LINDLEY teacher Alison North’s passion for singing has hit the right note both locally and nationally.

Alison, a teacher at Lindley Junior School since 1997, has made singing in a choir not only acceptable to local schoolchildren, but positively “cool”.

She has tirelessly worked to rejuvenate Huddersfield’s choral tradition among young people as well as inspiring adults to take up singing.

Alison, who has sung for as long as she can remember, set up the amazingly successful Lindley Choir and the Training Choir in 1999, followed by the 120-strong Boys’ Choir and last year the adult Lindley Community Choir.

The school’s Lindley Choir has developed a national reputation, winning the BBC Songs of Praise Choir of the Year in 2008 and reaching the semi-finals again last month.

Last year the choristers performed in front of thousands at the International Eisteddfod in Wales and have been invited to sing again this July.

Parent David Burley – whose two sons have sung in the choir – said: “The Lindley Choir has been on an unbelievable journey since its inception. Alison has worked miracles with ordinary kids and turned them into one of the most respected, talented and quite exceptional junior choirs in the country.

“Inspiring young people is a gift that Alison has. She has given them so much more than singing lessons. The children gain confidence and self-esteem and it’s incredible that she continues to take them to new heights.”

Alison, who sang in a semi-professional acapella group for 14 years, said: “Music has always been a part of my life. In a choir people can experience the sheer joy of singing together and producing something quite special.

“There is a buzz about singing in school – it’s cool! There is huge pride about being in all of the choirs.

“I am absolutely thrilled and flattered to be nominated.

“It is a great honour and I am very grateful for it.”