THE search is on for Huddersfield’s very own Dorothy, Scarecrow or Lion.

Members of Huddersfield Choral Society Junior Choirs , that’s the Young Voices, Youth Choir and Chamber Choir, have been auditioning to find out who will don the ruby slippers - or find his wisdom or courage.

Thankfully, the judges are friendlier than either the Wicked Witch of the West (or perhaps some of the judges on the BBC’s Over The Rainbow programme).

The Junior Choirs’ winners will sing at the Junior Choirs’ Summer Concert on July 11 at 3pm when this year’s Choir Awards will also be presented.

The choirs were formed in 1986 and now comprise three sections.

The Youth Choir is for singers aged 13 to 21 plus, the Young Voices for ages seven to 13 and theŠChamber Choir is currently made up of older members of the Young Voices and younger members of the Youth Choir.

The concert, at Golcar Providence Methodist Church, Knowl Road Golcar, sees another season ending on a high note for one of Huddersfield’s premier youth choirs.

During the last year, the choirs have covered a wide range of musical styles, everything from musical theatre, Abba and the Beatles to Holst and Stainer.

The young singers are looking ahead to what may well be an even busier season next year when the Junior Choirs will celebrate their 25th anniversary alongside the Choral Society’s 175th anniversary.

Susan Wilkinson, Director of the Junior Choirs, said: “This has been another successful and enjoyable season for all our young singers, and everyone has been really keen to audition for Over the Rainbow.”

“We have a lot of exciting things planned for next year too, and with vacancies in our choirs at the moment there’s room for more young singers to come and join us!”

Elizabeth Mortimer, Junior Choirs Chairman, said: “Our young people have worked hard this year and had a lot of fun too which we hope others will share. In fact Kirklees’ Arts in the Neighbourhood fund has just awarded us a grant of £1,900 to help our 25th year of music-making reach more people.”