THE magic of Mozart and the might of Mahler.

That is the musical combination on offer at Huddersfield Town Hall on Saturday next week, courtesy of Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra.

Award-winning young soprano Myvanwy Bentall joins the orchestra once more to sing her own selection of Mozart arias alongside the composer’s mysterious and exciting Magic Flute overture.

The second half of the concert will be devoted to Mahler’s extraordinary First Symphony, which takes audiences on a journey through beautiful nature scenes, a funeral march, a Bohemian village band and an exuberant ländler (country dance) as the music celebrates a victory of life over death.

The orchestra is particular delighted to welcome back Myvanwy, who is a talented musician as well as singer.

She is a former winner of the Kirklees Young Musician of the Year title at the Mrs Sunderland Musical Competition and used to play second violin with the Slaithwaite Phil. This is her third appearance with them as a soloist.

Myvanwy was born in Dewsbury and gained her BMus (Hons) and MA in music at Huddersfield University, where she studied singing with Patricia Hamilton.

Currently she is one of only 17 singers on English National Opera’s unique Opera Works programme. She continues to study with Jennifer Dakin and is performing on a regular basis, as well as teaching for Bromley Youth Music Service and Blackheath Conservatoire of Music & Arts in London.

The orchestra has always encouraged the involvement of young people at its concerts, both as performers and as audience.

This year musicians from schools and youth ensembles were invited to join them for this concert and the Phil is delighted that a number of members of Kirklees Youth Symphony Orchestra are joining them to perform the Mahler symphony.

The Phil is keen to encourage young people to attend the concert and, as always, offers free tickets to children and students when accompanied by adults.

Next Saturday’s concert will be conducted by Christopher Swaffer, who went to Chetham’s School of Music before going on to Manchester University, where he graduated with a master’s degree in composition and conducting.

Tickets are £14 to £9.00 (£6.50 concession) and available from the Albion Street Information Centre, Huddersfield (01484 223200).

The concert begins at 7.30pm.