THE Huddersfield Music Society has called in some of the area’s finest young musicians to help it stage a fund-raising concert.

The event is on Monday, that’s Valentine’s Day, at St Paul’s Hall in Huddersfield the venue for the Music Society’s popular concert series.

The Society was founded in 1918 and, except for a short break during the second world war, has promoted its classical music concerts continuously ever since.

The concerts are high quality chamber music recitals for which the society engages mostly artists of international standing.

But it also support up and coming young musicians as they begin their professional concert careers.

Go to one of their concerts and you will find a loving, supportive atmosphere. This is a society that cares deeply about music and musicians and wants to offer its audiences the very best.

It’s why they have been so successful in getting some of the area’s best up and coming young players to help them in a fund-raising concert which aims to help pay concert costs which inevitably, are rising.

Several of the area’s outstanding musicians have agreed to give their services free for the concert which will be varied with many different performers.

It will open with a Flute Concerto by Mozart, played by Jennifer Scholes accompanied by Jonathan Fisher.

Jennifer is a mature student in her final year at the University of Huddersfield.

Jonathan plays for the University and the Royal Northern College of Music. He is a keen supporter of the Society, for which he played with a wind quintet two years ago.

Next to play is pianist Meiko Wakabayashi, who has chosen pieces by Chopin and Debussy.

Meiko was born in Japan, and has won the All Japan Student Competition twice, and was invited to Moscow to study piano.

She has studied at Trinity College London and is currently a peripatetic violin teacher in Yorkshire. She took part in the Symphony for Yorkshire.

The society’s officers are playing their part too.

The society’s president, Stephen Smith will accompany Elly Bosworth in a cycle of English songs.

Stephen has served on the society’s committee for more than 30 years. He was appointed Organist of Huddersfield Parish Church almost a decade ago which gives him a key role in music-making in the town.

Elly is also steeped in local music. She graduated from Huddersfield two years ago and has sung in concerts at St Paul’s Hall and Wakefield Cathedral.

She teaches singing at Huddersfield Grammar School and sings with the Huddersfield Choral Society.

Elly is also director of Music at Huddersfield Parish Church. She went to the Orkneys with Huddersfield Choral Society and was one of the soloists.

David Allsopp, the Music Society’s secretary, will play a medley of music for St Valentine’s Day.

David says he plays purely for pleasure, and has no career ambitions as a performer.

This is his Huddersfield debut (apart from playing in a pub once!)

Top young cellist William Robertson, will play works by Bach and Faure accompanied by Jane Robertson.

William, who lives in the Holme Valley, was a member of the National Children’s Orchestra and now plays as principal cellist with the Kirklees Youth Symphony Orchestra.

He has recently been accepted at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester for sixth form studies.

His mother, Jane is a well established accompanist and music teacher.

She studied piano at the Royal College of Music in London where she performed as a soloist. She has made several recordings.

Jane often works as an accompanist at the university as well as undertaking solo performances.

She accompanies the Huddersfield Choral Society Junior Choirs.

The audience will also hear the organ at St Paul’s Hall played, on this occasion, by Daniel Justin who is Organ Scholar at Wakefield Cathedral.

He will be playing music by Bach and Messiaen.

Originally from Bristol, Daniel has performed in churches in the Bristol area, including the Colston Hall.

He came to Yorkshire three years ago and has been Acting Director of Music at Wakefield Cathedral for nine months.

He will be moving to Leeds Cathedral as Assistant Organist in September.

Expect an evening of varied and interesting music played by musicians with the Society’s interests at heart.

Tickets at £10 (or £3 for students) are available at the door or from Michael Lord 01484 310104.