SLAITHWAITE Philharmonic Orchestra has long had an association with composer Sir Malcolm Arnold.

The orchestra’s former conductor, Adrian Smith, championed many of Arnold’s works and conducted several, including his 2nd and 5th symphonies and a clarinet concerto with the now internationally-famous Julian Bliss who was just 10 when he performed it with the Slaithwaite orchestra.

Arnold attended two of the concerts in person.

So it is no surprise that his music is to feature strongly in the orchestra’s latest concert, The Triumph of Hope, at Huddersfield Town Hall on April 4.

Arnold’s 3rd symphony will follow Benjamin Britten’s Russian funeral music and precede Tchaikovsky’s 1st symphony.

SPO conductor Benjamin Ellin said: “Arnold’s 3rd Symphony will showcase a world of vast emotive gestures with orchestral charm, wit and aggression.”

To help put the performance in context, the SPO and conductor Benjamin Ellin have invited the biographer Paul Harris, who co-wrote the biography of Sir Malcolm entitled Rogue Genius, to give a pre-concert talk at 6.30pm.

During this, Paul Harris will offer insights in to the man, the music and the life of Sir Malcolm with particular reference to the work featured in the concert, his 3rd Symphony.

Mr Ellin said: “It’s a real treat for everyone to have the opportunity to share some of Paul’s knowledge and unique insight of Sir Malcolm.

“There are few people on the planet who have such a deep awareness of this most important composer, it will be fascinating and illuminating for all of us.”

Born in Northampton in 1921, Malcolm Arnold is one of the towering figures of the 20th century, with a remarkable catalogue of major concert works to his credit, including nine symphonies, seven ballets, two operas, one musical, over twenty concertos, two string quartets, and music for brass-band and wind-band.

He also wrote 132 film scores, among these Bridge on the River Kwai for which, in 1958, he was one of the first British composers ever to win an Oscar.

The composer has long held fascination for Paul Harris, who has established an international reputation as one of the UK’s leading educationalists.

He studied the clarinet with Professor John Davies, winning the August Manns Prize for outstanding playing; composition with Timothy Baxter and conducting with Maurice Miles.

He then went on to study music education at the University of London where he was a pupil of Professor Keith Swanwick.

He now has nearly six hundred publications to his name; among them The Music Teacher’s Companion.

In addition he has written many other works, ranging from short education pieces to five concertos, a ballet and a children’s opera.

He writes regularly for many of the major international music magazines, including Music Teacher, BBC Music Magazine, the ABRSM’s Libretto and the American ICA journal.

He is in great demand as a workshop and seminar leader and adjudicator in the UK, the USA and the Far East, Australia and New Zealand.

Paul has also undertaken research into specialist music education for the highly talented – clarinet prodigy Julian Bliss was among his pupils – an interest that has taken him to many musical institutions around the world.

He recently presented a paper on teaching gifted young musicians at a convention at the University of Oklahoma.

He is an examiner and adjudicator and is frequently asked to take part in national events.

In 2006, his commitment to the music of Arnold led to the establishing of an annual Malcolm Arnold Festival in the composer’s hometown of Northampton.

Children accompanied by adults will be admitted free to the April 4 concert, which starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets are priced £9.50 to £14.50 or 7 for concessions and are available at the Albion Street Tourist Information Centre. Contact 01484 223200.