PHILIP Wootton has spent the last three years composing a musical that combines pop with opera.
The result - called Moses The Mighty Musical - will give youngsters in Huddersfield the chance to get a taste of life on the stage over the coming months.
For the aim now is to combine experienced musicians and performers in singing, drama, dance and confidence-training with young people - many of whom would otherwise never have the chance to try anything like this.
Some of those involved are disabled.
The project has grown out of an organisation called Huddersfield Poperetta Productions, which 58-year-old Mr Wootton founded five years ago.
Well-respected Huddersfield artistic director Geraldine Connor has agreed to get involved in the scheme and now it has really taken off.
Philip said: "It is involving people from all ethnic and age groups. It's all about community involvement."
The words for Moses The Mighty Musical were written by Mike Taylor, of Almondbury, who approached Philip to do the music.
It turned out to be a labour of love which took three years.
"It was all composed in my attic," said Philip. "It was a long, lonely process, but I now have 20 songs which consist of opera mixed with pop music. And it's a great story."
Philip - an electrical technician and lecturer at Huddersfield Technical College - has been composing since he was nine.
He is married to Christine. The couple have two sons, Richard and Charles, and a daughter, Katharine.
