hall, Huddersfield University, at 1.15pm (free, with a retiring collection). Tickets are from £5, available as above.
Thursday, December 17
The Orchestra of Opera North presents A Joyous Christmas at Dewsbury Town Hall. The concert, which also features the chorus of Opera North and young singers, starts at 7.30pm. Tickets £4 to £19, from 01924 324501 or kirkleestownhalls.co.uk
Friday, December 18
The Huddersfield Alzheimer’s Research Support Group presents an evening of Christmas music at St Paul’s Church, Armitage Bridge from 7pm. Soloists Maggie Smith, Julia Garbutt and Danny Bullett will be joined by compere Norman Mellor and accompanist Philip Baxter. Tickets are £6, including refreshments, from 01484 851060 or on the door.
