The festive season brings with it a wealth of musical events in the Huddersfield area – from carol and choral to brass concerts – catering for all tastes and brightening up the dark days of December.

Beginning this weekend:

  • The Vocal Expressions Ladies Choir from Holmfirth is presenting a mixed programme of secular and religious music in its Christmas Starts Here event at St Paul’s Concert Hall in Huddersfield on Saturday December 6 from 6.30pm. The choir, led by musical director Robert Webb, has a new repertoire that includes items by composer and arranger Bob Chilcott; John Gardner’s lively Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day and the little-known arrangement of Child of the Secret Stable’s Birth by the 2003 winner of the BBC Young Composer of the Year competition, Thomas Hewitt Jones. Children from the award-winning Lindley Junior School choir, led by Alison North, will join the Ladies. Tickets are £6 and £8 and can be booked from Kath Hinchliff on 07858 396356. For more information visit www.vocalexpressions.co.uk
  • Saturday December 6 also sees a festive concert by the Holme Valley Orchestra and Mastersingers at Christ Church, New Mill, from 7.30pm. Opening with A Fanfare for Winter by Holmfirth composer Barry Russell, the evening will feature a selection of popular classics, from Christmas at the Movies, a Beatlecracker arrangement of tunes by the Fab Four, Holst’s Christmas Day, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. Tickets are £4 and £7 on the door.
  • Charity group Caritas is staging a concert on Saturday December 6 at Moldgreen United Reformed Church in Huddersfield. The concert will support the work of the Alzheimer’s Society and will showcase the talents of the Audrey Spencer dancers, Honley Male Voice choir and others. Tickets are £7.50 on the door and the concert begins at 7.30pm.
  • Gledholt Male Voice Choir is holding its Christmas concert in the atrium of the new Creative Arts Centre of Huddersfield University on Saturday December 6 at 7.15pm. As well as seasonal songs from the choir and solos the audience will be invited to participate. Tickets for Mistletoe and Wine are £9 and can be reserved on 01484 304461.
  • Children from the Exit 25 Theatre School, Brighouse , are showcasing their talents in a Christmas event, Smash Hits, at the Lawrence Batley Theatre on Saturday December 6 , with performances at both 2pm and 7pm. They will be covering hits from major musicals, including Annie, Blues Brothers, Matilda, Blood Brothers and Hairspray. The children recently benefited from a masterclass with Blood Brothers star Sean Jones who helped them to work on a scene for their show. Tickets for the show, which is celebrating the school’s 15th anniversary, are £9.50 and £11.50 from www.thelbt.org or 01484 430528.
  • Saturday December 6 also sees The Huddersfield Singers with Advent Reflections at Holy Trinity Church, Trinity Street, from 7.30pm. The concert will include music by Parry, Logan, Purcell and Britten and features Tilly Tompkins, Kirklees Young Musician of the Year 2014, on trombone. Tickets are from £3.50 to £10 on the door.
  • On Sunday December 7 , Hepworth Band begins the countdown to Christmas with a concert at St Paul’s Church, Mirfield. Joined by the Kirklees Music School Swing Band, choirs from Wakefield Grammar School Foundation and soloists from Mirfield Free Grammar School, it promises to be an evening of big sounds. The concert is in aid of the charity Parkinson’s UK. Tickets are £8 or £12 for a family of four, from 01484 223200 or www.parkinsons.org.uk/specialevents. The following Sunday, December 14 , sees the Hepworth Band at Christ Church, New Mill, with a programme of seasonal music, served up with mulled wine and mince pies. Tickets for the concert, which begins at 7pm, are £8 from Wm Sykes & Sons Estate Agents in Holmfirth and New Mill Co-op.
  • The University of Huddersfield Brass Band is to perform at Dewsbury Town Hall on Wednesday, December 10 , and at Huddersfield Town Hall on Monday, December 15 . Directed by Phillip McCann, who promises plenty of singalong carols, the concerts are a highlight of the festive season for brass lovers. Lunch is available before both concerts from 11.30am and tickets are £3.50 or £5 from 01484 223200.
