A WORLD class brass band, an American mezzo-soprano and the richness of a leading male voice choir.

What more could you want for a pre-Christmas treat and that’s just what’s in store next weekend at Huddersfield Town Hall.

Christmas with Honley is at Huddersfield Town Hall on Saturday December 15 at 7.15pm. For the eighth successive year, Honley Male Voice Choir will share its Christmas concert with World Brass Band Champions Cory.

But they will also be joined by singer Callie Jo Denbigh who was born and raised in Houston, Texas.

And if you are wondering about the Huddersfield connection, look no further than Callie’s husband, Ben.

The couple met when Ben, whose parents are originally from the Huddersfield and Holme Valley areas, was visiting New York. The two now live in Northamptonshire where Callie teaches music.

She will sing two solo spots in the concert as well as joining the choir in a medley from West Side Story.

Callie graduated with a Masters degree in vocal performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City and a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Her stage credits include roles from opera and musicals and she has appeared in Italy with the Amalfi Coast Music Festival.

Honley’s other guests are the renowned Cory Band, who are from the Rhondda Valley in South Wales.

Over several years, band and choir have built up a winning partnership for this Christmas concert. Once again, Cory brings with it more success stories.

The band recently beat 11 others to win the Brass in Concert Championship in Newcastle. It was the last competition of the year and it means that Cory finish the year ranked No l in the World – for the sixth year running.

The rankings are awarded annually by the British Bandsman magazine and the Four Bars Rest website and the trophy will be presented to the band in Huddersfield.

Since its formation in 1884, the Cory Band has won the British Open Championship five times, the British National Championship five times and the European Championship on four occasions.

This year, the band enjoyed its own Welsh Prom in St David’s Hall, Cardiff and next year will see it represent Wales at the European Brass Band Championships in Oslo.

Later in 2013, Cory will take on an 11 date concert tour of Australia.

With the band next weekend will be its new musical director, Philip Harper.

Philip succeeds Dr Robert Childs who had been with the band for 12 years.

Since Philip took over in May, the band has finished third in both the British Open and British National Championships.

Philip, who was previously MD of the Tongwynlais Band and the Flowers Band, is in demand as a freelance conductor, educator and adjudicator.

Dr Child’s son David, one of the world’s top euphonium players, has left the band to concentrate on solo work and has been replaced by Matthew White, a rising star who has been making a name for himself in the concert and competition world.

He was the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass soloist of the year in 2010 as well as the Black Dyke Young Artist of the Year and the winner of the Solo Award at the Brass in Concert Championships in Gateshead. He is currently in his final year of study at the Royal Northern College of Music.

John Oldfield, Honley’s former accompanist and deputy conductor, will conduct the choir which will be accompanied by Michelle Sutcliffe.

The concert will be compered by actor, writer and director Peter Armitage who last year was awarded the MBE for services to amateur theatre.

Tickets from Kirklees tourist information centres.