THINGS have moved on somewhat since Thom Meredith (inset) began his recording career aged just three with a rendition of I’ve Got a Secret I Won't Tell in his native Australian twang.

Since those innocent days, Thom has led Colne Valley Male Voice Choir to multiple victories, become principal of Kirklees Music School, sung on TV – and lost his Antipodean accent.

Thom, who has lived in Oakes since 1992, has a CV with a bewildering list of achievements.

It’s probably for that reason that the nationally renowned baritone singer has never had the time to make a record. That is until now.

Taking a break from his outrageously busy schedule, Thom, 43, has enlisted faithful CVMVC pianist Keith Swallow to record Let Beauty Awake.

Thom’s debut album is a collection of English song cycles – Songs of Travel by Vaughan Williams with lyrics by Robert Louis Stevenson, A Shropshire Lad by George Butterworth with lyrics by Alfred Edward Housman and Let Us Garlands Bring by Gerald Finzi with lyrics by Shakespeare. BBC’s Aled Jones is a Meredith and a CVMVC fan. After playing the choir’s CD on Radio 2’s Good Morning Sunday, he said: “That’s cracking. Thom Meredith, what a voice, and the CVMVC, performing You Raise Me Up with three key changes – how impressive was that?

“Not even Westlife attempted three key changes!

“Brilliant stuff guys; I’m sure we will have many male voice choirs sending in their tapes from now on.”

Thom said: “For ages I was saying I would make a CD that people could buy and I just never got round to it. I’ve worked with Keith for 20 years so we have an understand-ing. He was very keen to be an accompanist on this CD.

“They’re songs I’ve always loved. I remember singing Vaughan Williams at school and A Shropshire Lad is just a beautiful piece of music.

“The songs are quite accessible but it’s no pop record either.”

Let Beauty Awake, recorded by Huddersfield Philharmonic trumpeter Mike Briggs, is available from iTunes for £11 including P&P or by emailing thom.meredith@hotmail.co.uk

It is also available on iTunes as well as at Dolphin Music in Huddersfield.