  • Brighouse Theatre Production’s Family Carol Concert is on Thursday, December 11 , at Central Methodist Church, Brighouse, from 7.15pm. Joining the choir this year will be members of the Clifton and Lightcliffe Brass Band and young choristers from St John’s CE Primary Academy, Clifton. Tickets are £7 and £8 on the door.
  • Hobsons Male Chorus and the Penistone Ladies Choir will be joining forces and voices for a concert on Friday, December 12. Both ensembles are directed by Jane Hobson, who also conducts Skelmanthorpe Male Voice Choir. The Christmas Sparkle concert, which starts at 7.15pm in Emmanuel Parish Church, Shelley, has been organised by the male voice choir. Their programme will include singalong Christmas carols. Tickets are £8, including refreshments, and are available on the door.
  • Huddersfield’s famous Choral Society is staging a Christmas concert on Friday, December 12 , when the organisation will announce the winner of a children’s art competition to design a festive programme cover. The event begins at 7.30pm in Huddersfield Town Hall. Gallery seat tickets are available to students at just £3, instead of £15, by presenting identification at a town hall booking office or information office. The choral society’s annual performances of Handel’s Messiah will take place on December 16 (subscribers) and December 17 (open to the public). For tickets call 01484 223200.
  • Skelmanthorpe Band is playing at the Penistone Paramount with New Mill Male Voice Choir on Saturday, December 13 , at 7.15pm. The event is organised by Denby Dale Rotary Club. Tickets are available, £8, from Richard Green on 01484 684649, John Purves 01484 665900 or the Penistone Paramount. The following week, on Saturday, December 20 , at the same time, the choir is staging its own Christmas concert at Christ Church, New Mill. Tickets are £8 from Steve Flynn on 01484 664250.
  • The world famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band is to play at the Central Methodist Church, Brighouse, on Saturday, December 13 , at both 2.15pm and 7.15pm. The matinee performance also features music students from Ryburn Valley High School. Tickets for the Christmas concerts are available at £14 and £15 from Ryecorn Wholefoods in Brighouse or direct from the band on 01484 718835.
  • Honley Male Voice Choir is celebrating Christmas at the picturesque Bolton Abbey tonight with a charity fundraiser for the Ilkley branch of the Candlelighters, but is back in Huddersfield Town Hall on December 13 for a Christmas with Honley evening. Special guests at the concert are Frickley Colliery Brass Band. Tickets for the event are from £5 to £16 from 01484 223200.
  • Holmfirth Choral Society’s Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 13, will include works by Bach and Handel (Messiah Part 1). It starts at 7.15pm in Holmfirth Civic Hall and will be conducted by Geoffrey Lockwood with The Valley Sinfonia accompanying. Tickets are £8 from Holmfirth Tourist Information Centre or by calling 01484 687643. The following evening the choir will sing selections from the Messiah at Holmfirth Methodist Church from 6.30pm. Singers are welcome to come along and join in but need to bring their own copy of the work. Admission is free.
  • Also on Saturday, December 13 , the Uppermill Brass Band will present Christmas Brass under the musical directorship of Alan Widdop at Southgate Methodist Church in Elland. Tickets for the concert, which starts at 7.30pm, are £8 on the door or from 01484 311259.
  • Last but not least, the Colne Valley Male Voice Choir is holding a Christmas Festival Concert at Huddersfield Town Hall on Sunday, December 14 . Accompanied by the Brighouse and Rastrick Band, the concert will also feature the Colne Valley Boys. Both choirs will be conducted by Thom Meredith, the Colne Valley men’s long-serving musical director. The band will be conducted by Gary Cutt, while Dr Simon Lindley, honorary life member of the choir, is the compere and organist. Tickets for the concert, which starts at 7.15pm, are £10.50 to £17. Details from 01484 223200.